New here-Depression, diabetes and CFS

I have a history of depression and diabetes.  I thought my exhaustion and "brain fog" was from depression until that was successfully treated. I still need 11-12 hours of sleep a night and have "brain fog" unless I take Adderall which gives me around 6 decent hours a day.  I am diabetic and my A1c is high;  but it has always been too high because I have had a number of other medical problems which make it hard to control (difficulty exercising due to neck injury, back pain and now when I do anything I am wrecked for a day or two afterwards).  This fatigue and brain fog is new (a few months), whereas the diabetes is not.  I tested >8.0 for Epstein Barr Igg but normal for Igm <.02. The test for Lyme came back negative.  I have taken synthroid for the past 25 years and that is not only normal but recent blood work suggests I should be taking less synthroid which I don't want to do becuase my hair falls out, I'm overweight and already sluggish.  I am VERY psychologically informed (I am a psychologist) and know my emotional state well. This is not from depression.  I have never felt this tired except when I had mono when I was 15 (34 years ago). I am convinced this is something immunoogical but as soon as the doctor sees the diabetic numbers they are convinced that is the problem. Also, please note I went through the whole infertility thing and the ultimate cause was immunological (I did not thave the antibody blockers that keep antibodies from attacking a pregnancy). Wierd immunological things do run in my family (my father neuro problems in his hand and arm which was determined to be caused by an immune disorder-had an aunt with RA and a niece with fibro). I had Bells Palsy this past January. oes any of this make sense? Where do I go from here? I am NOT functioning....can't work and wouldn't even get out of bed if it wasn't for Adderrall which is an amphetamine,

Hi Lippylulu and welcome! So sorry you've got this horrid illness :(

There is research showing a genetic tendency towards fibromyalgia. My mother has CFS, my aunt had it and I have it along with fibromyalgia. One of my friends has CFS and their father has CFS/fibromyalgia.

It annoys me when people think CFS/fibro is caused by depression. I take antidepressants and do CBT and meditation - this helps with my anxiety and mild depression, but it does NOT fix the fibromyalgia/CFS because they are not one and the same! Sorry, here I go, preaching to the choir.

Viruses are often involved in CFS... My illness started with an unknown virus 2.5 years ago that gave me all the fibro/CFS symptoms with a fever in the beginning as well. It was after several months of being sick, when I saw I wasn't getting better, that I started to become anxious and depressed.

My illness has fluctuated up and down... There have been periods of months when I have been able to continue with high school and uni, and other periods of months when all I do is sleep and be brain fogged and in a lot of pain. I have found some natural remedies helpful though, but mostly with the fibro and not the CFS.

I hope we can both make full recoveries :)

Jasmine

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Age: 18
Conditions: Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pain syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerances, complex regional pain syndrome, anxiety, GERD, allergies, dermatitis, low immunity, tinnitus, restless legs syndrome, scoliosis, etc.
Goals: to be an occupational therapist; to explore the world.
"Reach for the moon; even if you miss, you will land among the stars."

Post Edited (Jasmine Grace) : 7/26/2013 4:38:20 PM (GMT-6)