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Chronic Fatigue?

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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Posted 4/9/2006 3:56 PM (GMT -7)
Hi,

     I am not sure if I have chronic fatigue syndrome.  My family is beginning to think I am crazy, but I know I do not feel good.  To make it short I got sick about 6 1/2 months ago.  It started when I became very very dizzy out of the blue.  I was told I had an ear infection, was treated with Levaquin, and things got very bad after that.  I became so weak and tired I couldn't even get out of bed.  I developed black circles under my eyes.  I've had almost all the tests that can be done on a human and everything turned up negative.  So as the months went by I remained very weak, fatigued, dizzy and faint,mild sore throats, headaches, and very sick.  I am now at 6 1/2 months and what I have remaining is some fatigue- I can do a lot but at a certain point in the day I will get very run down ( it feels like I'm dying).  I also have upper back pain (between my shoulders), and just recently I have developed severe anxiety.  I am now on Effexor to help with the anxiety.  It has made me a little more tired then I was but I am hoping that goes away. Does any of this sound familiar to anyone. I have never been sick before.  I was a previously very healthy active 28 yr old and I am very devastated You're feedback would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!! tongue

Posted 4/9/2006 4:31 PM (GMT -7)
The fact that doctors have tested you for many illnesses with negative results, makes it sound like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to me, but I'm not a medical doctor. I do have CFS myself. Is your doctor considering this diagnosis? The good thing about a diagnosis of CFS is that the syndrome is not life threatening. It does, however, require a major change in your life style and life's expectations. I hope you have a good doctor.
Posted 4/9/2006 4:50 PM (GMT -7)
aquarias, I'm sorry you have been so sick and that the docs haven't been able to help you much. I agree with Western about talking to your doctor about the possibility of having CFS. It's really important to listen to your body and pace yourself. Rest before you feel like you are dying and hopefully you can figure out a good balance for rest and activity.

I hope you have a good doctor too. If you don't, keep looking until you find someone who will listen.

Take care
Posted 4/9/2006 4:58 PM (GMT -7)

Thanks for your replies, I really appreciate it!  If you have CFS, do you feel the need to sleep most of the time?  I am able to do a lot of walking and activity, so I am confused if I really do have it. 

Posted 4/10/2006 5:40 AM (GMT -7)
It is really confusing. I have read that a lot of times people with CFS feel worse after activity. My CFS was in remission for years and I was able to be very active with hiking and running, but now I can't do that anymore. Even when I was in remission, I needed more rest than most people. I do know that on bad days I want to stay in bed and even on good days it's hard for me to get out of bed.

I don't know as much about CFS as I should. You might want to keep a journal of your symptoms and show them to your doctor after you have kept the journal for a little while.
Posted 4/10/2006 8:23 AM (GMT -7)
Has your doctor tested you for the Epstein Barr Virus? That can cause CFS in many people (including myself).

It does require a major life change (in how you go about your daily activities).

I do know the feeling though. I had every test known to man practically done on me, sleep studies, blood tests, etc... etc... and it was 10-11 years before I found a doctor that really listened to me. I got my diagnosis for CFS February 24th. (25 years old... and yep... 10-11 years before my diagnosis).

Effexor can be a dangerous drug with horrible withdrawl effects, so be careful with that. It's helped a lot of people don't get me wrong, but it's perscribed many many times for people that shouldn't be on it.

I'm on Provigil for my CFS, and it's helped A TON!! For anxiety, I'm on Ativan/Lorazepam.

Anyways... hope that helped some. My brain isn't functioning very well at the moment... I think I'm comming down with the flu. My head hurts, is stuffy, sore throat (I feel like I swallowed sandpaper... and I'm supposed to go into work and be a 911 dispatcher tonight... haha)... I feel like I got hit by a truck... coughing... yucky. So yeah... my brain function is almost non-existant at the moment lol.
Posted 4/10/2006 12:20 PM (GMT -7)
Thank You for all of your responses.  Did anybodys symptoms start out like mine with the dizziness etc?  Just curious. Thanks.

Posted 4/10/2006 2:49 PM (GMT -7)
hey, just reading about your dilemma and you asked the question " did anyone elses CFS started like this"? well you'll be pleased to know that mine started like that, lots of dizzy spells and then complete blackouts! i was really active before CFS hit( i'm an outdoor pursuits instructor by trade) so it came as quite a shock to be climbing, kayaking and hiking etc, too find the next day i couldnt get out of bed!!i too went through every test known to man, gave enough blood to dry me out and even met some interesting people down at the tropical disease clinic! but every test like yours returned negative!!but i had a good Dr who then sent me too see a neurologist and it was him that diagnosed me with CFS(and all this in 10 mins)also like you i've been suffering for about 7 months now and i had countless number of people tell me that i had to change my life style, but as i'm a figther i've fought it everyday!!i didnt always and it made me worse it wasnt untill i started to exercise did my CFS start to get better! know i'm not saying that it's ok for everyone that suffers with this to go out and exercise like a normal day, as our bodies are in a constant shock of fatigue! my advice is too do as much as your body can take and when your body says enough you stop( i didnt once and i blacked out on my bike doin 40mph downhill....ouch) you'll have good days and you have bad days...just take it one day at a time!!
Aloha
Posted 4/10/2006 3:29 PM (GMT -7)
Shaper- Wow our experience sounds identical! Except I never blacked out. Do you think you will ever get back to normal? If it is not too personal, how old are you? Any pain in your upper back ( shouders)? Are you still dizzy? Just curious!!! Thanks.
Posted 4/11/2006 5:26 PM (GMT -7)
it's lyme, you probably got tested - and big surprise negative- they are wrong, they are always wrong........ask anyone with Lyme- the first tests were wrong- the docs said : Fibro!! CFS!Panic disorder! LUPUS!....anxiety,depression your crazy etc etc etc

 

CDC estimate for everyone diagnosed with it - ten go undiagnosed- certainly people in this forum.........

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