Hi,
I've had CFS/FMS since 1995, dx in 1997. I've tried just about everything and nothing worked. Then in Jan. 2005, I went to see a doctor I had heard about on another CFS site. His research has shown that CFS is caused by several viruses from the Herpes family. He found that these viruses attack the heart causing the intense fatigue. This is called viral cardiomyopathy. What makes this type of heart infection different from others is that the fatigue is so great that the person literally CAN'T overdo it to the point of destroying their heart and needing a heart transplant. That's great news.
However, it's still a heart infection. Dr. Martin Lerner is the name of this infectious disease doctor. In his research, he actually biopsied patients' hearts and isolated these viruses. 100% of the research patients had these viruses in their biopsies. What he found in his research was that if a person had elevated viral titers AND T-wave abnormalities on the Holter monitor test, and certain abnormalities on the cardiac ultrasound, then they also had this infection and he didn't need to biopsy their heart. He discovered that patients usually had either an infection from Epstein Barr, Cytomegalovirus, HHV-6, or any combination of the three. He then treated them with the appropriate anti-viral therapy for usually 6-12 months, depending on how long they had been sick before coming to see him and of course how quickly their symptoms improved. Interestingly, he had CFS himself which is what got him interested in it. He became very sick and had to give up his teaching post at the University, but, he cured himself and now has his practice, is head of the internal medicine dept at the university and does his research. Recently, Dr. Paul Cheney, a noted CFS researcher, has joined Dr. Lerner in saying that CFS is a form of cardiomyopathy. Dr. Cheney isn't as sure of it's origins, however, I'm confident in time,that he too, will agree with Dr. Lerner's research.
So...am I better? I started taking Valcyte the beginning of Feb 2005, by August of 2005, I was feeling better than I had felt in years. I was able to start exercising again. I was able to start singing again. I was doing things I haven't done for years. And I continue to improve.
The key is finding out what the cause of YOUR CFS is. Mine is viral, I know that. And, thank God, I am lucky enough to live about 45 mins from Dr. Lerner's office. He has a website, if I am allowed to say that here. It is: cfsviraltreatment.com or .org, I can't remember. Anyway, try them both.
Good Luck!
Musicgirl