I have been reading about CFS and I keep reading that "substance abuse within 2 years of onset of illness" rules out the diagnoses of CFS. I am curious about this because I had a substance abuse problem before I got sick with this mystery illness. Can anyone enlighten me on this issue. Could I be sick for 8 months because I was severly abusing alcohol and sleeping meds for years? I know you guys are not doctors (not that they do much good anyway) I am just looking for opinions. Thanks!
I would also like to know this. I've been addicted to many things in my 44 yrs, and still have some addictions now. At one point I decided to clean up my act totally, and my symptoms just got worse. I self medicate too oftrn and I'm aware of the fact that I shouldn't, but I am miserable, physically, and I am sure we are not the only ones who have had problems. C'mon, we know we are not alone. But is it proven that prior substance abuse has anything to do with CFS or fibromyalgia?
Hi aquarius and ms.kentucky,
I have never heard of that. I have CFS/FMS and I have never abused anything, not even aspirin! I sure hope that doesn't become mainstream thinking or we are all doomed. They will be trying to convince us that we MUST have been addicted to SOMETHING or we wouldn't have CFS/FMS.
That is crazy!
Take care,
Musicgirl
I have never heard of that. I have CFS/FMS and I have never abused anything, not even aspirin! I sure hope that doesn't become mainstream thinking or we are all doomed. They will be trying to convince us that we MUST have been addicted to SOMETHING or we wouldn't have CFS/FMS.
That is crazy!
Take care,
Musicgirl
I'm with Musicgirl - I have never heard of that. I know that people usually feel pretty rotten while they are detoxing, but the symptoms shouldn't last for months and months and into years. I've never heard of a connection of substance abuse and CFS/FMS. I'd be interested to know where you heard that so I could read it and see what is being said about it.
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... They are either stupid or they think we are stupid. You can't rule out something just because another thing may have caused the symptoms. Seems like a crappy excuse to me.
Honestly, I think that substance abuse could be a RESULT of CFS, rather than a cause...
I think that's what it was in my case...
I think that's what it was in my case...