Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group

I know for most of us here, it took years to get a CFS diagnosis. According to the Mayo Clinic page, a CFS diagnosis must be based on six months or more of unrelenting fatigue, plus four of six other symptoms. So, just because it's only a month doesn't mean that it's not CFS, but it also means that it might be something else that your doctor hasn't found yet, especially if fatigue is your only symptom. I hope you start feeling better and that it's not CFS!

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/c...
(Here is the mayo clinic diagnosis information)

*sorry, four of eight, not four of six. I've seen a six symptom diagnosis page before, too, though*

Diagnosis takes a LOT time. I understand you are tired, but that doesn't mean you have CFS. I hope you feel better soon as well, too!

Let me share some thoughts. Categorized as mental and physical, fatigue is generally a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy. If left untreated, it would mean loss of productivity in one’s daily activities. It would also mean a lot of work undone and possible loss of many opportunities. The role in the family will also be embellished and perhaps be neglected. Fatigue’s impact is not just about one’s self but also the abandonment of all the responsibilities in income generation, output in work, and the role in the society as a whole. Prolonged fatigue caused by a serious disease would be a long-term problem. Ceased activities would also mean a progress stoppage in financial and social life. A possible dream house would be left as a reverie; a potential work promotion would become impossible; and the overall monetary status would be a disaster.
However, the most significant effect of prolonged fatigue would be the person’s bad health condition. A persistent fatigue known as chronic fatigue syndrome starts with a flu-like symptoms and lasts for six months. This can be compared to being in jail since the patient is absent in his social circle for half a year and upon recovery, will find himself dislocated in the society. Furthermore, fatigue accompanies many serious problems like Addison's disease, anorexia or other eating disorders, arthritis, autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, congestive heart failure, diabetes, infection, and the more fatal like cancer, AIDS, tuberculosis, kidney disease, and liver disease.
Meanwhile, many practices can help to prevent fatigue while improving the overall health situation. Adequate, regular, and consistent amounts of sleep each night would help prevent or at least minimize the recurrence of fatigue. A healthy, well-balanced diet and plenty of water throughout the day also lessens fatigue’s recurrence.

http://kayacamilla.com

I'll just add some of my concerns if that's OK rather than starting a new thread.I also wonder if I have CFS.I have felt fatigued since being a teenager.I have had depression for years though and also had anorexia as a teen.I remeber feeling fatigued when I wasn't anorexic and didn't drink as a young adult,hoovering etc was too much.Well nearly every day since then has been like this.Finally my anti depressants seem to work and I have cut down drinking and now the pattern is more one week fatigued the next week better.Thanks for your time

Adbeko, it sounded very much like Mono. Had you went to the doctor then and had a monospot test it would have shone up if that was it. I don't know that it would show up after the fact. However, I had a reoccurrence of mono 7 years ago and it left me like you describe. I am still that way. It is called Chronic Epstein Barr Syndrome - that is chronic fatigue from mono. No one can help me. I pretty much slept the first 3-4 years away. For the past year I have taken Provigil to help me not sleep all the time. Nothing has helped the fatigue.
Last week the doctor finally decided to give me diet pills to see how I did with that and I have felt a good bit better with the fatigue. I don't know yet if it is from the pills or if I am just having a few good days. If it lasts I will know it is the pill. I can warn you, there are doctors that don't believe in Chronic Epstein Barr Syndrome, nor Fibra Myalgia, etc. They know a person is sick and very fatigued, but they don't believe viruses to have caused it. My doctor says it will show up one day what it really is.

Funny how I was left like this practically overnight after having mono.
He had no answer for that.

I am now on disability for this.


Best of everything to you in seeking help.

No one here can diagnose you but I can second the experience of developing CFS after having mono. I am relatively healthy at the moment, but it was about 3 years of non-stop fatigue, various sore throats, sore glands in the neck/under the arms.

I'm so sorry for you. I would go to a Rhumatologist (spelling?). Having CFS does not mean that it will not be resolved. Try NOT to push yourself now and try to avoid stress. I know during my first years, I didn't do this, and I think that's why my CFS didn't resolve. I know I may be feeling unnecessary guilt though because no one knows the origin of it. If you do have this disease, I subscribe to:
Visit Dominie's FMS/CFIDS Homepage at www.FMS-HELP.com for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers and their families. It has an index with a lot of great information.

Someone told me about a book called "Fibromyalgia for Dummies". I have not read it yet, but it offers advise on how to take it easy. I keep pushing and collapsing. Hopefully, you'll be fine. Hang in there!

-Wendy

Thanks a lot for the replies. Very helpful. That sucks that I have to wait 6 months to find out if I have CFS or not. I don't want to spend anymore time like this. It looks like the thing to do now is just take it easy and go back to the doctor in a few months if the fatigue persists. Good luck to everyone.

I agree with what people have said about mono - my CFS developed after mono. However, you may also want to look up another term than CFS... PVFS = post viral fatigue syndrome.