Yeah, I hear ya. I've felt that exhausted before. I have found myself standing in the kitchen and feeling like I was going to fall right over. It's really hard to explain it to anyone who hasn't felt that way.

I totally understand. There are times I feel like I am walking around in a heavy suit of lead amour. Everything feels so heavy. However, I can still find the motivation to keep going. I have found ways to push through the fatigue to get important projects done.

Definitely...crash days are often like that for me...also when my blog sugar is low. But it can also often be orthostatic hypotension. Blood tests don't show everything, have you seen a cardiologist?http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/cardiovascular_disorders/symptoms_of_cardiovascular_disorders/orthostatic_hypotension.html

Thank you everyone for the reply. I've also had an extensive cardiac work up. I've had more EKGs than I can count, an echocardiogram, a chest x-ray, a 24 hour holter monitor, and then another 21 day holter monitor. Everything has come back normal.

Hi Courtney!

Your profile and your post don't mention that you have been diagnosed with CFS. I hope you don't have it.

You need a very thorough elimination of all other illnesses that could cause this symptom. It does sound like orthostatic hypotension, which many of us with CFS do have to deal with. However, thyroid problems, your anxiety disorder, or many other things could cause the heavy feeling and the pounding heart.

Can you ask your doctor for a full work up gearing towards finding out if you have CFS. It takes quite a while and a lot of testing to get a confirmed diagnosis. If you DO have it....what you are mentioning in this post is absolutely one of the symptoms some of us deal with. And we have to learn how to treat it. SO, PLEASE see a doctor about getting a "for sure" diagnosis. If you have CFS the first thing you would have to do, is slow yourself down to a crawl and rest.

I wish you the best. You need to find a doctor who is in the know about CFS. It is not an emotional or psychological disorder. It is physical and it is serious!! Hang in there. We're here to help you! xoxo

Courtney, I have Neurally Mediated Hypotension and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia as well as CFS. Those conditions often accompany CFS, but many people are not diagnosed because diagnosis requires a tilt table blood pressure test that is rarely ever administered. I got mine at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. If you find that you have NMH, one thing that is very helpful is to take electrolytes every day and keep your blood volume up by drinking lots of water. Your heart may be working overtime trying to get the blood up to your head and that may be the cause of the heart rate troubles.

I agree with the neurally mediated hypotension and POTS. I havebotht along with CFS. I had a tilt table test by my cardiologist to diagnose it. There are medications to help.

Thanks for your replies, everyone. I haven't done a tilt test yet. My doctor did have his nurse "test me" me though. They had me lie down, sit, and stand while taking my heart rate/blood pressure each time. They said they "ruled out" POTS because everything was within normal ranges.

It's strange, my heart doesn't race every time I stand up. Only sometimes (like when I'm feeling exhausted). For those that have been diagnosed with POTS, does this seem to apply to you?

Not often, but yes.

I remember once having my feet on my ex-boyfriend's lap and couldn't move them off when he wanted to get up. I was worried he'd push them off his lap and I'd fall off the couch.

Hi! I am new here. Your symptoms sound like mine. My doctor sent me for a sleep study and I found out that I have severe hypopnea. That means that I don't breathe deeply enough during the night. I got a CPAP machine and it has made a tremendous difference. I don't dare not sleep without it. .
I still get tired from depression and CFS but not exhausted and heart problems like before.
Hope you get this sorted out soon