Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) describes a sense of exhaustion and post-exertion malaise, even when you have gotten enough rest and sleep. The disease is characterized by six months of incapacitating fatigue experienced as profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina, and problems with concentration and short-term memory. The cause is unknown, but it is a...
I had my first appointment with my new Dr., he did give me a diagnosis and we discussed what our plan of action with meds would be. He explained that he would start me off on one drug at a time until we find what works for me. He said people with FM/CFS can have difficulty with side effects of meds. Do you guys find this to be true? He asked me if the pain or fatigue was worse?
I responded that the pain was the worse but the fatigue was so overwhelming that I couldn't function. I am a single mom with two boys, no family/support in the area and a full time teaching job. I told him because of the fatigue my family life, house, and job were a wreck. A lot of the pain I can take, it's when I lose ME that it's hard. I have had Osteoarthritis in my knees for 31 years. They hurt 24 hours a day. I'm in the process of going though knee replacements or rather putting them off as long as possible since I am only 49. I am so use to the pain that somedays I live on Vicodin.....but the fatigue is overwhelming!
We decided that since I do already have the Vicodin for the pain we would address the fatigue first. He gave me Adderall XR. Do many of you get prescribed Adderall?
So here's the thing...my emotional fatigue is better, I feel like when I do need to do something i,e., chore or job, I can do it IF I am not too overly fatigued. I do have a little jittery feeling with the Adderall but no more that If I drank too much coffee. BUT, MY BODY WON'T COOPERATE! Now that the fatigue is lifted about 25% the pain has become overwhelming! The Vicodin hardly touches it.
I feel as if I have made a mistake. I wish we had addressed the pain first. I guess I was hoping for too much. I guess I was hoping that I would be normal. I am really now just as miserable as before BUT, NOW I AM MORE AWAKE FOR IT being on Adderall!
As I glanced back over this post I realize that part of this is just venting. It's just the idea of waiting a month for my next appointment to get something for the pain. ARGH! How do you guys put up with this syndrome? Cry, cry, cry........
I responded that the pain was the worse but the fatigue was so overwhelming that I couldn't function. I am a single mom with two boys, no family/support in the area and a full time teaching job. I told him because of the fatigue my family life, house, and job were a wreck. A lot of the pain I can take, it's when I lose ME that it's hard. I have had Osteoarthritis in my knees for 31 years. They hurt 24 hours a day. I'm in the process of going though knee replacements or rather putting them off as long as possible since I am only 49. I am so use to the pain that somedays I live on Vicodin.....but the fatigue is overwhelming!
We decided that since I do already have the Vicodin for the pain we would address the fatigue first. He gave me Adderall XR. Do many of you get prescribed Adderall?
So here's the thing...my emotional fatigue is better, I feel like when I do need to do something i,e., chore or job, I can do it IF I am not too overly fatigued. I do have a little jittery feeling with the Adderall but no more that If I drank too much coffee. BUT, MY BODY WON'T COOPERATE! Now that the fatigue is lifted about 25% the pain has become overwhelming! The Vicodin hardly touches it.
I feel as if I have made a mistake. I wish we had addressed the pain first. I guess I was hoping for too much. I guess I was hoping that I would be normal. I am really now just as miserable as before BUT, NOW I AM MORE AWAKE FOR IT being on Adderall!
As I glanced back over this post I realize that part of this is just venting. It's just the idea of waiting a month for my next appointment to get something for the pain. ARGH! How do you guys put up with this syndrome? Cry, cry, cry........
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
Fortunately, my principal is very understanding. He knows I am a excellent teacher and even if I am working at 50% and almost always sitting down, the students are getting a better education than other teachers at 100%. I just need to keep up the pace with my family and work until I can get a medications that can truly help me. I know it will take time but I want help now...
I'm starting to realize that I will perhaps never be the same again. Do you find this to be true?
What I find is that I'm more creative and much more understanding/compassionate since becoming disabled.
If you become disabled you will figure it out.
I know this is probably unrealistic, but is it possible to teach part-time instead? That would enable you to still take the meds and do the things you must do, but be able to recover on the other days.
I hope the best. It's amazing that you've come this far and I hope the answers come that enable you to continue.
I also have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I was prescribed Provigil. I quit taking it after many months because the headaches I got when the drug wore off were really severe. I take it now and then if I know I have to be awake. (Like Grandma's birthday party, etc.) It's not an amphetamine like Adderall and Ritalin but it mimics one. Funny thing is ... I can sleep on it at times too. There is a side effect of all of these drugs that helped me lose a lot of weight -- loss of appetite.
I have Fibromyalgia (pretty severe) and I started out taking Vicodin. When it no longer helped my doctor prescribed Percocet. Just an FYI.
Jenni