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...
So my "CFS is real but all in your head" rheumatologist says I just need to "see a psychiatrist, get on heavy antibiotics and go back to work". I see a psychologist and LMFT doing EMDR and CBT therapy regularly but I've never been to a psychiatrist. I don't believe his advice to be wise but I'm willing to go anywhere and try (almost) anything. Both of my therapists say the same thing, I have mild depression as a result of the catastrophic life change caused BY the illness, not depression causing the CFS.
Is anyone here on anti-depressants and actually feels their medication regimen has helped raise the bar on the push/crash cycles and is providing a level of functionality that allows you to go back to work or even get out of the house more?
I'd like to hear a few success and horror stories if possible before I go see him next month, and maybe I can decide whether I am willing to "try them" or not (assuming that is what he recommends also).
My condition has worsened in the years (about 5, I think) since then and now that I am only able to get out of the house - briefly - once a week or so and really struggle with basic day to day self care, I have more trouble coping. Around a year ago I got so bad I began to seriously consider suicide. That really frightened me and I appealed for help - which was limited and short term, but got me past the crisis.
So in my case, I can say that yes, the medication was worth it (especially since I didn't suffer any of the side effects which often hit people with CFS harder than others) but it is not a complete solution.
I've been on anti-anxiety medication for only a few weeks now, and it's a little hard to tell what's going on because of the trouble adjusting to the medication, and I'm not entirely sure if I think I have CFS to begin with, although every time I read about it I seem to recognize only too well a lot that I go through, which is why I joined this group.
Anyway, the medication (an SSRI) is supposed to also be an anti-depressant, but thus far it makes me feel sleepy without putting me to bed any earlier, and often like I didn't get much sleep at all, so thus far it seems to be both increasing the brain fog, and increasing the sense of weakness and lethargy, more than doing anything about them.
I don't know if any of that is to be expected given what we know about CFS, but my understanding is that SSRIs are supposed to maximize or elevate serotonin and may be applicable where serotonin is deficient, whereas it may still be controversial whether CFS features deficient or excessive serotonin. I don't know much about the experiences that others have had, but maybe this sort of medication just isn't the right thing?
The psychiatrist who put me on the medication also recommended supplementing Omega-3s since they have a part to play in serotonin synthesis, but I notice I'm already forgetting to take them, which suggests that they may not be doing enough to be memorable or inspire enthusiasm.
On the other hand, I think there's more to serotonin synthesis than just Omega-3s, so maybe there's still something missing, or maybe the psychiatrist still doesn't quite understand what he's dealing with?