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...
About 4 years ago I had Glandular fever. Ever since then I have had bad health and have felt constantly tired. I sleep really heavy but when I wake up I am still tired. If I got to bed early I am still tired. Nothing makes a difference. I also seem to pick up every illness going and often feel like I have tonsillitus. I have been diagnosed with IBS and GERD (acid reflux) because I complain of feeling sick and get an upset stomach but I have seen thats a possible symptom of ME as well. I also have very weak muscles, my arms and legs ache like the flu and I am often lightheaded and dizzy. I do sometimes have trouble remembering things like what word to say. Could my Glandular fever have turned into CFS? Help needed
I have had loads of tests done and they diagnosed me with acid reflux and Ibs. The trouble is I tend to focus on feeling sick and didnt really talk about my other symptoms so they wouldnt have thought this. That is what happended when I had glandular fever. They did the test for Epstein Barr but were 99.9% convinced it would come back negative because I was just complaining of feeling sick (even though I had the bad throat and tiredness too) but it came back possitive so the same thing might be happening here. All I know is, ever since then I have been ill all the time. I pick up every thing. I always feel run down etc and I have had digestive problems since then. I was fine before.
I encourage you to stay with this group because there are members from the UK. Maybe if you posted something about living in the UK someone could give you their own personal advice about how they approached getting help and what they went through. JenC is someone that lives in the UK and she has been through this experience. I admire her.
You are sick and you know it so hang in there and reach out to some of these folks from the UK for advice.
The doctor said that even though it sounds very much like CFS the way they diagnose it is by rulling out everything else (as someone said on here). She said I have had most of those tests done already and it is what they are doing at the moment. She said she is pretty sure it is that but doesnt want to label it as that and that there isnt much they could do for me that they arent already doing. Cant see what that is as all they are doing it giving me medication for my stomach and nausea.
So I spoke to my boss today who has bad ME. I asked her what she did to help herself and she said go to a herbalist. I am going to treat this myself (seeing as the doctor doesnt want to label me!) so what is the best way to approach it?