I am sorry to hear about your condition, first of all. Secondly, I would not pull the trigger on telling them. Most people see CFS as an excuse even though it is well documented, just not well understood yet. I started telling my friends and peers about it at age 19 or 20, and I regret it with every fiber of my being. I lost most of my friends overnight because they thought I was either crazy or lazy.

I would consider some other therapies or treatments that do not involve medications. I took Zoloft, Paxil, Xanax, Nystatin, all to no avail. You may have a systemic yeast infection like many women, or some environmental toxicity like heavy metals, and should probably see a holistic D.O. who can help you across the board. Consider taking more vitamins, doing some chelation therapy, using some homeopathics, getting as much rest as you need to, and getting some sort of support system in place so that you have at least one person to vent to who actually understands the condition. Maybe you should even consider working for a D.O. who has the knowledge of an M.D. but also the openness to natural health? I am sorry to see so many good, hardworking nurses with health problems. I think the traditional education model that educates nurses often fails to give them the adequate knowledge they need for holistic health. God bless.

lunar, if you have any signs and symptoms of Intestinal Disbiosis (damaged GI tract) then ibropufen,aspirin and even paroxetine may be causing sustained damage to your integraty of your GI tract wall.
Caffiene tablets for a CFS'er can be tricky too because if your CFS has a Thyroid or an Adrenal gland origin then you can further damage your Thyroid or Adrenal gland by driving your body and gland into an almost 'burnt out' state.
Borroca's Ok cause its mostly a Vitamin B hit and most CFS sufferers have a dameged Krebs cycle with mitocondria that are impaired in their ability to catalyse Vit B 12 into energy at a celular level.
I'd ask your Doc if there is any possibility paroxetine could be damaging your GI tract.
Intestinal Disbiosis damaged GI tract wall becomes signifigant because it allows higher gastro Intestinal digestive toxins into the blood stream which induce a high Nitric Oxide blood gas level which can cause an anerobic body state limiting O2's ability and causing pain like Mayofascial pain and fibromialgia. The NO is then described as being in a disregulated state. Its not easy to get it back into a re regulated state. The NO then causes depression, because NO interupts Seratonin and Dopamine balances.
The most sucessful treatment at the moment is the simplified methylation protocal.

http://www.ei-resource.org/articles/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-articles/simple-methylation-treatment-protocol-for-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/

http://forums.aboutmecfs.org/showthread.php?4528-Rich-Vank-s-Simplified-Methylation-Protocol-Poll

However this protocal must be administered under a CFS literate doctors care.

You can use the term Neuro Immune Fatigue Disease if you have a Dr that is farmiliar with CFS and NIF.

http://cfsknowledgecenter.ning.com/?showAddContent=1&xg_source=msg_wel_network

EI, Pheonix Rising, Co-Cure Network, cfsknowlegecenter, drmyhill.co.uk and DS's CFS support group are great CFS resource.

CFS is real mate. Your not lazy. You probably love your occupation and are really bummed out that your fatigued too. Will you have to tell your family and friends eventually?
I've included some videos below that can help you explain CFS to others.

http://www.cfsknowledgecenter.com/videos.php

http://forums.aboutmecfs.org/content.php?381-Straight-Talk-From-Dr-Montoya-Stanford-Hospital-CFS-Herpesvirus-Lecture

http://mediamill.cla.umn.edu/mediamill/display/96037

Al

Thank you Yankee and Alistair....I have a lot of reading to do tonight, its just as a new diagnosis its knocked me for six......has my doctor given up on me??
My IBS mainly due to sluggish bowel movements and colicky pain, which is under control with anti spasmic meds.
I'm based in England not sure about CFS as a disease, may be its a more heavily researched chronic illness over in USA......I'm still gathering info myself :-)

I too am sorry to hear that you have joined our club - we certainly don't need more members! But please, don't be ashamed because you have a nasty illness. I hate to put it like this, but you have a right to be sick with CFS. Direct the ignorant to places like the CDC or the Wall Street Journal if they think you are malingering.

As far as best treatment, there is some good advice already in this thread, but everyone is different. Since there is no cure, then you have to work on your symptoms and getting by. Personally, I don't like the sound of caffeine tablets - they just may give you enough energy to run you into crash. I have found relief from pain and overall discomfort with gabapentin, but the only cure for exhaustion and no energy is rest rest rest, to the point where I had to leave my job. I hope you get your rest as much as you can, to avoid getting into a bad crash and then not being able to do anything.

But I really think you need to tell work that you do have this nasty illness....imho

My friends from the UK call it Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or M.E. for short. There are suppose to be a lot of good support groups over there. Gentle ((hugs)) Patricia

Lunar, you got some really great suggestions here. And definatley do as much research as you can.

The only thing I would like to add is that you need to learn to pace yourself. If you keep pushing yourself with ibuprofen & caffeine, you are going to crash one day and it will not be pretty.

NOW is a great time to learn to listen to your body, slow down when you get week, you need to rest. You do not have to do everything for everybody. Doing a little bit of housework blesses your family too. Your kids will remember a mom who reads with them kinder than a mother who is always stressed out and yelling at them to clean up.

Learn how to relax, try mediation or yoga. Maybe your kids will do yoga with you. These are the best ways I have found to help me stay out of bed.

Make sure to drink plenty of water. 8-8oz glasses a day or more

You don't need to tell everyone, just yourself.
Take time for you, relax.
Being an "A" personality myself I know how hard all of this calmness can be, but it will help you in the long run. What could it hurt?

Good Luck,
SpaceGirl

http://www.hfme.org/mevsms.htm Thank you all.....I'd like to share this site - i sooo agree with the author on wishing ME had as much respect as MS and their similarities .....xx