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...
Sorry, I'm in a bit of a panic and want to know if any of you have experienced what is currently happening to me: I woke up about 2 1/2 hours ago. I tried to lift my head up and my head got abt 3 inches up and I felt what I can only describe as extreme vertigo; the whole world was tilted and I felt sick and dizzy. I tried every 10 mins and felt the same thing. Finally I had to go to the bathroom so badly, I launched myself up to a sitting position and felt unstable but finally walked over to the bathroom. I ran back to bed. I've sat up a little by little for the past 3 hours. I am sitting up in bed part way leaning against pillows but I feel like the world is still tilted a little. My heart has been fluttering, and my anxiety is through the roof, not sure if I'm anxious because of how I feel or if its another symptom. Either way I had to take 3 tranquilizers to calm down, but I still feel so strange. I'm afraid to get up, afraid I'll pass out. Im sitting still but everything feels "spinny". My anxiety is still really high but I don't want to go anymore overboard with meds. Does this sounds familiar to anyone?, I am scared to death. Maybe it's nothing but it feels really disconcerting.
I experience this sensation a lot, was very bad at onset and throughout the first 18 months but has improved over time but raises its ugly head again if I overdo things or if I have slept badly or just not enough. I am fortunate as it tapers off as the day goes on so I just keep that in my mind to make it through the day.
It is a scary symptom so I am not surprised you feel anxious if you have not experienced it before.
I have heard of other CFS sufferers who also experience it, that said however, I would recommend you see your doctor for any new symptom. It is so ease to blame everything on CFS but it is best to get it checked in case something else is going on. Many inner ear problems and infections can cause this kind of symptom too, some of which there are medications for.
Hope it doesn't hang around too long for you.
Jen
Please address this issue today. Do you live alone? You don't want to pass out and have no one know!! I'm not trying to scare you, but some things need to be addressed more quickly than others.
Anything from CFS to an inner ear infection could be causing your trouble. Many things cause dizziness, including high blood pressure. Can you call and leave a message with your doctor's answering service for the on call physician to call you? You can follow his advice. He may tell you to go to the ER.
My concern is for all of us who suffer from chronic illness. We tend to jump to the conclussion that this symptom is just another "thing" with our illness and that's something we all do.....but we shouldn't.
I'm a medical person and I wouldn't be giving you good advice to say that "this can wait"! Please contact your doctor or go to the ER.
Better to be safe......
I did initially immediately think abt where my phone was, could I take a taxi; did I need an ambulance (yes, I live alone and have no one to call). Over the day it has gotten somewhat better. Whatever it is, it is not inner ear or brain something, that much I have figured out. I still have a headache but I think I can wait until tomorrow to contact the MD. Thx for your advice, I agree you can't always assume things are CFS related. Hopefully, I'll wake up fine tomorrow.
Yes, I have experienced this to varying degrees. If it is caused by cfs (and not that weird inner ear illness) this is what I have learned in my experience with it.
This has a tendency to be worse when I am or have been overdoing it. Also if I'm attempting to get up early or shorting myself on sleep. It was worst when I was still working...ok even worse when I had pneumonia which is how all this began for me. But my doc did say that it is very possible that the cfs came first and the pneumonia quickly after.
Yes I do have this problem if I have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. Again this varies. My symptoms cluster. So if I've been having worse fatigue this is more likely to happen or be worse. I feel disoriented and wobble. I reach for the wall. Feel less alone?
The very best thing I have found ot do when this happens is to try to go back to sleep. If you are not sleepy and can't, just rest and daydream or act like you are trying to sleep. Similar breathing patterns, similar way of laying on the bed. For me doing this until I feel ready to get up (can be an hour) makes the whole day go better. Checking too often makes it take longer. Try to let the tension go....that "I'm about to get up" tension as your muscles get ready.
I get muscle weakness with this too.
After quitting my job and getting really good at figuring out how I have to feel before trying to get up, this is not nearly as bad. Like I can get up in a few minutes (if nothing woke me up early) instead of an hour or more.
Consider it official permission to sleep in on a regular basis.
I am glad you are feeling much better! I do hope you have had yourself checked out to discount other serious conditions?
After a Neurologist consult I was diagnosised luckly only with Benign Positional Vertigo and yes while I do have CFS & POTS, this has it's own issues.. I have found An Epley otolith repositioning manoeuvre performed by a medical professional to be the most helpfull in reccurent vertigo, along with a anti nause drug used by chemo patients to stop vomiting etc
It is this condition that lands me in hospital these days as it triggers the other two if not controlled... So yes it can be very scary but there is help out there should you need it. Take care