Well, I guess I am to assume that there is no simple answer for being able to tell the difference. I want to thank those whoever took the time to read this.

Take a blood test and you will know if your CFS has flared up or is dormant. I checked out your profile and see that you are on some meds for anxiety. These medications for depression and anxiety actually cause fatigue also (dependent on what your taking ) Also, I see you have some other medical conditions such as narcolepsy..these meds also cause fatigue. I suspect that you maybe overweight... if so, you need to start exercising and watching your diet. Because you can take all the meds in the world and you will never feel better.

Another thing to do is ask your PCM for a referral to a pain clinic, provided you've already seen a rheumo. Pain medication and muscle relaxers do cause a little fatigue, however in my experience the benefit is far greater than the negative.
Take Care of You

I have the same problem. The weekends are usually depressing. I do think IT IS BOTH depression & CFS. The only thing that helps me is to PLAN something I really look forward to doing on each day (SAT & SUN) I'm talking about something FUN! nothing to physical but fun. If I do this I get out of bed in a better mood and try to keep my focus on the fun thing for the day. Do you sleep in on the Weekends? I battle this every sat & sun. And I know better. It really does help to get up at the SAME time each day. and if I do nap during the day I usually can sleep at night. (unless I'm running a temp, then I do nap). I read your page and don't forget you are under a lot of stress right now! When things do slow down it probably hits you hard! I really think you should plan some thing Fun or Nice for your self & or Kids. That you can look forward to>
let me know how your day went. also for pain I use Tylenol Arthritus. it works pretty good!
Hugs to U
Suzie

Back in 1988, I was given the MMPI psychological test. It determined that my depression was caused by the CFS/FM instead of Depression causing the pain/fatigue. It was done by a Psychiatrist and the results were sent to the infectious desease specialist.

Dear 4boys The fact that you go to work and doze at your desk suggests that you are TIRED. If you can make it through the week and then sleep on weekends, it sounds like you need to catch up on sleep because you need to. Do you sleep because it passes the time?Do you sleep because you're bored? I am exhausted all the time but don't doze off, I just feel too exhausted to stay up. I am depressed, but I'm depressed because I'm sick. Don't take any chances with depression though, see an expert. There are medicines to keep you more wakeful (modafinil) Your doctors have to make that call.

Yes CFS and FMS usually go hand in hand. I have both and am on Meds for both. It took a long time and the RIGHT doctor to diagnose me properly. A rheumatologist or Pain Management specialist is your best bet. The depression is usually just a symptom of the FMS/CFS symdrome and when those are delt with properly I found the depression lifted completely for me. It was linked to the FMS/CFS.
Try to find a doc who will be better suited for these syndromes and will know more about hoe to treat, you might find yourself less depressed. Good Luck

As stated, I, too, have both FMS and CFS. I sometimes feel so exhausted/fatigued that I CANNOT sleep. This in combination with the pain is sometimes unbearable. Then, when you don't sleep (insomnia), the pain gets worse.

I will be so happy when our illness is recognized for what it is and for what it does to our lives.

Take Care of You

You have all been fantastic. I saw the physican that treats the cfs and he says it is the depression, that the meds need to be changed because after so long we develope an immunity to the active ingredient. Then I spoke with the psychiatrist about this and she said, he couldn't rule out the cfs unless he did blood work to check the levels of the virus in my system. But, to offer some relief, she increased the welbutrin from 3 days to 5-7 days a week, it's up to me if I want to take it on the weekends. (I don't, it makes me too hyper, I need some down time).
As recently as yesterday I found myself doozing at my desk at work. I was working on multiple spreadsheets and I don't know if it was too overwhelming for the brain and it was trying to "shut down" or if I was really tired.
Last weekend I did well, I took a short nap on both days, about an hour or so each day. That's good for me. The problem is is since increasing the one med, my sleeping at night really stinks.
The trials and tribulations of have such a complex illness that few doctors really understand.

I would like to know:

1) What kind of blood test you are talking about for CFS?
-and-
2) What information can you provide me with regarding the CFS being a virus?

I appreciate everyone's help and support.

Take Care of You

The reason he tested me for a virus is because I have a swollen lymphnode on my neck that comes and goes. He said that was caused by a virus and tested me for a gammit of them. The one that showed up was Epstein Barr, which is the adult form of mono.
I did look up cfs on a website that is actually for epstein barr, sorry I don't remember the name, I think it may have been the Mayo clinic one. It listed a lot of symptoms and in it was the strain of herpes that cause the mono (epstein barr) virus that leads to chronic fatigue.
Now, maybe not every case is virus related, but all the research I have done and with the information the doctor gave me, everything points to this being a reaction to a virus that has laid dormant in your body for a number of years and the immune system was able to keep it at bay, the for some reason, the immune systems is weakened and the virus becomes active, which leads to the cfs.
I hope that helped.

Yes, I would love to know about this blood test for cfs!

Some people will tell you (and I agree) that the biggest diff between depression and CFS is that people with depression stop wishing they could get better. They don't care.

With the meds, I had a similar experience. Turned out, I was being exposed to mold toxins - which I have no defense against. The same happened to others in my workplace. Swollen lymph nodes were part of it. Felt like bronchitis, but wasn't that, either. Check your living spaces for water damage, think about possible tick bites. Might not be, but worth a check. Wish I known to do so!

I think of the difference between depression and cfs this way: People with depression don't want to do things, people with cfs WANT to but have learned that doing things makes them more sick. Vicious cycle, not doing things you want or need to leads to depression. I've had depression in the past, it was nothing like my cfs.

Yikes...maybe I should clarify what I meant... People with depression want to do things, too, but often just feel too tired, disinterested or apathetic about them. Like S. said, with depression you stop caring anymore.