Welcome to this group abbybowles,
You have come to the right
place. People here do understand. They also share really good
information and give wonderful support.
It is not easy to deal with these lifestyle changes. Quite
the opposite. It can be most daunting.
I am very sorry to hear that you've had to go through this.
I just want to send you my very best for today and let
you know that you are practicing very good self care
by coming on here IMO. I really like the lovely
flower icon.

Although it's sad to welcome you here, I'm glad you have been diagnosed already. My symptoms began at about your age, but I wasn't diagnosed for several years.I lived with that oh-so-familiar "blah" without knowing what it was. Now that you know, it's a matter of learning how to manage your "new" self. Once I did that, I was able to enjoy many years of almost completely normal life (if not quite as active as it had been). I hope you can find a good balance.

Dear, dear girl, I am so sorry to hear that. I got mono at 16 and then got CFS. So, I was ill as a young person as well. I went to college and got through a four-year degree, but I became sicker. I tried to push through the exhaustion and did myself more damage overall. My advice is to not give up on life, but take things at a pace you can manage. So, if you are going to college, just don't overload your schedule. Take lots of breaks. Rest whenever you can. Rest is so crucial. You are so welcomed and received here. I hope you will let us love on you. Many blessings.

Hi Abby - wanted to add my welcome and my sorrow that you have been dx with this illness...also to give you some hope as when you are younger often times you can have some quite long periods of remission. So care for yourself, eat well, rest and get some sunshine if you can and hopefully you'll have some better days ahead...

2013 i got mono after competing in swim, non stop practicing and on top of that school. Once swim season ended it all hit me, I was out of school for 3 months, and always getting sick. the year after that nothing happened but I worked at a surf camp every day, 5 hours, 6 days out of the week, all summer, the day after work ended for the season, i got mono once again. Ever since then I have not been the same, I am tired all the time. Its a tired i cant explain. I dont eat any meat so people always tell me to eat a steak and get protein when that is not the case at all. Last week i was diagnosed with cfs. im in a funk about the whole thing right now. im always happy, and put others first, i just feel so blah.

Sorry to hear that this started with mono. That's pretty common. Glad you had a Doc with a clue...
I understand your desire to be meatless. There are other ways to get protein. A couple coconut milk and whey protein smoothies a day with some coconut oil mixed in will give you all kinds of good stuff...
After bariatric surgery I literally lived on that for 4 months and honestly never felt better....
Not suggesting soy only because if you have a propensity for thyroid issues it's a bad idea...
Sorry so choppy, checking in between doing chores...

Hi Atbby!!!

You said last week you were diagnosed after two episodes of mono! Do you mean you were diagnosed with mono again, or CFS?? Just curious. My brain doesn't always work so well!! UGH!

I'm very sorry to hear this news if it is true that you have CFS at such a tender age. However, I had mono in college at 21. I did not get CFS until I was in my fifties! Wierd. But that's how it goes. CFS seems to come after a virus, mono being a very common one!!! So surely it's possible that you may have CFS.

I hope you have a really good doctor that has ruled out every other possiblity for your weariness before he tells you you have CFS.

We are able to manage our illness, but the fatigue is very difficult, and you will need support and help! That's why I'm glad you're here!! We will support and help you. I just want to be sure that your doctor has ruled out every other possibility of a treatable illness before he lands this diagnosis on you.

Blessings!! We are here for you! xo

Abby, how sad to get this diagnosis at such a young age, I, too, was in my 50's before I got it. I had a long productive life before I got sick so I am sorry you have gotten it so young. This is a great place to receive the support, love & friendship you will need.

I hope you will continue to post & read. People do not understand chronic illness & they definitely don't understand CFS/ME. When I was first dx'd I tried to tell my friends & family about my illness & got all kinds of advice on what I should do to get better, how I needed to just get over it & what else it probably was. Only a couple of friends actually believed me. As I said before I hope you will continue to post here. Hugs, Denise

I have no appetite at all.

You have no appetite? Mm. Well, come to think of it, I have been so tired at times that I was too tired to eat. I do pray you will improve. Keep looking for help anywhere you can find it. BTW, your pic is beautiful. Many blessings.

Welcome to our group, even though it's no blessing to be here. Like you, I have never stopped wishing that I could just forget all this business and just go back to being energetic and happy in my life.

My advice is simple, I tend to be direct. Your old life is over and you have to let go of it. No good will come of wishing for it to come back.

But that doesn't mean you will have NO life. People with our illness have written best-selling novels, traveled, raised children, accomplished things. It's a harsh adjustment, and it's painful, but life does go on.

I first got sick in college when I got diagnosed with "a glandular form of mononucleosis", whatever that means. That was a long, long time ago...and I was never the same after that. But I earned two more college degrees after that, started a business and ran it for almost twenty years...and persisted.

We can still exercise, just not in the same way or as intensively. There's a video on Youtube by Dr. Mark Van Ness, an exercise physiologist, that explains how our bodies respond to exercise. I recommend it very strongly...especially the second half where Dr. Van Ness makes recommendations for exercising to rebuild and maintain our capability to do everyday things.

I consume lots of soy, I'm vegan, and I exercise every day. I don't accept the scare tactics that are circulating online about soy, gluten, and all the rest of the craziness you find. I believe in eating real food, not "nutrients" and I seem to do much better on whole grains, fresh veggies, and a varied diet of home-cooked food.

We don't all agree here, but we seem to get along just fine. There are nice people here in this group.

hey abby
i had mono , epstein barr & then chronic fatigue. it definately is blah but you can get great support from everyone on this sight. :o) hope it helps you thru ....
lori

Hi Abby.... So sorry you are dealing with this illness at such a young age. Welcome dear and may you find much loving support here, which I know you will actually....
The only people that truly comprehend what you are going through are those of us that have CFS... We are here for you. Don't feel neglected when even family members don't seem to comprehend your trials and tribulations with this devastating disease. However difficult we continue to do life and presently I am viewing mine as an adventure...
And I am in a crash trying to move. Lol.
I wish you many good days because they do exist.
Gentle hugs and blessings

A few people do recover, or at least, improve. Estimates of this vary widely, and are often, but not always, tied to a particular treatment. I have seen anywhere from 3% to 30%. The traits in common seem to be:
Young when diagnosed,
Previously healthy
Ill for a short time (a few years or less). The longer it goes the less chance of recovery.
Acceptance of limitations, and so rest, rest ,rest.
Lifestyle: Mild exercise, Low stress,
Eating well: no fast food, low low sugar, whole foods, fresh foods

Here are some links that might helphttp://www.cfidsselfhelp.org/library/will-i-get-better-tilting-odds-your-favor

And one of the best sites for all kinds of info
http://drlapp.com/
This site features Dr Lapp, an internationally recognized expert for many years. I especially like the "Ask the Doctor" tab.

There is no predicting who will improve. It's a low cance. You can hope but cannot count on it. Some people get worse over time. Make permanent changes to your life now.
I wish you well.
Linda