I remember an old TV commercial for bits and bites. I also remember Forest Gump talking about boxes of chocolates. You just never know what you are going to get when you wake up in the morning.
Sometimes I think,hey, I feel not too bad today. Perhaps tomorrow I will.... and then tomorrow comes and, well, I don't. No explanation at all - sometimes it just happens, you know just like, um... excrement just happens. Actually it does, but that is a whole other nasty story.

In answer to your last question, the answer is no - my doc just gently smiles and shakes her head

Thanks for replying, Denise. Does your fatigue get as bad as I described, or is it just me?

When I had really bad crashes during the strain of my caregiving days, taking care of my dad in his last years, I would get so sick during crashes that just getting up to get a glass of water from the kitchen would make me fall apart.

People don't realize, they think our illness is like having a fly buzzing around you and annoying you. In a bad crash, it's more like a full grown grizzly bear who's really, really ticked off.

I remember once when I was talking to my nephew on the phone about CFS, he said..."This isn't something that interferes with your being able to live your life, is it?" It was obvious from his tone he was trying to "put things in perspective". I don't think he understood why I was laughing so hard.

Were you doing a semi regular/regular schedule for the days before the two days of rough crash? Not super hard, but within your normal range? The only reason I ask is that I used to do that, sort of make it through the week, draggy in the mornings, have a serious rise in flu-like symptoms in the evenings, but on the week-ends completely crash, unable to function. Sleep, push to get out of bed to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water, then back to bed. Sending you big gentle hugs!

You are not alone. I spent the entire day in bed yesterday. I had to yake my daughter to the doctor, luckly she has her drivers permit. By the time we got home I had to have her cover me up with a blanket & put socks on my feet. I was to weak to sit back up once I layed back down. Those days do come out of the blue sometimes. Or they come after having major stress, or just having one good day. I am grateful to finally find people who understand, but so sad so many others suffer this much. I would wish this on anyone.

Brain fog!! I would NOT wish this on anyone. Ugh. Sorry. Another one of those days. :-/

I remember having Bad Hair Days. Or feeling like I had Nothing To Wear Todays. And Running Late, skip The Shower Days.
Now there are frequent My Hair Hurts Days. And the annoying It Hurts My Skin For Clothing To Touch It days. Daily showers are a thing of the past. Getting up the energy to get in there (even with a seat ready for me), raising my arms to wash my hair, the need to rest for an hour before I can even dress myself, no shower on a day I'm expecting company (need to conserve energy)..that is life.
Thank God for good days and thank the Lord for the bad days, as well.It could always be worse..and there is forever some thing to be grateful for...on bad days it is just a little harder to locate! I just keep looking.

This crash seems very random, though I've also had the type that come after days of "normal" activity or stress (which is easier to understand).

It's nice to know I'm not alone (it gets a bit scary to have the really bad days when no one around...often including doctors...will understand or validate the experience), but I'm sorry others experience this as well.

Thank you for your feedback and support!

thats why I hate the envelope theory; it really just doesnt work for me and I always feel guilty, like I could have prevented the crash. I did not get out of bed until 2 today, and I really need to get back in.
I have received other diagnosis in the past few months, and I am sure they contribute. Has your doc checked your IgG levels? I was diagnosed with common variable immune deficiency in november. yesterday I was diagnosed with Behcets disease also. I have had CFIDS for 10 years though.

Hi Dana, I know exactly how you feel I too have days where I'm utterly, completely, exhausted and have to psych my self up to get dressed only to callapse back into bed. It can be very depressing especially on on warm sunny day :-) .....i feel like I'm wasting a day/week and lifes passing me by. Its hard, but CFS is a medical condition and we cant control when and where crash episodes occur. All we can do is listen to our bodies and respond with rest. Take care x

YES.

I think this must be the most frustrating part of this illness. I have crashes that I just know are coming because I've just been through a good deal of stress but I've had more than enough crashes that just came out of the blue as far as I could figure.

Do any of us have the time for this? It's such a waste. I used to get mad and grumpy about it but that just makes for an even more miserable day. It's best just to go to bed and hope for unconsciousness to pass the time. Sometimes, I can't sleep, can't read, watch tv, move, nothing. All I can do is think.

It used to feel like pure torture but I decided to get even with my illness. Crash time is when I design product layouts, quilts, plan how I'll redecorate my kitchen or landscape my backyard. I even do some of what I dream up.

I appreciate everyone's responses.

Duckymax, I do the same "thinking" activity when I'm unable to do anything else. I've followed through with quite a few craft or research projects I conceived of while immobilized in bed. My mind isn't always cooperative if I'm too foggy, but even fleeting moments help.

I know how different all of our crashes are.....but mine don't come as a "day" or even a week. I may have three weeks where I'm able to get up and dressed, maybe even do a few dishes, and still feel ok the next day!!

Maybe I will get a full week or two of this "up" kinds of days. THEN it comes...the crash, at which time I am completely bedridden, confined to my room, unable to stand, very low blood pressure, very pale skin, very fluish feeling......and I have to just stay in bed and ride it out! I cannot even visit with my husband because I cannot climb the stairs to get to him. He has to completely take care of me. I am totally disabled at this point.

Three to five weeks of this crashing usuall ensues. I awake every day, hoping that this will be the day I start to pull out and get back on my feet.

As of today, I have been in this last crash, for 5 weeks and 2 days. Still waiting....this is my CFIDS....this is my life.

I am not depressed. I've been suffering with this "up" "down" unpredictable life of crashing then moving for five years now. It doesn't change. It doesn't get better, but it doesn't get worse either. It's just debilitating and very upsetting to see life going on all around me, while I just lie there.

Two weeks from now, I may be walking around Target, shopping. That's how "crashing" rolls for me~

DarlaC, I'm sorry you're crashing. I completely empathizing with waking up hopeful every morning that it might start to pass. In my recent crash, every morning before I opened my eyes I had this profound sense of hope. But by the time I opened them I knew that my body wasn't ready to come out of it and it was going to be a rough day.

For me, coming out of it happens slowly. I'll be able to get up in the morning and sit at my computer, then need to rest. Maybe I can feed myself after napping. That's how I know it's on the upswing. But since I have Fibromyalgia as well, I never have healthy/fully functional days.

I dream my dreams too. Right now i m in the hospital trying not to be jeous of everyone on spring vacation. I m looking hopeful to get out in tome to celebrate easter with my four best friends who are coming from diffetent states. Dreams do help, even if you only get 5 minutes to make them real.