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...
I have been living with chronic fatigue for 18 years, i was fed up with the NHS just saying pace, ooo anxiety is terrible heres some antidepressants, well thats just part and parcel of ME. For a year and half i paid money to see a private doctor absoultely fantastic, was told about hypbaeric chambers ( which by the way in my area has been going for 16 years) which for the first time cleared that foggy aand brain zaps, prescribed meds especially for anxiety sorted out a psychologist which didnt work out but i felt well on the way, started my studies again, well ive found that unless im at the chambers every other day i cant think like my cognitive skills have gone, pain was back my exams are in four weeks. So in desperation i went to the NHS doctor and said i had researched that ADHD meds have helped with chronic fatigue. I am 52 years of age my doctor said unless i was to go to a psychologist he wouldnt help me, i begged to be reffered to a psychiatrist he flatly refused and he said that im afraid for the rest of your life you will have to pace yourself, i started to cry and he said now will you please leave, i was sobbing i said you telling me to go, he said yeas im telling you to go. Imagine your 52 year old friend, mother, daughter sobbing in a front of strangers in a waiting room being told there is nothing for the rest of your life. The reception staff were brilliant got me another GP straight away and she is sorting out a psychiatrist from the M.E. clinic. I have felt suicidal, waking up crying, cant concentrate, anxiety from hell exams in 3 weeks, i have a fear of everything and especially doctors as it took long time to get diagnosed and then so long to get diagnosed with under active thyroid because its your M.E. im sick of....... being sick now i want to just give up, my husband and friends are supportive but i have an opportunity to travel the world if i pass this exam but whats the point ive nothing to look forward to but pace....... i dont want anyone to feel sorry for me, I am just cant stop crying and i wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience. By the way ive complained in writing but a written apology which i may get is not the same as my doctor feeling shame and humilation, sobbing in a waiting room full of strangers..... I will go back to private practice again and will see the nhs if i need antibiotics.
It is just horrible that the person we put trust in to try and help us can be so dis-respectful and unsympathetic but we have to remember they are just another person and not different from the rest of us, more important or special (Even if they act like it!).
I don't completely blame my doctor, because he doesn't personally know my story and he doesn't have the right tools like a councilor to try and get that.
But he is still very rude and most of all un-supportive, and I find this hard to forgive.