I have had CFS for 23 years. Fibromyalgia is almost the same disease. More pain in FM and More fatigue in CFS. never been able to find a dr. who understands the enormity of the fatigue. My bones hurt and any type of activity is almost impossible. I have tried every treatment, diet, supplement that is out there with no lasting results. Any kind of stress emotional or physical makes me worst. It's a roller coaster of feeling better for a few days & then crashing & can't do anything. I recently heard of Gluten Intoerance. one women I know had CFS & went on gluted free diet & was well in about a month. She has to stay on gluten free for the rest of her life. If she eats anything w/ gluton in it she gets sick again. Has anyone tried this gluten free diet and what were the results.

My Dr. Said they mostly go hand in hand. Different degrees of intensity. The pain is killer, I take meds for that helps some, but the fatigue is overwhelming. Not just fatigue but total exhaustion. It takes over my life. If you find something that helps, please let me know. I also take sleep meds.

Going to take a nap now. Gentle hugs, Carol

I was diagnosed with CFS, too, but I actually don't believe it. One symptom that is supposed to be a hallmark is the post-exertional fatigue. Normal people can be invigorated by a walk. Supposedly, people with CFS, collapse. There is one blood signature that people with CFS mention, low natural killer cells, which I do have.

At the moment, I am having an unusual amount of fatigue.

For people who have autoimmune disorders, are you taking plaquenil? I have been reading that can help with fatigue from autoimmune issues. I'm taking it now, but just started in December. It takes a long time to kick in, so I'm really hoping for improvement.

Boz, yes, I am on a gluten free diet, find it helpful, and I often mention it. What I have read and heard fromthe fibro specialist I see is that people's diagnosis sometimes has to do with the specialty of the physician they see. Also, that most/all (?) people with fibro qualify for CFS, but that not all people with CFS qualify for Fibro.

The fibro specialist prescribed naltrexone (now at 3 mg)and it has helped me tremendously. it is an endorphin blocker that "makes the body think" that it is low in endorphins so that the body revs up production.

I was diagnosed with CFS/ME by a Fibro specialist using the Canadian criteria.

http://www.investinme.org/InfoCentre%20Guidelines.htm

I was diagnosed with both at the same time,
I have profound fatigue and the post-exertional malaise and exercise intolerance along with the daily pain, and the flares of worse pain when I push myself too much.
Some things I do to help with fatigue: I take melatonin at night, to help get better quality of sleep.
With breakfast I take a liquid, sublingual B- complex and D complex vitamins, along with a Centrum multi-vitamin. and ATP-20 supplement.
I also drink more water when fatigued, and eat salty things like pickles and olives, I'm not sure why, but the salty foods help. I get dehydrated easily, that is probably why they help me..
Another thing is taking lots of breaks and rests between doing things, try not to push myself to do too much at once. Otherwise I get in this push and crash cycle. I go go go when I feel okay and then I crash hard for days or weeks paying for it, and as soon as I feel a little energy I try to do everything again, and it leads to another crash mode. It's a vicious cycle.
Those are just some things I have tried, and have found a tiny bit helpful but not enough to feel normal.

WhteDolphin, eating salty is very interesting because I love things that are a bit salty but tend to stay away. I will try and see if I too notice a difference.

Brain fog, forgot... Swimming in a very warm pool helps me. Getting started is a battle of will sometimes when I am tired after work, errands, and whatever, but the swim energizes me. Issue is doing enough, but not too much. Started months ago first just walking in the pool. Started swimming after almost five months of walking that increased in duration just the tiniest bit each week. Now up to 25 laps of a 25 yard pool.