CFS: Thought You Were Cured For Awhile?

I've had CFS for around 17 years. I've had a few really good patches... But then I go "Oh, I'm feeling better!!" and go do more and work longer hours... Then I get sick again.

I had a really great patch a few years ago, I felt awesome... So I uped my work hours, lol.

Now I'm working slightly to much, and all my symptoms are back. BUT I'm still able to keep up with my hours, somthing that I've never been able to do before.

That didn't really answer the question did it?

Basically, yes. I've had nearly full remissions, and full blown relapses, and then another remission. BUT the relapes are getting further appart, and I'm more able to keep going through the relapses

I've been sick for roughly 3 years. I have periods of time where I'm relatively symptom free, and then I start going downhill and inevitably CRASH. I see an ND-thought it was helping, now I'm not so sure. How did you get diagnosed? Are you taking any meds?

W

Minnesota do you think it's the virus causing a relapse or the relapse causing viral reactivation?

Minnesota, is immunostim still helping you? Can you update?

Hello, I have had CFS for about 7 years. At first it was really crappy (tight neck, sore throat, bad headache...all the symptoms). During 1st month of illness Doc said I tested positive for mono. So waited, but it became apparent it wasn't just mono. I did research on-line and pretty much figured out what I had somehow gotten into. So I set myself up for the long haul of probably 10 years or more...yes, I actually set that expectation with myself.
During the first 2-3 years I would have 1 or 2 tolerable days and then a couple weeks or more of crappy same sh't different day day's. I was fortunate that I was never confined to bed although I took lots of naps and still held my job fairly normal taking a few more sick days than my 3 weeks. Of course very tough to cope with. I was 27 and in the best health of my life--A collegiate swimmer and volleyball player and just met my wife to be. I am very patient and easy going by nature so this has been a great attribute during this period of my life. I realize everyday that I've got a wonderful life in spite of this illness and that I have much to be thankful for namely 2 wonderful little kids and an awesome wife.

Long and short of it...Slowly, but surly I started to get better. I noticed from the very beginning that the sickness cycled through my body. The good days then (are now my worst days) and the length of time of good days has gradually increased to the point of being about 90-95% for about 3 years--and actually not thinking about it but rarely. However, I have always known I would have some sort of flare up eventually...and it sure is difficult to deal with when it happens because a small part of your disciplined mind can't help but think "what if it gets worse again?". This is the greatest fear anyone has when dealing with re-curing illness'. My most current flare started at about Halloween 2012 and has gone up and down for the last 3 months. During each 2 week period I have gotten really good days (pretty much 90%) for a couple of days then slide back to being 3 really bad days (again, these bad days are bad for me now, but compared to what I went through early on they were considered good days). My bad days right now are the headaches, a little nausea, being tired, eyes hurt, and throat is tight...need to nap if I can find time. It's indeed scary to go through flare ups...But they will pass. It seems that everyone's body handles this illness differently. Mine has gradually adjusted to it, where when I have flares it doesn't have the same strength and duration...still sucks though. Possibly harder mentally to handle now after being in remission for so long. But deal with it I must.
I have not been able to find any reason why flares are brought on. Even when I was in the first couple years of this fight I was playing volleyball and doing P90X. Those things didn't seem to make me any worse. I certainly didn't feel the best doing them at times...but the adrenaline rush was good for my body and mind. I also am a bass fishing tournament angler...late to bed early to rise and I just marched right through it, happily...fishing just makes me forget about how I feel. It's something I have been obsessed about since I was 5 years old. I only think about what that little ol fish is doing and how I can catch him. Again, so healthy for the spirit.
I know that some of us have had an unbearable time with this illness. Some of us are doing ok. and some of us are doing better than ok. But we all need to hang in there. It's scary and unfair but we need to believe in our body's and hold hope that some day soon there will be answers to our questions and that we will figure it out and defeat it.