help

Hi there, im new to this site and i dont know what im doing. Ive suffered from chest pain since last december and it has slowly spread through my arms stomach legs etc. I have constant headaches, i dont sleep well at all if i sleep. I am always tired. I have been to see several different doctors at my practice and they all have said take paracetamol it will go away and it hasnt. Only one doctor decided it was viral fatigue, but i havent had any major viruses. Other than that ive had no help and i dont know what is happening to me. I am a single parent with two young children and i feel so helpless as im so tired all of the time and am missing out on doing things with them because of this which is just adding to guilt i already feel due to whatever is wrong with me. Is there anyone that could tell me they feel similar as at the moment i feel im on my own with all of this and when i try to explain how i feel to people they dont seem to believe me or take me seriously.

Oh honey, are you in the U.K? I'm an american living in England, and whenever I go see a doctor about any medical problems, I seem to just get prescribed medication, and scooched in and out of the room, and it seems most of the time I am diagnosing myself!! The doctors here aren't very helpful, I find, and it can get frustrating. Just keep banging away at them, I am sure you will get somewhere!! And why would you sound foolish!! You are suffering, and there's just no outlet, or help!! Feel free to email me and dump anytime, [email protected] maybe we could exchange horror stories! Hope you get better, and just keep hugging those children.

Hi unaware,
Welcome to HealingWell and the CFS message board! I'm sorry to hear you are having so much trouble, both with your health, and with getting diagnosis and treatment. Don't worry, you don't sound foolish AT ALL. I've heard the same type of problem many, many times, so you are definitely not alone (although I know it seems like it sometimes).
While I'm not an expert or professional, your description of symptoms does sound like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), which is also known as Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) in the US and certain other countries. Also in the UK and Australia, it's called Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME) although I might not have spelled that last one right. Another less common name is Post Viral Syndrome, or Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome. If you read enough research, you will notice certain combinations of symptoms associated with certain names. But in general, it is all the same illness.
There's no known cause, cure, or even very effective treatment for CFS. But research is ongoing which gives one hope....well, it gives me hope anyway. The key to getting appropriate treatment, in my experience, is to forget about trying to get a name put on your illness by a Dr. Most people drive themselves and their Drs nuts, trying to get a diagnosis, while Drs themselves have no intention of giving a diagnosis, once they realize "what they're dealing with". On the other hand, if you just present one symptom at a time to your Dr, your Dr will be much more willing to treat each symptom, than to give you a diagnosis (in my experience). CFS resembles a number of other illnesses, so it is important to have those illnesses ruled out (medical language which means make sure you don't have them). But as you present your symptoms to your Dr, your Dr will do whatever testing is necessary to make sure you don't have something else.
I'll post some links to a few organizations and websites, including HealingWell's CFS Resource page, where you can learn much more about CFS.
HealingWell's Chronic Fatigue Resources
The CFIDS-ME Information Page
Action for ME
The CFS and FMS Info Exchange Forum
Ok, that should be plenty enough to start with!

Well, hang in there, unaware, and good luck! Hopefully you will soon turn that name around, as you become much more aware (regarding CFS)! LOL!! But seriously, educating oneself is the first step in getting the treatment that will help. If you have any questions, or information which you can't find, or don't understand, please feel free to ask. I'm not an expert or professional, but I've lived with CFS for almost 15 years. Plus other members may have answers, suggestions or support to offer.

Take good care.

Also, welcome deb! So kind of you to offer your support, and glad to meet you too . All best.

Thanks Brynn and Donna for replying to my messages, the sites you listed brynn were great help. And donna as a mother myself, i know how hard it is when you know your child is ill and no one listens. I think your a wonderful mother and doing a great job. For the past two days i have felt alot better myself, but as usual i don't expect this to last so i have been doing as much as i can so when the fatigue sets in again, i hopefully won't feel so overwhelmed by things that have to be done - fingers crossed i will have already done most of them! I saw the doc again on monday and she is refering me for some more tests. Thanks for your replies and deb i have not forgotten about you i will be in touch soon xxx

Hi Megan,
Welcome to HealingWell and the CFS message board! I'm sorry to hear about your sister, and hope she gets a diagnosis soon, along with a good treatment.

The symptoms you describe don't sound like a typical case of CFS, to me. Although, as I said, I'm not a professional. You will be able to find the diagnostic criteria for CFS (also known as CFIDS) at most of the websites to which I posted links, above, in my reply to "unaware". On those sites, look for a link to "diagnostic criteria". Those are the words they use to describe that information. You may see lists of many, many symptoms, but the worst symptom (or one of the worst) is overwhelming fatigue. Any primary care Dr can diagnose it, if they have or know those diagnostic criteria.

Good luck.