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Past sufferer..

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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Posted 12/31/2005 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

If you are suffering from cfs, ME, appalling headache's, extreme fatigue, ibs, I know how you feel. Around 6 months ago I was diagnosed by my doctor with cfs, and posted several times in this forum with my dispair (refer back several months to see). ME what is it? I researched every minute of the day on the internet to find out as much about this illness as possible, as if my doctor could not cure me I would certainly do everything to help myself. For 3 months I did not work, sat around, had no energy (previously was very sporty, ran London marathon) serious headaches just like a hangover, but worse. I was beside myself, felt everything just slipping away and there was nothing I could do about it. I too was convinced I should have an MRI scan, as my memory was awful, I could never remember anything...brain fog is what I was told I had. My doctor told me the winter months would be tough, and to get through this time I had to remain strong and positive.

With little progress being made, I returned to my surgeory and requested to see another doctor. I chatted my situation through with him and he asked if I wanted to try an anti-depressant. My first thoughts were NO, as I had read on many sites such as this, that  cfs was not depression and doctors just did not understand, do not resort to chemicals..e.t.c But on second thoughts, i felt it was worth a pop...hey, what do i have to lose?

Within a day of taking my fist pill I felt a sensation of relief and feeling that I had not had for a long time. Surely I was not depressed...I'm not, or am I? Could depression do this to me? As the days went on, it all began to make more sense, and the better I felt. My energy has now returned, I am back exercising, working and back to normal life. I'm not saying it has not taken time, and also effort on my behalf, and I'm not saying its the answer to everyone out there, but it has been the answer to my dose of cfs..I know many of you reading this have been diagnosed with cfs. I remember not long ago, doing liver flushes, reading about the water cure (which did actually help) taking so many different meds, vitamins, immune boosting supplements, and nothing really helping whats so ever.

I'm not saying cfs does not exist, that was one of the most frustraing things to hear when diagnosed with this condition, but in my case this was not the illness....

Happy New Year, and whatever your illness I hope you recover and get well soon.

 

Posted 1/1/2006 12:10 PM (GMT 0)
yeah  A classic case of neurological symptoms being successfully treated by anti-depressants. These and anxiolytic (sp?) drugs have a good success rate in treating many cases of cfs. Reviews of different treatment regimes that I've read in the past indicated that many cases of ME-type CFS have a strong neurological component, which when relieved by the appropriate medication allows the immune system to heal. (Anti-depressants have an effect on the immune system as well as on brain neurotransmitters, which is where much of the tie-in may lie.)

Myself, I have long thought that my body just doesn't regulate endorphins as it should, and that is part of the "exercise junkie/CFS" equation. But..from what I remember of my reading up, at the same time the same reviews showed that there were cases that did not respond so effectively in the long-term to such regimes, gaining only short-term benefit or none at all, indicating that there were different "flavours" of the illness. So I think you've hit the nail on the head, Pablo; what works for one type of fatigue does not always work for another.

I remember very clearly one day looking at the types of fatigue I was suffering from, and under what circumstances, and coming to the realisation that I suffered from at least two if not three types of fatigue, covering a broad spectrum of bodily sensations. ( eyes Did my spirits no end of  good working that one out, let me tell you.) I reckon now that much of my fatigue is due to gut damage caused by Crohn's Disease, which if true makes me a bit of a fraud being here on this forum at all really.

I wonder how many cases of CFs are not a syndrome at all, because they are caused by a variety of unrelated disorders, all leading to a common set of problems ? I don't even know what you would call such a thing - is there even a medical term for different things causing the same type of disease ? It's my understanding that a syndrome is a set of seemingly unrelated symptoms caused by one single cause - that's the opposite of what I think causes much CFS/ME !

tongue  Glad to hear you are well again anyway Pablo, I always wonder about the people who "drop off" our radar screen. It warms the cockles of my heart to know that there are some success stories out there. And you've done us a power of good by pointing the way to what might work for others - which is how this forum is supposed to work. Many thanks !

Posted 1/1/2006 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
hey pablo i am wondering wat antidepressent is helping cuz i tried alot and they didnt work, im glad ur feeling beta but id like 2 b u lol please email me so we can chat cuz at this point um at a loss of wat 2 do!!! [email protected]
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