Posted 2/24/2006 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
I know I posted about this before somewhere on here... but I've been suffering from fatigue for the past 10-11 years, and I'll be 25 on March 11th.
After seeing doctor after doctor... and having all of them say "oh well you're just depressed"... I FINALLY found a doctor that listened to me and ran the necessary tests to see what was REALLY wrong.
Anyone that knows me will tell you that I'm a very happy person. I believe that no matter how many clouds are in the sky, the sun is still shining. No matter how bad things seem, there's ALWAYS something positive to be found. I enjoy making people laugh, and am quite the goofball when I'm not feeling so exhausted.
So... my doctor had me go in for one of the many blood tests I've had done. One of the things that can cause CFS is the Epstein Barr Virus... which I tested positive for!!! At first, I was kinda scared, but he told me it's not really anything to worry about... that it's basically a virus that can cause mono and some other things, and in some people cause CFS. When I thought about it, there was a time about 10-11 years ago when I got really really really sick... for weeks... but I don't remember what the cause was. Ends up, that's probably what caused my fatigue, which makes sense because that's about when it started!!!
So, I'm on Provigil, and it's a total godsend!! It's like a miracle drug... I don't have any side effects, not jittery or anything, I just feel awake, I have energy, and it's MUCH easier concentrating on everything and staying focused!!
My mother (who hasn't been very supportive) has said for YEARS that my "fatigue" was just due to my sleeping schedule and that I was being lazy. She kept telling me "well if you got more sleep and went to bed at a decent hour you'd be fine". HAHA!!! I have a diagnosis!! She has never understood or believed me after all these years that no matter how much or little sleep I get, there is no magic number which makes me feel "normal". I could sleep for 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours... and I still just want to sleep all day (until Provigil!) Haven't gotten to tell her yet cause she's at work... but I can't wait to finally... be able to prove to her that I was right all along!!!
I just want to give everyone I see a hug I'm so happy I FINALLY have a definitive diagnosis... so after my test for this job as a 911 dispatcher... I think I'm going to go celebrate!!! I only wish I could share my happiness with everyone, and that everyone could be as happy as I am right now!!!
*GIANT HUGS FOR EVERYONE!!!!*
/me starts dancing