Post exertional malaise

So, after telling my doctors this year, all three of them that when I over do things I get sick. Nausea, headache, shakiness, eyelids are sore, feel like I have a virus, and actually feel a little warm, loose bowels, fatigue, muscles get tight, they scratched their heads like they didn't know what I am talking about. After doing some searching on the internet I finally came across post exertional malaise. This is exactly what I get!

Tuesday I decided around lunch time to walk down to the end of my street, maybe half a mile to the end. I did some light housework that am, and it was so nice out that I wanted to walk.  So while I was walking I felt fine. It was a little hot but not to bad out. Anyway, when I got home and actually started to slow down then stop, boy it hit me! I felt sick! It just came on. All those symptoms of a virus. It took me until Friday to finally get over the "sick" feeling. I hate that feeling! I just don't understand why fibro makes you feel like this, like there is a virus inside. I even felt a little warm. Sometimes my skin even feels weird, like it's rashy and itchy but it's not.

I did read that PEM is usually only in CFS. So I don't know if I have this too. lol

Today I only fixed dinner, took my daughter to her friends house and worked on a puzzle most of the day. I feel alot better, but it's because I didn't do anything. Funny how you have to be "lazy" to feel better. :(

KL

I have that as well. If I do too much during one day, the next day (or the next few days) I'm useless - feel like total doggy doo. Do you know the spoon theory? I just tell my husband that I used too many spoons in one day.

I've been told that that virus-y feeling can be related to autoimmune issues. I get that also, sometimes completely out of the blue without extra exertion. It's one of the reasons that my rheumy thinks there's something other than fibro going on with me. I feel your pain, though, no matter where it comes from. Take care of yourself!

KL,

I get it, too, and it's one of the things I hate most about this messed-up condition. My doctor just says, "Yeah, I know. We don't know why."

It sure does make you wonder about a latent virus of some kind. I've often wondered about a Herpes connection, because I have that, too. But looking online, I've repeatedly found nothing.

Debbie

Add me too the list! It is an all too familiar feeling...but I have to say that you described it so well! It still does not fail to surprise me how my body reacts on a day to day basis..

I have this same thing. It feels like I have the worst flu ever. I can handle the body aches, but it's the severe malaise that is almost unbearable. I actually feel like I'm dying. I too had the parvo virus. I was diagnosed at Mayo Clinic and they said that the parvo virus is a common trigger for fibro. They said there's no evidence that these viruses stay in our systems. In fact, I tested negative for it. They said that they don't recommend treatment with anti-virals for this. Frustrating to say the least. I'd almost sell my soul for something to make me feel better. Blah!

This is an old resurrected post, but interesting.

I watched a video on Post Exercise Malaise - I think someone on this site had it posted on another thread. Any way this Dr. (can't remember his name) has done extensive research in this area. According to him this is the deciding factor if you also have CFS. If you have post exercise malaise, then you have CFS (too), if you don't have it, you don't have CFS.

Also according to him. What happens is that when 'normal' people exercise they release endorphins that make them feel better, but when we exercise, our body (and everyone elses too) releases lactic acid. The difference is that we cannot process out the lactic acid and it builds up in us until 24 - 48 hours later we go into toxic overload. Depending on the person, we continue to feel worse and worse. It can take us several days to several weeks to recover.

He went on to explain that if we keep pushing ourselves we will just keep getting worse and worse. He said that with most people exercise is good and healthy for, but for us we will continue to decline and eventually get to a point where there is no recovery.

It totally sucks. To me, this is worse than loosing my memory. I absolutely HATE not being able to physically do the things I want to.