I was just wondering if anyone else on here has suffered this disease and if so have you any methods to increase your mood and energy? Also if you have any other comments or experiences then that'd be great. Thanks so much guys and good luck x
2006-09-25 02:41:17 · 11 answers · asked by anna 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
I suggest you read up on www.cfsfacts.org and join the yahoogroup. The website is run by a CFS/ME patient, and both the yahoogroup and the website offer a lot of good, valid information about this disease. The people in the yahoogroup are actual people with this disease and they will be able to answer any and all your questions about coping, treatments, and other information you need. And from me a message:
"Don't give up and don't give in to doctor peer pressure. You have a real disease!!! Be well, and good luck with coping..."
2006-09-25 02:55:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, many doctors are not aware that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the symptom of "chronic fatigue" are not the same thing, so many people who are told they have CFS actually have simple fatigue from another condition. So, you should have a complete workup.
The easiest way to differentiate between CFS and depression is to exercise -- if you come back feeling terrific, it's depression; if you come home feeling awful, it's CFS. If you have no idea what we're talking about when we bring up "brain fog" or chronic digestive problems or any of the myriad other symptoms in addition to fatigue ... you don't have CFS.
The first line of defense is to improve the quality of your sleep. Ask your doctor for a sleeping pill, or try 5HTP (tryptophan). It's not a cure, but it should help sort out how much of the problem is caused by not getting Level 4 sleep, and how much is caused by the actual physical disease of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
Some doctors are now treating the physical portion of the disease with antibiotics and anti-virals. If your doctor won't prescribe those, then visit www.DrRodger.com and try his natural CFS/fibro formula. Be sure to read Dr. Rodger's newsletter archive!
You can visit patient websites such as www.CFSfacts.org and www.NAME-US.org. You, and your doctor, should definitely read the Cheney Section at www.DFWCFIDS.org, which is full of good medical information that should help you feel better. Those sites also have webrings, so click through those to find more information.
You should also join a support group, either IRL or online. There's a good one at www.CFSfacts.org, and the YahooGroup archives, files and links contain more information that's not yet on the website.
2006-09-25 04:29:45 · answer #2 · answered by Karen C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I have chronic fatigue syndrome left over from when I contracted mononucleosis, but that was almost 10 years ago and my symptoms fade alittle more each year. When I first contracted this illness I was bedridden almost 20 hours per day and I slowly and surely pushed myself to increase my activities.
I still get bouts of unbelievable tiredness and I know its left over from this, but the only thing I can do is use caffeine and nap when I can. Besides most doctors say the disease is a farce, that it does really exist and its all in my head. I know that's a lie and, people don't just get extreme fatigue for no reason. I even saw this doctor once who tested my mono titers is what he called them, he said that when they are up my fatigue is up and when down, I'm less tired. He suggested the same thing all doctors do, get plenty of exercise and rest, and eat well and your energy should increase. I say give it time and eventually you will start to feel better.
2006-09-25 02:54:35 · answer #3 · answered by Fairy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have M.E / CFS and to be honest one of the worst things you can do is use artificial stimulants such as caffein. I am much better than i used to be and feel that what i am doing now is aiding my recovery and would love to share this with you.
If you have been diagnosed with CFS then it is likely that you have had a million blood tests including thyroid which is one of the first things to be checked and all of them will most likely be negative, leaving you feeling like a hypochondriac! CFS is diagnosed if you have had profound fatigue plus another of other symptoms for a period of six months or longer. it is likely that you may have a low serum magniseum level, which i have never been able to correct because i did not want the injections as they tend to be very painful.
The main points you need to address are
sleep pattern, you need to establish a good night time sleeping pattern, dont nap in the day and try to wean yourself off stimulants like caffein.
stress, try to address stressors in your life and get rid of some. it is important to take power rests throughout the day, meditate or just shut your eyes for ten minutes every couple of hours. dont go to sleep!
excersize: you will have fewer mitochondria (power producing cells) in your muscles and the only way to build these up is to do aerobic excersize. start off with very little, less than what you think you can do because you have to do this every day even on bad days! i got a excersize bike and began on 15 turns of the pedals, i have built it up to 10 mins now every day, this has taken 2 years! but i am getting better and that is the important thing!
One other thing you could try is a carb free diet which helps your energy levels also and gets you out of the carb energy cycle. you can find details of the diet on the website below.
Thats all i can tell you for now, please let me know if you want any more support. good website : www.drmyhill.co.uk
2006-09-25 04:02:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Funny, i'm sitting here feeling whacked out, halusinating about sleeping...
I suffer, apparently. its either ME (CFS) or pyhsical depression. To be honest, i'm with Sliver birch. I have many symptoms of thyroid, being knackered is just one of them. I find sleeping tends to boost my enerygy and mood, god knows i'm a nightmare if I dont get enough sleep. My husband gets up in t he night if the baby wakes (rarely), so i tend to get about 7 hours a night. I drop my daughter off to school, get the baby to sleep and sleep till midday (another 3 hours). I can just about get by on that. Any less and i'm a complete mess. They say your body heals better when you sleep. I'm a firm believer in that. Docs wont give pills to increase energy. I can go to the gym for an hour, then spend the rest of the week trying to make energy!
2006-09-25 03:30:13 · answer #5 · answered by K-9 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have low hemoglobin and I take shots every 3 weeks and my hemogolbin is monitered and that helps me a lot to have a lot more energy. Also you may have a sleep disorder and may want to be cheked out. If your not sleeping well through the night that can prevent you from having energy. You may think your sleeping fine, but if your exausted all the time, it is a good chance you have a sleep disorder. Talk it over with your doctor.
2006-09-25 03:39:52 · answer #6 · answered by kidneygirl 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Eat well, sleep well, expercise in moderation if possible & try some alternative healing like Reiki.
2006-09-25 02:50:26 · answer #7 · answered by Cori 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Green tea give u a lot of energy, u can buy green tea pills.
2006-09-25 02:50:23 · answer #8 · answered by Love7 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most people with CFS have some thyroid problems. get checked.
2006-09-25 02:45:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
take no doze pills, all it is , is caffiene and it works like a charm
2006-09-25 02:45:30 · answer #10 · answered by dolphins4sheri2001 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋