Does anyone know anyone with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?...

[Locut0s]

I've sort of been wondering over the past 6 months to a year if I have or am developing something similar. It's most likely 'simply' depression however the level of my fatigue surprises me. I have energy to complete a few tasks a day and that's it, the rest of the time I just sleep. I've just started a diet routine and I'm going to start hikes around the neighbourhood to improve my physical and mental health so we will see if things improve. They better before September or next semester will be nigh impossible. I used to know someone on another forum who had CFS. I know it's debated in the medical community is the condition even exists or is a placeholder for other dispirit diseases.

[Aristus]

1. CFS is an actual diagnosable condition.

It has very specific criteria for diagnosis, though. Prime among them is confirmed exposure to the Epstein-Barr virus, the virus that causes mononucleosis. CFS is considered an important potential sequelae of mono.

Just feeling tired all the time is not pathognomonic for CFS. Shit. I feel tired all the time, and that's just because I work long hours in a stressful occupation; like a lot of other people who don't have CFS.

It sounds like you do have depression, Locut0s. Fatigue is a huge potential symptom of depression. It is often overlooked because to many people, depression simply means: "feeling sad."

[Locut0s]

7. Thanks I figured that was most likely the case. nt

[uppityperson]

2. Get tested for thyroid issues. TSH, Free T3, Free T4

Many people have low thyroid as it is very sensitive to radiation, etc. TSH is the basic test that most places do, measures hormone made by pituitary that tells your thyroid to make thyroid hormone. If it is high, then your thyroid is not active enough. Free T3/4 measures how much thyroid hormone is in your blood, if low means not producing enough.

Being tired, depressed, carpal tunnel, CFS, all these may be caused by low thyroid. They can be caused by other things but that is a fast easy test to do and the Rx is inexpensive also.

Speaking from my own experience, research and working in health care. Not a doctor.

[Locut0s]

6. Thank you. I've had my thyroid levels tested...

My thyroid levels were normal. But thanks for the advise. I know thyroid issues can cause many of these symptoms which is why I asked to be tested a while back.

[winter is coming]

18. If they didn't test for antibodies, I wouldn't completely rule "thyroid" out.

"Normal" just means that most people feel normal at some point in the reference range, not that everyone will feel normal at any point in the range. I've got autoimmune thyroiditis and had years of "normal" results before a doctor finally tested my antibodies. I can feel like utter crap and still have "normal" T3/T4/TSH values.

[Locut0s]

20. Huh interesting, thanks, I'll look into this...

I didn't know that was possible. Thank you!

[hollysmom]

3. I had undiagnosed mono for almost a year

that is how I felt, 2 things and done for the day. The doctor kept saying he would not test me for it because I could not have it, changed doctors when I started to feel better and that doctor found it.

[Locut0s]

8. Interesting. I doubt that I have mono though as...

Mono or s usually contracted through intimate contact with another person, kissing, sex etc. I don't think it has to be but my understanding is that is how it's usually transmitted. No such contact here Lol.

[hollysmom]

11. my husband did not have mono - I could not think of a person I knew with it

But it was indeed what I had. I think that the intimate contact is not necessarily true.

it is just the epstein barr virus and many people can have a symptom-less version and still pass it to you. You can get it if someone else uses your fork.

[Ron Obvious]

16. "No such contact here Lol."

Without trying to sound the least flip about this, that particular statement sounds like a depressed person talking to me. Whether it's a symptom or a cause of depression I can't say, but I'd consider talking to somebody about this. Most of us, even flint-hearted loner misanthropes like me, need physical human contact to thrive.

Good luck to you!

[Locut0s]

21. Oh that most certainly has to do with depression and anxiety...

I have absolutely no doubts about that. I'm 31 and never so much as kissed a girl in my life if you would believe it. And no I'm far from asexual, nor am I waiting for the right opportunity so to speak. It's all due to social anxiety, depression and a host of other smaller issues that I won't get into here, you can PM me if you really want to know. I'm acutely aware of this.

[Ron Obvious]

25. I didn't mean to pry...

I remember you talking about this before, but I'm not always the swiftest at putting names and stories together. I'd normally probably try to help out at this point, but I'm sure you've heard what I would say a thousand times already and it's the last thing you need right now.

Again, all the best of luck to you.

[winter is coming]

17. It's possible to shed the virus periodically long after you've recovered from mono.

I wasn't dating anyone when I got mono. I think I likely got it from a friend of mine by sharing food/beverages. Both of us had unusually severe and long-lasting cases of mono.

[Locut0s]

22. Hmm could be I guess then...

If it continues I'll look into this. Despite my depression I've been somewhat startled at the severity and length of my physical exhaustion. I AM going through a particularly hard time but I've had depression in the past and not been this tired.

[noamnety]

4. I would get a blood test

It could be any number of things. I had that going on for a while, I got so sleepy at times that at I would have to lie down and take a nap in the middle of sorting laundry - like lying down on the floor in the middle of the laundry pile because the bed - two feet away - was just too far.

In my case it turned out to be anemia, easy fix. There could be any number of vitamin issues happening. It doesn't cost all that much to confirm or rule out those sorts of things, and they are super cheap to correct.

[Locut0s]

9. I've had blood work done recently...

My cholesterol was through the roof and my liver enzymes were also WAY too high. However the liver enzymes were due to binge drinking and they have now gone back to normal after a month of abstaining. The cholesterol is due to shitty eating habits. Otherwise the rest was within norms I believe. I'll go back and take a look at the results to see if they tested iron because I don't actually remember seeing that. Only other thing I've had for a while on these tests is cloudy urine but my DR never says much about that.

[u4ic]

5. I have it

Yes, it does exist. Only a few doctors still disbelieve. It's not just fatigue, however, there are specific guidelines.

http://www.cfids-cab.org/MESA/ccpccd.pdf The Canadian clinical consensus is the gold star in terms of diagnosis, and what most physicians use (or should use).

If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. I've had it for two decades.

Certainly depression and CFS can coincide, but depression is often a side effect - you just aren't what you used to be. Your body does not 'behave', your sleep is dysfunctional, your life becomes restricted...those are certainly real reasons why one can become depressed.

If your health improves with what you're doing, you don't have CFS. A hallmark is post-exertional fatigue. Not simply tired, but like you've just ran a marathon. While hung over. And with the flu.

[Locut0s]

10. Thank you I'll definitely keep you in mind...

If things don't improve over time with weight loss and other measures I'll be sure to PM you with some questions. Thank you. I'm sorry you suffer from CFS, I know it's very debilitating.

[LiberalEsto]

12. I had something like it in the late 1980s

There were days when I couldn't even stand up, I was so exhausted. The only quantifiable symptom the doctors could find was low blood pressure. When I asked what I could do about that, they all told me to enjoy it, because low blood pressure was a good thing. Eat more salt, drink more caffeine, they told me.
Not exactly helpful.
I did some kind of anti-yeast diet, but it didn't seem to help. The fatigue very slowly and gradually went away on its own, though not completely.

[Locut0s]

13. Perhaps you had mono?...

As people above suggested I possibly could have mono. It's well known to exhaust people.

[LiberalEsto]

14. They checked, but it wasn't mono.

Thyroid tests were normal too.

[Sienna86]

15. Lyme Disease?

Perhaps run some tests.

[Locut0s]

23. Unlikely as I rarely get out into wooded areas where the ticks would be...

I've also never had the characteristic rash associated with it, though I know that can be missed. But thanks for the suggestion.

[HipChick]

19. I used this supplement for years...

also works well for low level depression

http://www.amazon.com/Nadh-Energizing-Coenzyme-Georg-Birkmayer/dp/0879838620/ref=pd_sim_b_1 - ebook

http://www.amazon.com/Source-Naturals-NADH-Sublingual-Tablets/product-reviews/B00185R8EC

[Locut0s]

24. Thanks HipChick :D nt

[applegrove]

26. My brother wondered if he had it

years ago. Then he developed diabetes overnight. Later he found out he was celiac (wheat intolerance). The celiac disease caused his diabetes and his reaction to beer and such resulted in much feeling weak and sleeping in those early years before he was diagnosed.

[magical thyme]

27. fatigue is a very broad symptom of many, many ailments

Since you mention a history of depression and going through a particularly hard time right now, that seems the most likely cause.

The hikes around the neighborhood should help that, along with the improved diet.

Take good, good care of yourself. By that, I mean pamper yourself a bit. Allow yourself some enjoyment of a healthy kind. If the diet, exercise and a little self-pampering don't improve things, then you may want to get some more testing done.

There are a number of causes of cloudy urine, from red and/or white cells if there's an infection (which you would have been aware of), to lots of amorphous crystals, to lots of epithelial cells if it wasn't as clean a catch as desired.

[ConcernedCanuk]

28. Sorry, I'm too tired to answer right now

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CC

[lebaronangie]

30. If you want to find out if you have CFS read this

I've had CFS for 21 years. What distinguishes CFS from depression, or from other illnesses that create fatigue, is that exercise makes people with CFS feel worse. (This is called PEM - for post-exertional malaise.) If you feel better after jogging, you don't have it. The best book on treating CFS is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Treatment Guide, 2nd Edition, by Erica Verrillo. It's on Amazon.