Chronic Fatigue reaching breaking point

[TitsalinaBumSquash]

I am really struggling with chronic fatigue and a general feeling of rundown-ness.

I have suffered for as long as I can remember and drs have bandied about Fibromyalgia (but I don't get the generalised pain, mine is all very localised to severely hyper mobile joints) also suggested is Lupus, and/or EDS I also have a minor aortic valve leak.

I was managing though, working 15hrs a week and keeping up with household chores and the kids etc.

However the last month or 2 the chronic fatigue jumped up to an alarming level, I constantly feel run down and it's dealt impacting my day to day life because I'm always swaying where I feel l could drop down with tiredness.
I did have Covid a few months ago so I don't know if that's kicked it al up a notch.
Whatever has caused it I'm not really coping with how unwell I feel. I'm 35 and feel like an elderly lady, I can't take long walks anymore which we used to love. I can't stay up late to have some much needed time with DH once the kids are asleep, I can't go on days out without needed several days to recover and I am struggling with my limited amount of work too.

I did become vegan in January in a hope that it would give me a new feeling of rejuvenation and health and if anything I feel worse.

I'm not sure why I'm even writing this, I feel like if I get any worse I'll become housebound and just waste my made away sleeping.

Didn't want to read and run, I'm so sorry you're living with this. I was diagnosed with ME/CFS in my late teens and it cost me years (thankfully recovered now, but it rears its head from time to time).

What tests are being done for lupus and EDS? Can you push your GP or consultant for these? In my experience, being persistent and dogged with media professionals is the only way to get support when it comes to chronic fatigue. Is there any specialist support or services for long covid sufferers? I know your condition predates your covid infection, but maybe you could pull on that thread with your doctor?

Perhaps look at amending your diet if going vegan has made you feel worse, you could be B12 or iron deficient. Would you consider some occasional red meat? I was vegetarian pre-children but I desperately craved red meat in my first pregnancy and it made me feel so much better.

Just wanted to send you a hand squeeze really. I'm pregnant again and on my knees with exhaustion - it is utterly debilitating and I can't imagine having to live with it long-term again.

*medical professionals, not media!!

Veganism is the worst thing you can do if you have chronic fatigue. You simply can't get the level of nutrients you need from a vegan diet.

Get yourself a lot of steak as a very basic starter for ten. Today.

I'm heading towards a diagnosis. I've discussed previously with my GP but I've been trying hrt as I m in peri too. It hasn't helped and I'm having what I think is a crash just now.

I've had those same helpless feelings lately. Miss long walks. Free time is for resting. House getting run down. Worried about coping with work.

I guess this is why you can get CBT for CFS. It's hard not to feel negative. Have you thought about something like that? It's in the nice guidelines.

I have fibromyalgia/CFS. I spent 18 months sleeping 18 hours a day. Five years on I seem to be getting better however I couldn’t work full time yet. If you are struggling you need to reassess. Cut down activities, rest more. Doing this will stop you crashing.

@Howtotameyourtoddler - I have had a relentless back and forth with drs from when I was a child, I have seen so many and they have diagnosed hypermobility syndrome and the GP diagnosed Fibromyalgia but I don't feel I fit the symptoms and other drs have agreed but not given an additional formal diagnosis.
The last rheumatologist I saw discharged me as the Gp had already made a diagnosis but then wrote to me afterwards to ask for a raft of blood tests, which I had.
They came back showing a positive marker for lupus so she requested more blood tests and then Covid hot and the world shut down so to get that blood test I have to track her down via the GP to find out which test it was and for them to redo another form for it.
She said whilst I had all the symptoms of EDS (including my heart issue) there was no test for the type I would have so she couldn't diagnose it
They can only treat joint pain, they can't treat the fatigue and they give me an annual cardio check up because my valve leaking. My mum had all the same symptoms as me and died at 49 on the operating theatre during heart surgery so I've always thought it was a genetic something but I've no relatives to test against which i was told id need.

I am seriously considering re introducing meat back into my diet but I have to be careful, one of my other delightful symptoms is getting rather sudden allergies to things I've previously been ok eating, despite enjoying them as a child/teen I suddenly became allergic to all poultry and seafood out the blue, also white beans and codine and also had a bad reaction to the flu jab bizarrely, so I went vegan in hope it wouldn't improve my health and I was getting fearful of eating incase it triggered another allergy, when they happen they're frightening. I've not yet found a dr who will engage to talk to me about them though, I get a "that's very unusual" and that's it. It's very real though.

However, I think I can live with all the above if I could just maintain a basic lifestyle where I have some energy.

Sorry you're feeling so dreadful. have fibromyalgia amongst other things. I try to eat high protein and lower carbohydrates. That seems to help. Medication for sleeping also helps. Then I suppose recognising you can't do it all and pacing. I work FT in a desk job. Do a bit of walking and swimming. But not much else. I don't do heavier jobs like vacuuming. I do enjoy days out but not several in a row. I found a pain clinic course quite useful for managing my condition. I don't know if it would help you but might be worth a try.

@Howtotameyourtoddler did you do or change anything in particular to relieve your cfs? Or did it just gradually fade away?