A question for sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

[TigerFeet]

I am slightly nervous about posting this because I'm sure I sound like a complete nutter. However post I shall because this has been at the back of my mind for some time and I'm not sure how to address it.

Can I ask about symptoms of ME/CFS? I am an utter hypochondriac so I may well be overanalysing this... but...

I struggle with exercise because it makes me so goddam tired. I did 10 mins yesterday on my stepper and today I am exhausted. Despite a good night's sleep I can barely keep my eyes open today. I have tried three or four times over the last couple of years to increase my activity levels but always have the same exhaustion afterwards. I have kept the exercise up for a couple of months or longer but it never got any easier. It's supposed to get easier isn't it? I thought exercising was supposed to raise energy levels . I have always given up the exercise because the exhaustion has driven my depression. If I don't exercise, I don't get so very tired, and the depression is far easier to manage.

However, I am overweight. Obese. Would that make a difference do you think? Perhaps the exhaustion is a side effect of a fat person moving more than usual.

I am forever convincing myself that my health problems are all in my mind (IBS in particular, also generalised shoulder pain and lower back pain and nerve problems in my left leg). Am I just convincing myself I might have some kind of mild CFS, am I just desperately looking for a label?

I know I can google for symptoms but I would prefer to ask someone who has lived with CFS so as to get an idea of how debilitating it is and whether I am overegging things.

TIA

ewwww @ 2 cans already this morning

you need help

drink coffee instead

it is rilly rilly good for you

Do they do patches I wonder? [shakes]

try water

it's free

you may be dehydrated, so it may help you feel better

TigerFeet, I'm v. overweight too and doing SlimmingWorld through which I've lost a stone so far. As part of the Original SW diet I have reduced all grain-based carbs to just one portion a day (cereal, PLEASE make sure you get some breakfast, it's a cornerstone of successful long-term weight loss) and, while agreeing with bundle that elimination diets without GP input are a bad idea, I have been stunned at how much better I feel for not eating bread, pasta etc. Aspartame is the only thing I have rigorously cut out from my diet and that was definitely making me feel blech.
It is upsetting to be made aware of how far one has let onesself go (have been there many times ) but as www says on Bootcamp, quoting India and Neris - "we can be unfat again". The big thing is you are doing something about it

capp, which DVD/thread is that?

GP is not sick of the sight of you! GP should be thinking along the lines of finding out what is wrong so that you don't have to keep going! Blood tests at least I should think.

You need to give a really full picture so write down everything (and I mean everything); all the little niggly things which may not always be there but you recognise like old friends when they turn up again; all the things that are always there; all of it. Don't worry if it takes 3 hours to go through it all, the 10min appointment can be stretched, you know. You need to get to the bottom of this and so does your doc.

marina over ere

Batters, thanks so much

What a heartening story. Thanks for posting.