any inspired ideas what this may be??? (fatigue type illness)

[veryhungrycaterpillar]

I've been off work for 6 weeks now, on and off (sometimes I manage half days for a few days), with an illness, the main characteristic is fatigue. I feel ok if I just totally rest, but if I do anything (even short walk to the shop) I feel really worn out. If I try to do much at all I feel very ill the next day ( a sore throat tends to reappear, and my joints / muscles ache). Even just resting my head is all over the place, find it very hard to concentrate, make spelling and speach mistakes, and I'm more clumsy than normal, spilling drinks, dropping stuff and walking into things. I have also nearly fainted twice in recent weeks, despite never having done so before. I also had a very dry mouth for the last two weeks..

The doctors run quite a lot of blood tests already, and so far come up with nothing, if I had a diagnosis I think it would help me know how to get better, and also mean work were more supportive of me.

things its NOT( tests say), are: diabetes, liver problems, glandular fever, etc. ...

suggestions would be a great help to me, would give me ideas to suggest to my dr.... (getting too tired doing google searches!)

sorry - extra question - does anyone think it could be related to my heart (helpful to know what to say to dr thats all) - when I first went to dr with symptoms he heard a heart murmur (never had before), had ecg and chest x-ray both came back fine. he also mentioned ultrasound but didn't hear more aboutthat.... until now... got letter (v v late) in post inviting me for ultrasound scan, missed the appointment due to dr being late and so will need to request new referral from gp?? sorry for all the questions, soooooo fed up of being ill, , and figure if can be more certain what it is, can then start on the road to recovery...

bump (sorry, just desparate for ideas)

Did this come on after a virus of some sort? The reason I ask is that my 16yr old niece has just been diagnosed with ME and the symptoms do sound similar...

I was also going to say ME, or something very similar: post-viral syndrome (in a lot of cases they are one and the same).

Have you had thyroid function tests? If not, you must.

yes, had thyroid test too and that was fine

the first week or so of it I felt like I had flu but without the runny nose type sypmtoms (just the exhaustion and aches and pains etc), and if I do too much (aka anything!) thats what it feels like the next day again.

my doc says it may just be post-viral/ ME but not sure yet... I find it really hard as my work are being very unsupportive (ie. disbelieving that I'm ill) without a firm diagnosis, do you have any suggestions how to handle this?

My DH had post-viral for four years and suffered a lot.

There's lots of websites and support organisations with sensible advice, and even half a dozen special NHS clinics now that deal with it. But I think they take the extreme cases. However you can always try for a referral.

Basically rest, solvazinc tablets (order from Pharmacist - expensive at £20ish) and specially prescribed homeopathic remedies got my DH there in the end, but I know different things work for different people.

I think as a first step you could do a lot worse than order the Solvazinc, if this is OK with your doc (which it most likely will be), and take the maximum recommended dose. A lot of post-viral sufferers find this helps, and even if this is not your problem, it is unlikely to cause you harm and may even help your general health anyway.

I do hope you feel better soon.

Re: work, I don't know how friendly they are, but it might be easier just to get signed off until after the Xmas period with a definite return date. Then you and they can plan.

It might also be worth being very transparent with them, and saying that everyone seems to think it's post-viral at the moment, but the doc is running lots of tests to be on the safe side before he commits to a diagnosis, but you'll tell them any news on this as soon as you can.

Flowerybeanbags may know more about what's best.

UK NHS Clinics and links
NHS ME clinics (info might be out of date):

Guys Hospital, LONDON, SE1 9RT
Referral by GP letter to Professor John E. Davies

King's College Hospital, LONDON
Referral by GP letter to Professor S. Wessely

National ME Support Centre, Haroldwood Hospital, ROMFORD Essex
Referral by GP letter to Prof. L. J. Findley
Tel: 01708-378050 Fax: 01708-378032 E-mail: [email protected]

Oldchurch Hospital, ROMFORD, Essex
Referral by GP letter to Prof. L. J. Findley

Seacroft Hospital, LEEDS, Yorks
Referral by GP letter to Dr P Stanley URL: www.leedsth.nhs.uk/patients/aboutus/hospitals/seacroft.php

Some more ...

Westcare, BRISTOL, Avon
A registered charity which supplies private services and residential courses for ME/CFS patients but they have a list of NHS clinics and hospitals as well. I believe there is a charge for this list.
Tel: 0117-923-9341 Fax: 0117-923 9347

Western General Hospital, Regional Infectious Diseases Unit, EDINBURGH
Referral by GP letter to Dr Wilks or Dr Welsby URL: www.med.ed.ac.uk/ridu

www.meassociation.org.uk/index.php?option=com_search&searchword=cfs

This website is quite comprehensive.

www.candida-society.org/ncs/symptoms.htm

thank you VirginBoffinMum, thats lots of really helpful information for me, I'm really grateful, normally if I'm ill or something I trawl the web myself but just haven't had the energy, thats a really useful list so thank you!!

your advice re work sounds really sensible both for me and them. I will discuss with my doctor and work. Its so hard to just admit I can't go back yet, but I know it will annoy them if I go back too soon again

will talk to gp about solvazinc

thank you, seeing all that info and advice has cheered me up