Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

[Calluna]

I spoke to a naturopath on Wednesday and after a 10 min conversation he told me that my symptoms sound a lot like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. He gave me a herbal supplement and said that if it works I should ask my doctor to test me for CFS.

I took one on Wed night and woke up feeling a thousand times better. I've been taking them every day and so far I've had a lot more energy (although I hit a wall at about midday and struggle to keep my eyes open from 3ish onwards.), soooo much more patience with Isaac, clear headed, no nausea, I wake up feeling like I've had a half decent sleep!

Today I looked up the symptoms of CFS. And it is describing me! The only thing I don't seem to have noticed is postexertional malaise, I feel like crap all the time, not just after exercise and I haven't noticed it get worse, except that I get a bit sore and achy). But all other 8 main symptoms I have and 95% of the other secondary symptoms.

So I'm going to book in to the doctor the naturopath recommended as soon as I can afford it and have a chat to them.

I'm a bit nervous and scared, I'm so used to being told I'm just depressed and to take some medication. I'm scared that is what I'll be told this time too. But mostly I'm excited! Which may sound strange, but to finally have a diagnosis would be a massive relief! I've lived with this for so long, I can't wait to have answers and possibly manage it so it doesn't affect me so badly!

Just had to tell someone.
I know it's not a diagnosis and I shouldn't get my hopes up, but it's hard as it's the closest I've ever been to one!

[~Ash~]

That is such exciting news! The feeling that someone is actually understanding what you are going through is always such a relief.

My Mum had CFS for years after she had a back operation when I was little - she participated in support groups and all sorts - she swears that it was the 'Liver Cleansing Diet' that eventually helped her get over it. Might be worth looking into it!

Good luck - I hope that you get the diagnosis that you need so that you can be treated properly instead of just being labeled as depressed.

[Amaunet]

Have you been tested for Coeliac disease? I had very similar symptoms but not "typical" Coeliac ones iykwim but my blood test results showed it. Being gluten free has even reduced my anxiety and mild depression

[Calluna]

That's exactly it Ash. For someone to understand that I'm not depressed and lazy. I'm sick and so freaking tired!

I'll look into it, thanks!

I haven't been tested for coeliacs. I'll do a bit of a google.

[Calluna]

I do have a few of the symptoms of coeliac disease too. Not as many as CFS, but I'll bring it up when I speak to the doctor.

Thanks Amanuet.

[briggsy's girl]

CFS isn't something that can be diagnosed by testing - they can test for a lot of other things, and diagnose CFS in the absence of any other notable diagnosis. but it won't be an instant thing. be prepared for lots of testing before it can be labelled - and even then, the GP may be reluctant

i was diagnosed about five years ago. it's not fun living with this at all. there are no miracle cures - you just have to learn to manage it. and be prepared for people to dismiss CFS as a diagnosis too. i am going on five months of a nasty flare now - some days i can barely get through work, let alone anything else - i only work part time and have to have several days off together to get myself feeling functional. i hurt all the time. and the "post exertion malaise" comes up to bite me on the backside after doing even the simplest things. shopping, cooking, showering. it's awful. sometimes even conversation is too much. working in a call centre is very hard at times - i have had to develop techniques so that i'm ONLY listening to my customer and blocking out all the external noise. my brain just can't cope with the extra stimulus

i hope you get some answers - but i really hope it's NOT CFS - i hope it's something you can treat and recover properly! it's not fun at all feeling like this

[Calluna]

I hope I didn't come across like I want to have CFS BG. I just meant I am looking forward to having a diagnosis, IF that is what it is.
I've been living with whatever it is I have for as long as I can remember.

I'm sorry you have to live like that. It's sounds incredibly difficult.

I'm not that severe. But it is significant enough that it's affecting my (and therefor my familys) quality of life. To have a diagnosis would be very helpful.

I did have a quick read on what's involved in diagnosis, but not much. I really only googled because I wanted to know that I want wasting my time/ money/energy on seeing a doctor for something that is way off base. I not to go near Dr google, it puts to many ideas in my head.This time was different though. I found myself nodding as I was reading through the symptoms and it explains things I would never have connected with my other symptoms. Like the chest pains and the shooting pains in my legs that feels like my shin bones are splitting.

[Footsteps]

my dps mum and his dads df have cfs or M.E as its known. If you have any questions I can message her for you. Huge hugs huni x

[Calluna]

I don't think it's fibromyalgia, Olive. I don't have the "tender points" they describe or the sensitivity to temperature.

Thanks Footsteps. I'll let you know.

I'm not sure how long my sanity will last, I keep changing from excited (wrong word, but only way I can describe it) to be looking down the barrel of a diagnosis - even if it's not CFS I now have a point of reference. I can say *this* is how I feel all the time - and scared and wanting to bury my head in the sand.
I'm scared that I'll be brushed off again and I'm scared that I won't. I'm scared that there is something wrong with me and it's not all in my head. I'm scared of what the prognosis may be.

I'm just scared. It doesn't matter what the outcome is, it will suck.

/ramble.

[Beautiful Disaster]

Could also be glandular fever if you have been sick. I've had it and it sucks

[Calluna]

How long does glandular fever last? I have been like this for years and it's just getting worse.

[Keta]

Have you been tested for ross river virus? I had very similar symptoms just over two years ago (so tired I even found it hard to drive as I couldn't be trusted to stay awake!). Anyway if you haven't it could be worth checking. Not much you can do if it is and the best advice I was given was to keep going and keep my immune system up as much as possible. Even though it just had to be ridden out and I will occasionally still get flare ups, knowing made me feel better and that it wasn't all just in my head.

[BellyBelly]

All of these things are either disease or a body which is not in balance. Chronic fatigue is a common outcome of an acidic body (poor energy is pretty much the most common, followed by nervous system stuff), I think it could be more simple than it sounds. I'm still writing an article on it specifically, but I have some info in the flu vaccine article, if you read from: "What Foods and Drinks Will Inhibit or Lower My Immune System?" you'll see what foods and drinks steal your energy and also what ones will give you energy. You will notice a difference VERY quickly on the alkaline diet. Its awesome. In the article, you will be able to see a list of common symptoms and you'll see you have the most common ones, and probably many others. When your cells are healthy, you don't get sick and your immune system works beautifully.

[BellyBelly]

Just found this:

New Hope for Chronic Fatigue

By Patty Webb-Butts, Ph.D.

An alkaline diet may be the answer for some who suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, a debilitating disease that sometimes makes you feel like you’re going to die. More than 800,000 people in the US suffer from this disease.

Several years ago I experienced Chronic Fatigue for the third time---only this time the duration was only for a few months. An alkaline diet was my salvation. When our body is alkaline, candida, fungus, yeast, mold, parasites, viruses, and bacteria do not thrive. According to Dr. Robert Young, author of The pH Miracle, microforms are the major players in chronic fatigue syndrome. If your body is acidic, it is likely you have microforms.

How do you know if your body is alkaline or acidic? Dr. Robert Young, suggests you use litmus paper (you can buy it a health food store) and get an indication of where the pH of the urine is by testing the first morning urine. Take a strip of the pH paper and wet it. If the paper does not change color, that indicates a highly acidic body. Urine should be 6.8 to 7.2 (medium green), if it too much color (dark blue) that also indicates highly acidic. Remember this test is an estimate. The best way to measure pH is ask your doctor to do a fasting urine and blood analysis. These tests may take two to four weeks to find the results.

Dr. Chi C. Mao, chief medical officer at Select Specialty Hospitals in Houston Texas endorses Dr. Young’s theories on disease and his understanding of the acid-base balance. “…so far the implementation of his theory has had a profound impact on the treatment of a wide array of diseases such as diabetes, cancers, chronic fatigue syndrome, obesity, urinary calculi, and more.”

Fourteen years ago, I had CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction) for the first time and it lasted for a nightmarish four years. At first I didn’t know what was wrong with me---my lymph nodes were swollen and tender, my body ached all over. I had fibromyalgia in my feet and each step was painful. My memory kept getting worse and I had a continual sore throat. Walking from my house to my car was like walking five miles.

Continually exhausted, there were nights when I could not sleep at all, but there were also weekends when all I did was sleep because I was too exhausted to get out of bed. When I stood up I felt like I needed to lean against the wall to support myself because I was frequently weak and dizzy. Although I was a licensed professional counselor, I could not help myself. I was in a quagmire of depression and hopelessness.

When I first became ill, I had a microscopic blood check in a health food store where they discovered many parasites in my blood stream. Live cell analysis involves taking a sample of your blood and magnifying it many times and then viewing your blood on a monitor or screen. Tiny little parasites were swimming around in my blood. As I marched off to my physician, hoping for a cure, he told me that it wasn’t possible to have parasites in your blood. “You are probably just suffering from stress or depression.” He referred me to a counselor who thought Prozac was the panacea for every depression.

After one week on Prozac, I was more depressed than ever. By the end of the second week I felt suicidal. When I called the counselor, her suggestion was to double the dosage. I was not going to double the dosage. While stress contributed to my depression, I knew I needed to get physically well. When I stopped taking the Prozac, the suicidal feelings went away.

CFIDS attacks the central nervous system and most people with the disease are depressed. In addition to the chemical causes of depression, emotional causes include: feeling trapped, hopelessness, anger you turn in on yourself, loss, and guilt. All are common feelings of CFIDS sufferers.

My doctor sent me to a psychiatrist, who, on the first visit and without any testing, wanted to put me on an MAO inhibitor. I didn’t buy into this. He suggested my symptoms were psychosomatic.

Desperately, I made the rounds trying to find a doctor who could help me. Finally, after more than three, years I found an internal medical doctor who specialized in CFIDS. At the time I was so debilitated and my hope of getting better so dim, I recall telling him, “I either want to get better or I want to die.” I didn’t feel suicidal, but I felt like I was among the living-dead.

He wanted to put me on medical disability, but I refused. I knew that if I went to bed I might never get well again. As a school counselor, I was committed to the young people I worked with and I could work sitting down. After work, I went home and fell into bed. Every morning I felt like I was pushing a ten-thousand-pound block off my body just to get out of bed, but I did it. Slowly! There was no hurry in me.

The doctor prescribed diflucan for candida. While there may be many causes of CFIDS, an acidic pH balance, candida, EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus), and parasites have been identified as some of the main contributors. I had all four. Within a week of taking diflucan I began to regain energy and feel better. During my bout with CFIDS I would sometimes cycle and have a few days where I felt almost healthy. Thinking I might be well and that the plague had ended, I would over work and be right back where I started or even worse. This time, although still weak, I consistently got better, especially as I worked hard to reduce stress in my life.

Three years later they found a small spot on my liver. Liver cancer. Because of my fragile immune system I knew I could not do chemotherapy and so did my physician. Another doctor who did a microscopy test on my blood said, “You have more parasites in your blood than anyone I have tested.” He put me on a vegan diet and I made drastic changes in my eating. I started using the remedies for killing parasites in the blood that were suggested by Dr. Hulda Clark, in her book, The Cure For Any Cancer. Because I had all kind of digestive problems, bloating, constipation, gas pains, it is possible that I had colon cancer at the same time. Within three months of using the diet and supplements, my cancer was in remission.

I have no doubt that stress contributes to CFS and creates an acidic reaction within our bodies. This is why it was called the “Yuppie,” disease. Type “A” personalities, driven to overwork, success, and incredible stress are prone to CFIDS.
Six years ago CFIDS again flared up in my life after the death of my husband. He had not been well for eight years. Six months prior to his death he was on oxygen in the evenings and while asleep he would accidentally pull the oxygen off, then wake up because he couldn’t breath. I would readjust the oxygen, he would go back to sleep, but I would remain wide awake because of my concern for him. Many nights I had only three or four hours sleep.

As a widow I experienced considerable stress and exhaustion. Within ten months I had Chronic Fatigue again. This time my doctor insisted I take medical leave for several months which I was grateful to do. Shortly thereafter I retired. I no longer had the energy to work. Within three months I started feeling better, but if I overworked or had too much stress I was ill again. My doctor allowed me to exercise for five or ten minutes, depending on my endurance. It took nearly a year to regain my strength.

Two years ago I was in a stressful environment and Chronic Fatigue flared up again, but this time it only lasted several months. An alternative physician in Florida discovered I had CFIDS and candida again (this comes not only from what we eat, but also from stress in our life that creates a very acidic condition in our body where yeast, fungus and mold thrive). The doctor put me on diflucan and after a week I experienced severe pain in my kidneys. Immediately he took me off the medication. By coincidence, two friends introduced me to a green drink of 49 different grasses including barley and lemon---the SuperGreens, and the Prime pH (a powerful oxygen catalyst) that Dr. Robert Young talks about in his book. I began eating a more alkaline diet. Within a week I experienced a tremendous surge of energy and vitality and have remained healthy and well since that time.

Recently I had a woman come to me for counseling. Although presently I am retired and working on a doctoral dissertation in Holistic Nutrition and the impact that alkaline dietary changes have on CFS, she was so desperate I agreed to see her. For 15 years she had been treated for depression with little or any improvement. She had just discovered that she had CFS and had likely had it for many years. Over the years she had often felt suicidal and worthless. She had little energy to do anything and could hardly get out of bed in the morning. After the session I asked if we could talk about nutrition. She was eager to learn. She bought Dr. Young’s book and started on an alkaline diet, SuperGreens, Prime pH, caprilenic (to kill candida), essential fatty acids, and a homeopathic remedy for anxiety and sleep. At first she would call and complain about the diet. It was difficult for her, but she stuck with it. Three weeks later she called and said, “I have energy. I can get out of bed in the morning, and I have lost eight pounds.” There was vitality in her voice.

As I have researched and talked to people who have overcome Chronic Fatigue with an alkaline diet, I have been amazed at some of the results. Carol, had chronic fatigue for 16 years and tried everything. At one time she was taking 55 capsules a day. “I had a fisherman’s tackle box to organize my supplements,” she told me. Although her health had started to improve three years ago, she claims it was the alkaline diet and SuperGreens that “pushed me over the edge to good health.”

I wish everyone who is suffering with this debilitating disease could have the same success. This is my passion, to educate and help people heal.

Over the years I have learned many things about Chronic Fatigue. The first step in healing is to cleanse the colon:

Candida, parasites, and EBV or other viruses can contribute or cause CFS.

Candida thrives in an acidic environment in our body.

Stress is a significant contributor to an acidic environment.

An alkaline balance in our body helps heal our bodies.

What you eat is of vital importance—eat alkaline.

Essential fatty acids (EFA’s) help bind and eliminate acids in our body.

Twenty percent of our daily calories should come from EFA’s.

Microscopy is good diagnostic resource to find out if you have parasites, candida, or what your body needs nutritionally.

Detoxification is an important part of healing, but some may need to do it slowly. SuperGreens help to nourish the body as you detoxify.

Sometimes you feel worse during the detoxification program—some people do better by a gradual detox , while others can do it in a week to ten days.

Cleansing the colon and the intestinal tract is part of detoxing. Fibrada, Naturlax, Casasagrada, are good cleansers.

Adequate nutrients are not absorbed when hardened feces stick to the colon walls. This is why some people are always hungry.

Eat a low-mucoid diet. Nonmucoid matter moves through the body faster than mucoid foods.

Mucoid forming foods include all dairy products, such as cow’s milk, skim milk, cheese, cottage cheese, butter, yogurt, whey and ice cream. Also, all flesh foods—meat, fish, foul and eggs.

Magnesium deficiency may also be a problem for CFS patients.

Take a good organic source of vitamins and minerals—liquid colloidal is good.

Avoid all forms of sugar, fruit, caffeine, alcohol, and refined carbohydrates.

Consider acupuncture treatments to balance your body and strengthen your immune system.

Try meditation, Thi Chi, self-hypnosis or other stress reduction techniques.

Pray and turn your life over to a higher positive power to help you.
Copyright © 1999-2008 Patty Butts

[Calluna]

I haven't been tested for anything. Whenever I go they just tell me I'm depressed. really helpful

I'm thinking I'll start a diary of everything I eat, do, times I go to bed and get up, etc.

[BellyBelly]

You could be tested and get a diagnosis, but if your body remains acidic you will have other problems or still be sick... start eliminating and including foods in your diet now and see if you notice a difference. Everyone is just labelled as depressed these days, here have some drugs... but its just a body in a state of disease or imbalance.

[Beautiful Disaster]

Years and it can be ruled out with a blood test

[black_rose]

Start slowly, introduce one new food and take one out each week, it makes it much easier to make changes slowly instead of all at once.

I was feeling horrible and very tired/sluggish and have felt much better by dropping sugar and refined foods. We now have brown rice, limited potatoes and lots of water. I snack in berries and nuts instead of lollies. I have more salads than what I used to and I am trying new foods each week. I find I am not so tired anymore and my energy levels are much better.