Chronic Fatigued

16 years ago

I have been told that my tiredness is because I have chronic fatigue. I had never even heard of it before that and they told me that there is only a few medications for it. I asked if there was anything I could do on my own to help with it and all he said was get plenty of sleep and exercise. Well it is hard to exercise when i am so tired and how much am I suppose to sleep to feel better. I wonder if anyone knows of something that is natural to help give me energy and make me feel better?

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Comments (7)

toad08
16 years ago
This link should be very helpful for starters,
chronic fatigue syndrome http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/health/msg020028137218.html
carla35
16 years ago
Here is a link.

Ok, I hate to give advice and of course listen to your doctor but...

Try to get your sleep regulated and into a real pattern. I truly think a sleep problem/ deep sleep deprivation is at the root of many CFS cases. Sometimes naps are a necessity, but sometimes they can just throw off your night time sleep. Try to skip napping and see if you are sleeping/ feeling better in the long run.

Don't over do it with the exercise.... You know your body; is exercise helping or hurting you ... and I don't mean just intolerance.. I mean how well do you feel after you exercise? Don't over do it if you aren't feeling well. Read the link below for more info on exercise.

Eat well and stay away from alchohol. If you have CFS it will probably only make you feel worse.

Each case is so individualized so it's hard to give too much specific advice. If you could find a really good doctor that knows a lot about CFS, I would think that would be your best bet. There really are some doctors that understand (and believe in) the disease more than others. Doctors that know nothing or little of the disease or don't believe you, are your biggest enemy!

I recommend a documentary/movie that I mentioned on the other thread called "I Remember Me" (directed by Kim Synder). IMHO it is a must watch for anyone (and their families) suffering from CFS. It's well worth the price to buy it if you can't find it for rent.

Good luck and know that you are not alone.

Here is a link that might be useful: CFS
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I have CFS/Fibromyalgia.. From my understanding, the candida problems (yeast infections)are also secondary symptoms to the CFS and that the primary cause of CFS was caused by the Epstein Bar Virus (the cause of Mono). I eliminated my repeat yeast infections to start with Acidophylus (sp?) and then completely changed my eating habits (there is info out there on diets just for that). I do still have CFS relapses but never are they as bad as the first bout and there is usually alot of space between. For me it's been a total lifestyle change...taking more time to take care of my self. I don't push it when my body tell me not too ..very hard for me. Somedays are harder than other's as I also have ADHD and stress/anxiety can bring on a CF bout if I don't pit a nub to it..so when school or life gets overwheming I take a break or suffer the consequences .. I'd rather prevent a relapse and be a day behind in school work vs. trudge thru it an be a week behind!! Just my story.... Vera
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What is a CFS specialist? Is it a medical doctor or an alternative medicine practitioner? I have heard of this approach to wellness. Actually checking blood levels of nutrients (proteins, fats, sugars), vitamins, minerals, various enzymes, etc. Then prescribing diet and supplements to create some optimal balance. How the optimum levels are determined, I don't know. It's wonderful that your friend has a better quality of life and no matter the cost, if she is satisfied, that is all that should count. Even though some menopause experiences are horrible, I think we would know when a more serious disease is present. If we are paying attention, I believe our own intuition will tell us. Even though I had severe hot flashes, I knew when I was sick with a fever. Anyone having troublesome symptoms that could be menopause as well as a disease, definitely needs to be evaluated by a doctor to rule out serious conditions before chalking it up to menopause. And I happen to believe that a woman with menopausal symtoms so severe and disabling that they are confused with diseases needs hormonal support. Any person is free to consult a nutritionist, physical trainer, or any other professional in order to figure out what will help them to optimum health. The problem for most of us is following their advice. It is extremely difficult to change a lifetime of eating and exercise habits. People need a strong motivation to continue the initial changes and make more as time goes on. Even people with life threatening illnesses like diabetes and heart disease (which you would think would be a strong motivator) are unable to change the habits that would contribute to a longer and healthier life for themselves. I'm not saying this to discourage people from trying to live a healthier life style. The more a person can do on the side of health the better off they are, even if they can not do it 100% of the time.
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Scullcap, Passionflower and Valerian root can be used as a sleep aid. Herbs which help with fatigue include: Schizandra, Ginseng, and Ginger. Drink 1-2 cups Gotu Kola tea per day to combat fatigue. Cayenne tea is good when you are feeling tired and run-down. Flavour some Sage tea with a little Cinnamon and drink it to clear the mind and improve thought processes. Borage tea may help "lift your spirits". Eat plenty of Artichoke, Tomato and Zucchini. Take Evening Primrose capsules as directed by a professional. Bring 600ml water to the boil, add 1 teaspoon dried Astragalus root and, for extra effect, 1 teaspoon dried Ginseng root. Cover and simmer slowly for 5 minutes, remove from heat and leave for 20 minutes. Strain. Drink 1-2 cups before meals twice daily to increase energy and improve the immune system. Take Vitamin C supplements and magnesium supplements and eat plenty of foods containing magnesium.
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I was recently diagnosed with EDS. I am 57 but have had similar issues as your GD since a severe bout of mono at age 32. My health has been a rollercoaster since then. (I am currently facing double hip replacements but have not committed to this yet.) It is my belief the viral/bacterial illness can trigger auto-immune illnesses and these are unchartered territory or at least terribly difficult to adequately diagnose. Most treatments focus on symptom abatement; not cures. You need to do your own research on Lyme and the suppression of adequate Lyme treatment. My son was hospitalized for over a week, several months after a supposed mono illness when he was 18. He kept having recurring fevers, illness, similar to your GD; they thought he had lymphoma. Finally did biopsy surgery. He had a team of infectious disease specialists, was in strict isolation, underwent a million tests also and everything was inconclusive. He lost about a year dealing with his illness. He is now 28 and has recurrent gastrointestinal issues and is about 50 # underweight. Cannot gain; dr's think he's fine. He also has the EDS characteristics but no diagnosis. Doesn't like doctors now. I have always had the hypermobility issues as did my mother and siblings although they had no EDS diagnosis. I do not know about any connections between EDS and issues with these mystery illnesses, however I suspect any viral/bacterial illness that affects joint inflammation will be exacerbated by EDS as it is a connective tissue problem. I have read studies where the use of antibiotics actually helps with the vascular type of EDS in mice. Antibiotics are also used successfully in some patients with MS. It is above my pay-grade to make the connections between a genetic syndrome and these mystery illnesses let alone why they are helped by antibiotics. My suspicions lead me to think Lyme may be a big factor for your GD. She may have EDS; probably in fact...doesn't mean she does not have Lyme also, or one of the other many rheumatic, auto-immune illnesses. Could be the perfect storm of several issues. Check out www.roadback.org It will at least help you think past the limitations of what her dr's may be able to tell you. God bless you for looking into this for her and I hope she feels better soon.
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olga_d
16 years ago
Did they test your iron levels? Mine were quite low and it was making me feel tired and worn out all the time. I now take an iron supplement daily and I can really tell the difference! This may be totally not applicable to you, but I thought I'd toss it out there just in case.

Good luck!
khandi
16 years ago
I second the question about your iron. Make sure you're not anemic. I've battled with anemia for a few years. I can tell when it's low by how tired I am.
devorah
16 years ago
Chronic fatigue often goes along with fibromyalgia. I have both. I am lucky that my chronic fatigue is not so bad that I can't function. I can't work a full day and so I am retired, but I am pretty active and exercise every day. Over the last 3 years I have built up my strength and now I exercise for over an hour a day, starting with 30 minutes on the treadmill, but I didn't get there overnight. It is also crucial for me to take muscle relaxants. The Cyclobenzaprine is only about 3 cents per pill and is only available by prescription.

You don't say how old you are. If you are still having periods then I agree that you should have your iron levels tested. I was chronically short of iron. I had really heavy periods and the iron just bled away every month.
joan123_2007
16 years ago
Getting your Iron checked is a good idea, I had my checked and it was rather low. I started taking Iron supplements and it helped some but I still needed more help than that. I looked for other supplements that would give me more energy without caffeine. I have ordered a product called activive and I have been taking it for about a two weeks now. I have not noticed much difference, just slight increase in energy. I am hoping that this increase will continue. Sometimes it is a combination of supplements that will help. I have talked to my doctor and he recommends that you read each supplements ingredients and make sure you are not taking to much. You do want to be knowledgeable about what you are taking. Good Luck.
oceanna
16 years ago
Another very good idea for CFS or FMS is to try the blood type diet. No, it's not a weight loss diet, just a list of foods which are good or bad for you according to your blood type. Doctors pooh-pooh it but it has helped me immensely. My pain levels dropped by about 75% and I received several other health benefits, like no more heartburn or gas, no more pesky little cough or post-nasal drip, stronger fingernails, better sleep, better mood. It costs nothing to try it.

I went "cold turkey" on it for a month. Then one by one I tried out the foods that I had most hated to give up, leaving at least 4-5 days between trying each one. In this way I learned exactly what each did to me.

Here is a link that might be useful: Food lists

Chronic Fatigued

Comments (7)

toad08

carla35

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