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March is Chronic Fatigue Awareness Month
by Francine Brokaw
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome--- A personal journey, "Yawn!"
When I was younger, I felt tired and completely drained. I was diagnosed with clinical depression and given a variety of different anti-depressants over a period of years.
None of the medications worked. I was still not my old self, and several of the medications had horrible side effects. One made me so lightheaded I kept passing out. Another was not compatible with different foods. Another had other side effects, and so on.
I finally said no more!
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Francine Brokaw writes for Skateboard and manages several areas in the WomenCentral and UnderWire Communities on MSN.
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The pills weren't working and were causing other awful symptoms. I was sent to therapy, which did nothing about my fatigue, but in the process I learned a lot about myself.
Finally, many, many years later, I was correctly diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This is also often referred to as Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus. It is a real virus. It has symptoms and there is help. Not a cure, but some help. Viruses, by nature, will burn themselves out in time. How much time? It varies. Mine has lasted over twenty years, but it is less intrusive now.
CFS, besides fatigue, is often accompanied by sore joints, swollen glands, chills, and several other symptoms which can mimic the flu. It most often ebbs and flows, and during bouts of CFS it is difficult to do much of anything. That is perhaps the reason I was misdiagnosed. I have episodes of CFS, and then it seems like it is gone. But it returns.
Typically, I will feel some achy fingers at the onset of a CFS episode. The glands in my neck will become tender, and although I am most often cold, I become colder. (Temperature, not temperament!) I also know CFS has taken complete control of my body when I stand in the shower after the water is turned off, the towel wrapped around me, but I am completely unable to step out of the tub. The energy is gone! Totally gone! Feeling cold is due to the fact my body has put itself in low gear. Combine all these symptoms, and add some other ailments and I can tell you, it's not a pleasant experience.
Since CFS slows down a body, if you have CFS, do NOT try to lose weight during an episode. You can, if you have the energy, ride a bike from here to Timbuktu, but your body won't react the same as when it is functioning at its normal levels. I guess this information is superfluous because the energy and desire to ride a bike or do any physical exercise is nonexistent during CFS. But often it will take your body awhile to completely recover from an episode, so just in case you cannot lose those extra pounds remember---it's another thing you can chalk up to the virus. During CFS episodes do not starve yourself, however do not go on a french fries and ice cream diet. The pounds will add up faster than usual. Eat healthy and nourishing food.
The only thing to do during these episodes is to follow your body. Sleep, rest, do nothing. And believe me, you won't be able to do anything either. Just answering the phone is a chore. Keeping your head up and keeping your eyes open all take energy. And CFS deprives your body of almost all its energy. Drinking gallons of caffeine will not even impact your system. This virus is mean, and once it has a hold of you, it doesn't give up easily.
The good news, if I can call it that, is the recognition of the virus. And I can call it good news because I know I don't have clinical depression, and I always knew I didn't have clinical depression. I just couldn't get any doctor to understand. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is something that needs to be treated in its own way. There are many doctors treating CFS these days. Some doctors use combinations of medications. Others have other ways of treating the virus. Nothing is perfect. But the realization of the existence of the virus is a relief.
When I used to feel an episode approaching I was horrified because I knew it would be several months (After several years it diminished to weeks) before I would be up to my normal routine. Now, after all these years, I know the episodes will only last a few days. And they are occurring much less frequently. It will probably take many more years for the virus to burn itself out, but it is becoming less and less intrusive in my life. Burn, baby burn.
Click here for information about CFS.
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