Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and/or ME - Some Truths

[Natalia]

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and/or M.E are not depression or tiredness, as some people from all over the place seem to think. I can understand why people can misunderstand because it has not been a very well understood illness and there are lots of "myths" in the media about it...From my own experience I can tell you that I can be really happy and have a little bit of energy and my spirits are high, and then suddenly (when I am still feeling good and positive in myself), the energy goes and the pain comes...that is not depression, and I have listened to other people who have this illness and all of their symptoms (so many) - and that is not depression. That kind of stigma that is based on something that is not even true, can cause extra stress on people with CFS/ME, that is one of the reasons why some groups and web pages exist - to raise awareness about the truth of this illness. Some experts call it a neuroimmune disease, and/or a mitochondrial dysfunction disease, and if that shocks people or brings about a disbelief, then that just shows that they really do not understand what can cause this illness. It has been said by some doctors (who know much more about CFS and ME than other doctors...) that it's mostly caused by a virus, vaccination, or toxcity (like mercury and aluminum). Depression can make it worse and as with all illnesses, people can experience depression because they have an illness, and not the other way around. I really hope that in time, this illness is taken more seriously as a true medical condition and that the stigma around it (that is not based on fact) reduces, and that more people get the help that they need.

[Natalia]

A news article that came out today on CFS/ME

""Chronic fatigue IS 'a real and serious disease': Doctors draw up new guidelines on how to diagnose the condition

Comments came from US government advisory group Institute of Medicine
Experts on the panel sought to redefine chronic fatigue syndrome
Have now set five main symptoms as simple criteria for doctors to use
'Chronic fatigue is not a figment of the imagination,' said lead report author
Report argues condition should be renamed Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease, or SEID, to reflect that symptoms worsen after exertion

By Anna Hodgekiss for MailOnline

Published: 17:18, 11 February 2015 | Updated: 19:40, 11 February 2015

It is a controversial illness that many believe to be a malady of the mind.

But chronic fatigue syndrome is a 'real and serious disease' that needs proper diagnosis, doctors have said.

As a result, the condition needs a new name - and there should be a straightforward way to diagnose it, they added.

The comments came from the Institute of Medicine, a prestigious government advisory group in the U.S.

Chronic fatigue isn't all in the mind, a panel of leading US medical experts has declared. It has now set out five main symptoms as simple criteria for doctors to use in making a diagnosis

The federal government asked the independent organisation to investigate the state of chronic fatigue diagnosis after it was flooded with stories by patients who were misdiagnosed or even dismissed by sceptical doctors.

Yesterday, the IOM panel sought to redefine chronic fatigue syndrome, setting five main symptoms as simple criteria for doctors to use in making a diagnosis.

Experts also called for a new name for the condition, because many patients feel the term 'chronic fatigue' belittles their suffering.

Instead, they argue it should be called Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease, or SEID, to reflect that symptoms worsen after exertion.


The condition affects between one and four million in the US and millions more worldwide - and the combination of symptoms can devastate a patient's life for decades.

Its hallmark is persistent and profound fatigue where, on a bad day, a simple activity like grocery shopping can put someone to bed.

It is often accompanied by memory problems or other symptoms.

These include joint and muscle pain, incapacitating headaches, food intolerance, a sore throat or enlarged lymph nodes and sensitivity to light.

However there is no specific treatment and the IOM found less than a third of medical schools teach about the disease.

'Chronic fatigue is not a figment of patients' imagination,' said Dr Ellen Wright Clayton of Vanderbilt University's Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society, who chaired the IOM panel.

'These patients have real symptoms. They deserve real care.

'It is not appropriate to dismiss these patients by saying, "I am chronically fatigued, too".'

She added: 'People shouldn't wander around in the wilderness for years trying to get a diagnosis.'

Under the new proposals from the IOM, diagnosing chronic fatigue would require three core symptoms:

These are:

* Fatigue and a reduction in activity that lasts for more than six months

* Fatigue that gets worse after exertion

* Sleep that is unrefreshing despite exhaustion

Patients must also have at least one other symptom of the following:

* Cognitive impairment, sometimes described as 'brain fog'

* What's called orthostatic intolerance - meaning symptoms improve when lying down and patients find it hard to stay upright for long.

Dr Lucinda Bateman, of the Fatigue Consultation Clinic in Salt Lake City, said: 'We are hoping that these diagnostic criteria provide a very clear path,' she said. 'It's a fresh start.'

There are ways to treat some of the symptoms, if doctors make a diagnosis, said added.

To spread the word, committee members are writing about the diagnostic criteria in several medical journals, and the institute's web site, www.iom.edu, will eventually post a guide for doctors.
WHAT'S IN A NAME ?

Patients have long sought a change to a name they say belittles their suffering. Some groups already had begun using another term - myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME.

The new report rejected that option, saying not all patients have the muscle pain and brain or spinal cord inflammation that medical jargon reflects.

'This is a defining moment for the disease,' said Carol Head of the Solve ME/CFS Initiative, the largest advocacy organisation for the condition in the US.

Beyond improving diagnosis, the government-funded report should spur more research to understand and treat the disease, she said.

It's too soon to know if the new name will catch on, but including the word 'disease' instead of 'syndrome' is an improvement, Head added.

'Having called this serious disease by an inappropriate and frankly insulting name is one of the factors that kept doctors, friends, family members, even employers from affording it the seriousness it deserves,' she said.

The recommendations mark 'a critical step toward assisting medical providers in making a diagnosis for those with this serious and debilitating illness,' said Dr Nancy Lee, of the HHS Office on Women's Health.

She added the government would review the recommendations.

Last year Stanford University researchers revealed the brains of those diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome are distinctly different to those of healthy people.

First, an MRI scan showed that overall white matter content of CFS patients' brains was reduced compared to that of healthy participants' brains.

The term 'white matter' denotes the long, cable-like nerve tracts carrying signals and information through dispersed concentrations of 'grey matter' - which specialise in processing information.

The researchers said while the first finding wasn't entirely unexpected, the second was.

Using advanced imaging techniques, they identified a consistent abnormality in a particular part of a nerve tract in the right hemisphere of CFS patients' brains.

The tract, which connects the frontal lobe with the temporal lobe, assumed an abnormal appearance in CFS patients.

Furthermore, the study identified a strong link between the degree of abnormality in the patient's tract and the severity of their CFS.

The third finding highlighted a thickening of the grey matter in the frontal lobe and temporal lobe in CFS patients, compared with the control group

The hallmark of the condition is where fatigue is persistent and profound fatigue where, on a bad day, a simple activity like grocery shopping can put someone to bed

Under the new proposals from the IOM, diagnosing chronic fatigue would require three core symptoms:

These are:

* Fatigue and a reduction in activity that lasts for more than six months

* Fatigue that gets worse after exertion

* Sleep that is unrefreshing despite exhaustion

Patients must also have at least one other symptom of the following:

* Cognitive impairment, sometimes described as 'brain fog'

* What's called orthostatic intolerance - meaning symptoms improve when lying down and patients find it hard to stay upright for long.

Dr Lucinda Bateman, of the Fatigue Consultation Clinic in Salt Lake City, said: 'We are hoping that these diagnostic criteria provide a very clear path,' she said. 'It's a fresh start.'

There are ways to treat some of the symptoms, if doctors make a diagnosis, said added.

To spread the word, committee members are writing about the diagnostic criteria in several medical journals, and the institute's web site, www.iom.edu, will eventually post a guide for doctors.

The recommendations mark 'a critical step toward assisting medical providers in making a diagnosis for those with this serious and debilitating illness,' said Dr Nancy Lee, of the HHS Office on Women's Health.

She added the government would review the recommendations.

Last year Stanford University researchers revealed the brains of those diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome are distinctly different to those of healthy people.

First, an MRI scan showed that overall white matter content of CFS patients' brains was reduced compared to that of healthy participants' brains.

The term 'white matter' denotes the long, cable-like nerve tracts carrying signals and information through dispersed concentrations of 'grey matter' - which specialise in processing information.

The researchers said while the first finding wasn't entirely unexpected, the second was.

Using advanced imaging techniques, they identified a consistent abnormality in a particular part of a nerve tract in the right hemisphere of CFS patients' brains.

The tract, which connects the frontal lobe with the temporal lobe, assumed an abnormal appearance in CFS patients.

Furthermore, the study identified a strong link between the degree of abnormality in the patient's tract and the severity of their CFS.

The third finding highlighted a thickening of the grey matter in the frontal lobe and temporal lobe in CFS patients, compared with the control group

VE5OwMUU5sM""

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2949369/Chronic-fatigue-real-disease-Doctors-draw-new-guidelines-diagnose-condition.html#top

[lucidity]

Hello Siblings,

Probably, people with chronic fatigue syndrome / ME don't have the energy
to wade through all these details. So for their benefit ....
I'd like to ask two questions of those knowledgeable in this area:
(1) in a nutshell, what is the cause ?
(2) in a nutshell, what is the cure ?

lucidity :-)

PS.. my tuppence worth would be: If these conditions are related
to (heavy metal/pesticide/herbicide/etc) toxicity .. then clearly the
route to salvation would be detox procedures that would include:

=> coffee enemas (as employed by Gerson Therapy, inter alia)
=> essiac herbal tea (daily, last thing at night or first thing in the morning)
=> Mercola's recommendation for cardio workout, sauna, charcoal tablets
and mega doses of niacin (flushing) -- see his website for exact details.
=> plenty of green juices (daily)

Surely, these practices will make you feel better no matter what your
health status is .

[Natalia]

Hi Lucidity,

from what I have read, CFS/ME is caused mostly by a virus, vaccination, or heavy metal toxicity (or a combination of them). It can also (but it seems less often) be caused by trauma, like after a traffic accident or giving birth. I'm sure and my doctors are sure that mine was caused by a viral infection (I had swollen glands and other symptoms), but also, I had the Hepatitis B vaccination about 3 weeks before I became ill and that may have partly caused it, I don't know...many people have similar stories about what has triggered it...usually a virus, but not always...I had it quite severe at first, but now it's mild-moderate...

What I have read is that each person has to look at their own history as to what might have caused it, so they may know how to treat it (best with a natural health practitioner who specialists in CFS/ME, but many people have to do it without one because they are expensive)....and they can get a mitochondrial function test to see if there is dysfunction there (it seems like this is often the case), but some people will not take the test and benefit from the supplements that are involved in energy production.

The therapies that you mentioned, could help, but the thing with CFS/ME is that there are so many supplements recommended for it, that some of us are already taking lots of things for it (I just counted and am taking 10 different supplements everyday at the moment), so we may have to priorities what to take or do it in stages perhaps...

I don't think that most people realize just how much time is used, and money is spent, and trying different things that many people with CFS/ME have done to try and help themselves, it is not usually an easy or quick thing to heal...and like Doctor Sarah Myhill said in her book, you have to become your own doctor and try different things and see what works for you...

Btw, with CFS/ME a cardio workout would make people feel worse, not better, due to the nature of the illness. Everything else might help though! I don't know...I'll look into some of it, thank you.

[betoobig]

Amethyst, if you please let me, i´ll send you some healing tonight with all my good intention. It will be my pleasure.

Love

[Natalia]

Awww, that is so sweet betoobig, thank you :) (do you need healing, too?)

[Pam]

I think that a frustrating thing for people that are experiencing symptoms that are not easily diagnosed or treated is that many doctors don't want to deal with it. In the US doctors do not want to spend a lot of time troubleshooting symptoms and taking time to listen to a patient that can't define the problem in 5 minutes or less. This is not profitable for them. The system is set up for 15 minute appointments, get them in and out in a hurry. They would rather deal with things that have a cut and dried diagnoses. I do not have CFS but was unlucky enough to experience a balance/ vertigo/ tinnitus condition that was not responsive to any treatments. I could feel that my presence was an annoyance after the initial suggestions that were given did not improve the condition. It takes a special healer to want to take the time and energy to work with someone that is not easily diagnosed, even if it is not the most profitable venture for them. And in my experience they are getting fewer.

[Natalia]

I think that a frustrating thing for people that are experiencing symptoms that are not easily diagnosed or treated is that many doctors don't want to deal with it. In the US doctors do not want to spend a lot of time troubleshooting symptoms and taking time to listen to a patient that can't define the problem in 5 minutes or less. This is not profitable for them. The system is set up for 15 minute appointments, get them in and out in a hurry. They would rather deal with things that have a cut and dried diagnoses. I do not have CFS but was unlucky enough to experience a balance/ vertigo/ tinnitus condition that was not responsive to any treatments. I could feel that my presence was an annoyance after the initial suggestions that were given did not improve the condition. It takes a special healer to want to take the time and energy to work with someone that is not easily diagnosed, even if it is not the most profitable venture for them. And in my experience they are getting fewer.

Perhaps those kind of illnesses are better treated holistically...but that can be expensive or got to find the right practitioner that will really help...a vestibular disorder (or symptoms) doesn't sound easy to treat...all that I have heard might help it is physiotherapy.

[kennywally]

Sure it's real ,but I'd walk away from any standard medical diagnosis and remedy, may even run from it. [[ sorry, I just don't trust them past the emergency room ]]
for my money, it's see a doctor and die.....and 300,000 iatragenic deaths per year kinda back that up.

I kinda side with dr glidden [ fire your doctor today ] and dr wallach, and Dr linus pauling....chronic illnesses have a root cause in mineral depletion.

if that were me, for starters I'd take lugols iodine, selenium, efa's, ACV, daily ionic minerals and whatever else I can think of .....as I go along.

best wishes in your quest and choose your helpers wisely

[betoobig]

We all do Amethyst... I wonder if you felt anything yesterday. Usually after reciving the healing you can feel a little worst at the begginig and afterwords you should start geting better. I´ll do it again tonight. You deserbed this and much more.
I know you´re gonna get much better really fast. Keep it up princess...
...love

[Natalia]

Sure it's real ,but I'd walk away from any standard medical diagnosis and remedy, may even run from it. [[ sorry, I just don't trust them past the emergency room ]]
for my money, it's see a doctor and die.....and 300,000 iatragenic deaths per year kinda back that up.

I kinda side with dr glidden [ fire your doctor today ] and dr wallach, and Dr linus pauling....chronic illnesses have a root cause in mineral depletion.

if that were me, for starters I'd take lugols iodine, selenium, efa's, ACV, daily ionic minerals and whatever else I can think of .....as I go along.

best wishes in your quest and choose your helpers wisely

Some people with CFS like symptoms get somewhat better when they take Iodine, because they have a deficiency in it (or it is low).

There are some people who have tried so many different things and their CFS/ME has not got better, perhaps because too much damage has been done?

[Natalia]

We all do Amethyst... I wonder if you felt anything yesterday. Usually after reciving the healing you can feel a little worst at the begginig and afterwords you should start geting better. I´ll do it again tonight. You deserbed this and much more.
I know you´re gonna get much better really fast. Keep it up princess...
...love

Hi betoobig,

that is what I felt, bit worse then a bit better. Thank you, so sweet :)

Some people can get better quite quickly, it's not most people but it happens!

I will be grateful for getting a bit more better, and am already grateful that It's not as bad as it was.

(((hugs))) <3

[betoobig]

Count on it Amethyst. I will do around midnight, for you to know so you can lay down. Spanish time. Big hugh my friend.
Love

[kennywally]

Sure it's real ,but I'd walk away from any standard medical diagnosis and remedy, may even run from it. [[ sorry, I just don't trust them past the emergency room ]]
for my money, it's see a doctor and die.....and 300,000 iatragenic deaths per year kinda back that up.

I kinda side with dr glidden [ fire your doctor today ] and dr wallach, and Dr linus pauling....chronic illnesses have a root cause in mineral depletion.

if that were me, for starters I'd take lugols iodine, selenium, efa's, ACV, daily ionic minerals and whatever else I can think of .....as I go along.

best wishes in your quest and choose your helpers wisely

Some people with CFS like symptoms get somewhat better when they take Iodine, because they have a deficiency in it (or it is low).

There are some people who have tried so many different things and their CFS/ME has not got better, perhaps because too much damage has been done?

Not sure, but I am sure of the info flow we each experience is uneven at best. I finally, after 30yrs came to fully understand what I've been up against. I did try some useful
things, but it was simply too weak for the enemy within me was very strong. [ candida ] the same monster is most likely at the root of many of our common ills and if the person is timid
and takes too little of the right thing, they can get discouraged.

Best bet is to find a health care provider familiar with what one has.....and since one doesn't really know how to do that or what to look for, end up like a pinball
bouncing from point A to point B without some professional direction. I thought [ know the cause-tv ] was great, til I finally/recently got a copy of the earth clinics book on candida.
then it all came together for me. I came to realize even the good guys have stuff to keep us coming back and never get us well.

So, in the final analysis, a real world type naturopath like dr glidden and dr wallach are what is needed, but them poor folk just don't know that, and so they try this n that and fail cuz it wasn't enuf of the right stuff etc.....I KNOW, I did the same thing for many years.

So, I can only encourage those who tried and failed not to give up, and seek out a professional who IS FAMILIAR with this stuff for guidance and with any luck at all, they get the book I mentioned and it resonates with them as it did me. and I don't think there's too much damage [ cuz they're still alive ] so ingesting them minerals should be the needed fix to get them headed in the right direction.

[Natalia]

Good news, it's looking hopeful that CFS/ME is now being taken more seriously by scientists, who have found immune bio-markers of the illness (it's not a new discovery, but I suppose biological evidence is becoming more "solid"). So this will hopefully help with, not just understanding, but also with effective treatment

Here is an article published in the Telegraph yesterday:


First biological proof that ME is real found by scientists
Columbia University has found that changes to the immune system represent ‘the first robust physical evidence’ that ME is a biological illness rather than a psychological disorder

By Sarah Knapton, Science Editor

7:00PM GMT 27 Feb 2015

Patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome show distinct changes in their immune system, scientists have shown for the first time.

Researchers say the immune changes represent ‘the first robust physical evidence’ that ME is a biological illness rather than a psychological disorder.

Until now doctors have only been able to diagnose the condition on reported symptoms alone, a problem which has led some to dismiss the illness.

But now Columbia University has found that there are specific patterns in 51 immune biomarkers for people with ME. The test also shows differences for short and long term sufferers.

Researchers are hopeful that at an immune test could help improve diagnosis of the disabling disorder in which symptoms range from extreme fatigue and difficulty concentrating to headaches and muscle pain.

The study looked at the immune systems of 298 patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.

People who had the condition for three years or less had increased amounts of immune molecules called cytokines. They had particularly high concentrations of a molecule called interferon gamma which has been linked to the fatigue people feel following a viral infection like flu.

"We now have evidence confirming what millions of people with this disease already know, that ME/CFS isn't psychological," said Dr Mady Hornig, director of translational research at the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University.

"Our results should accelerate the process of establishing the diagnosis after individuals first fall ill as well as discovery of new treatment strategies focusing on these early blood markers."

Crucially there are already drugs on the market which can dampen levels of cytokines and potentially help sufferers, although researchers said their findings would need to be replicated before clinical trials could take place.

The study supports previous suggestions that the condition may be triggered by viruses. It is thought that the immune system may simply fail to switch off.

"It appears that ME/CFS patients are flush with cytokines until around the three-year mark, at which point the immune system shows evidence of exhaustion and cytokine levels drop," says Dr. Hornig.

The condition, once dismissed as ‘Yuppie Flu’, is now a recognised illness which affects around 250,000 people in Britain.

Sufferers report extreme fatigue, joint pain, headaches and memory problems, but doctors still do not know the cause or how to cure it.

Ian Lipkin, Professor of Epidemiology at Columbira added: “This study delivers what has eluded us for so long: unequivocal evidence of immunological dysfunction in ME/CFS and diagnostic biomarkers for disease.”

Anyone can get CFS, although it is more common in women than in men. It usually develops in the early 20s to mid-40s. Children can also be affected, usually between the ages of 13 and 15.

Most cases of CFS are mild or moderate but some people experience symptoms which are so severe they struggle to do even simple tasks like brushing teeth.

Previously experts have suggested it could be triggered by a viral infection; problems with the immune system; a hormonal imbalance or an emotional trauma.

The findings were welcomed by charities who said it proved that ME was a biological disease.

“We welcome hugely respected scientists such as Dr Mady Hornig and Prof Ian Lipkin contributing to the growing momentum of M.E. research with their interesting and potentially exciting findings," said Sonya Chowdhury, CEO, Action for ME.

“This peer-reviewed evidence that M.E. has a potentially identifiable biomarker could have significant implications for quicker diagnosis and improved treatments for this neglected patient group.

“As the team itself highlights, these findings are only preliminary. There is much more work to be done and we eagerly await replication of these results as soon as possible.”

However some experts were more sceptical about the findings.

Prof Michael Sharpe, Professor of Psychological Medicine, University of Oxford, said: “Whilst this finding that some patients with CFS/ME have an immune abnormality is potentially interesting, we should treat it with great caution.

“Everyone who has worked clinically with patients with CFS/ME knows this is a real illness; this study neither proves nor disproves that observation.”

Prof Paul Morgan, Professor of Inflammation, Skin and Joint Disease, Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University, added: A biomarker of CFS has long been sought as a means of adding substance to a difficult and controversial clinical diagnosis. Inflammatory cytokine markers have been described but have failed to replicate.

“Independent verification in larger sample sets is an essential first step, particularly in an area so heavily littered with blind alleys.”

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/11440372/First-biological-proof-that-ME-is-real-found-by-scientists.html

[Daughter of Time]

CFS is a very complex condition. It is not caused by one single agent, but by a combination of many.

Much has been discussed in the posts above, all of it very relevant and very true.

I was diagnosed with CFS several years ago. When I first became ill, I felt as if my life was over. The Environmental Health Clinic was very helpful is pointing out the causes and solutions.

This is what they said in regards to causes:

Heavy metal toxicity

Vaccines

Severe physical or emotional trauma.

Viruses.

Fungi and molds.

Parasites.

Metabolic malfunction (glandular deficiency)

High stress on the body, the mind, the emotions, and everything that affects a person on these levels.

Sensitive beings are the ones who are affected most, that is, sensitive bodies which are affected by sensitive minds and emotions.

Empaths are the very likely to succumb to this illness as they feel the weight of the world.

Solutions:

Detoxifying the system of heavy metals with chelation therapy and infra red saunas which cause profuse sweat and release toxins. I used to never sweat in the past. This is a metabolic malfunction which I inherited from my mother who also has CFS. Infra red saunas helped in opening up my sweat glands.

Killing parasites, fungi and molds with the use of substances like MMS, Hydrogen Peroxide.

Replenishing the body with high quality supplements, mainly: probiotics, Cal/mag, vitamin E, vitamin D, Vitamin C, and glandulars to support the thyroid and adrenals. L-lysine places viruses into dormancy.

Flushing the liver.

Consuming whole foods, including a variety of vegetables, but avoiding large fish as they contain a great deal of mercury. Also, avoiding commercial meats as they are grown with hormones and antibiotics, not to mention that the meat you eat is filled with fear on account of how it is raised. If you eat meat, choose pastured, it's expensive. Eat less of it.

Removing dental amalgams.

Forgiving the past and the people who have caused great trauma to one's emotions.

Staying away from people and situations which cause too much stress.

Removing toxic substances from the home, such as paints and chemical cleansers.

Testing for allergies, as sometimes foods which are nutritious for some, can cause havoc on others who are more sensitive. One may not be aware that some seemingly innocuous foods are damaging one's health.

For those in financial distress, some of the above recommendations are not viable as they can be expensive. Do the ones you can afford and visualize yourself getting better. This helps a little. If you need to cry, let your tears cleanse you.

I have followed the protocol and I am about 70% better. I have yet to recover completely. I don't know if I will. I trust that I will.

My heart feels for those of you who are suffering with CFS because I know what you're going through. Do know that it does not have to be a life sentence. It has been overcome by many. Become pro-active and do all you can to remove offenders whether it be toxins, foods, people, situations, toxic emotions, etc.,

One thing which was not mentioned but I believe is a great factor is dark energies which sensitive beings are prone to fall prey too. Send them away! Reclaim your sovereignty and know that you have the right to push their energy back and demand that they leave you alone and return to their proper place. You cannot be afraid when you demand this! Know your rights as a sovereign being and reclaim your autonomy! If it doesn't work right away, keep doing it! Ask the loving source for assistance.

There is more I could say here but I'm really pressed for time today. Perhaps I'll return to the thread later.

Love and healing,

Daughter of Time

[Natalia]

Thank you for sharing, daughter of time <3

That was such a good post, true information wise but also of an empathic understanding - only those who have had this (or similar) illness, knows what it's like and how serious it can be.

Nice to read that you have recovered 70%, I have read that people can plateau before they get even better (or it can be a really gradual thing).

[cruza-1]

I lost a partner to CFS and its ensuing problems. Initially she contracted Ross River Virus, which physically debilitated her. One thing about R.R.V is the stronger & fitter you are the harder it impacts the individual. This led to CFS which in turn produced Psychological Issues. In our area there where several case, all with the same resulting symptoms and out comes.
Prescription medications for the pain and depression assisted greatly... to her demise. Being from a rural environment where everyone works hard long hours, seven days a week ... then the hand brake gets pulled on. We lost our animals, business, finances everything, all additional contributing factors.

All the doctors wanted to do was medicate and send her to therapy. I watched the degenerative transition for three years, until I became the target of her frustrations and anger, from the Psychological impact.I still see her from time to time, but she is not and never will be the same woman I once knew.

The upside is I went and studied Behavioral Science to gain a greater understanding of how the mind works, impacting factors / variables and the effects they have on cognitive function, which is seen as behaviour. I lived this process, it is painful in the extreme, to watch some one you love become a another person, intolerable, dangerous, unpredictable, would they self harm or harm others ... I and other family members became collateral damage. Most off all, the feeling of helplessness it is overpowering and enduring.