Going backwards

[Suei]

Hi all,

I’m 49 and have had quite a few health issues over about 4 or 5 years now, mainly being very tired, lethargic, foggy.

About 18 months ago after numerous doctors appointments & tests I was diagnosed with CFS, then late last year I was also diagnosed with menopause & under active thyroid, I had a fall/blackout prior to that which also led to a diagnosis of sinus tachycardia arrhythmia.

I feel like a hypochondriac but try to work & stay as normal as possible. For the past few weeks I feel like I’m going backwards health wise, I got my thyroid tested & it was ok so that’s ticked off but I feel like my body is leaden, a pressure pushing me down. I have headaches, aches & pains throughout my body, I’m doing much less & sleeping more - I’m still working full time but my hubby is furloughed so he’s ‘keeping’ house.

I am feeling quite lost, tired & fed up! I really don’t want to take time off work if I can help it, I’m pretty much office based in a factory.

This is probably more of a statement than a request because I know you all have the same issues but I feel absolutely knackered & worthless & helpless at the moment .

Any advice would be appreciated xx

[Troilus]

Hi Suei,

As far as cfs/me is is concerned there are no quick fixes I’m afraid. Another odd thing about it is that different people seem to have different experiences.

Like you I became extremely tired, couldn’t be bothered, but pushed on. Eventually I reached the point where I knew that it was not a normal kind tiredness. From there I just went downhill fast!

The best piece of advice that was given to me was by my GP who told me to listen to my body.

I think at the moment your body is telling you to rest.

[Suei in reply to Troilus]

Thank you, I just feel totally wiped out especially at weekends because I’m trying to get through the weeks.

After feeling quite bright it’s like a backward slide 😕

[Troilus in reply to Suei]

I felt like that Suei. I used to get home and feel very relieved if I could smell something cooking because I knew I wouldn’t have to do anything. I just kept pushing myself. I think I didn’t quite realise what was going on,

Eventually I went to my GP. He signed me off for 6 weeks. I just couldn’t get back. I felt like I was stuck behind a glass wall! I walked with a stoop and a shuffle, my cognitive abilities came and went.

Don’t do what I did. It’s not worth it. Far better take some time now to recharge than leave it too late.

It took me years to recover.

[ALKT in reply to Suei]

continuing to push yourself past your bodies new energy limits will cause long term harm if possible talk to your companies occupational health to reduce your hours and make some changes to your workload . I would suggest to join a very active m e site like science for m e to gain the knowledge that will hopefully reduce your chances of ending up mostly house or bedbound working is not worth sacrificing your health for .

[Regalbirdy]

Hi,

You are not a hypochondriac! I suspect you are just sick and tired - of feeling sick an tired. Standard medical advice and support is thin on the ground for those with a CFS diagnosis. From experience, that leaves one rather left out on a limb and trying to cope the in best way possible.

What has helped me In the last 15 months is the cutting out of all foods containing any type of sugar; as well cutting my carbohydrate intake back to around 35g per day.

Has doing this been easy? No.

Has it helped to significantly improve my energy levels and clear up my brain fog? A big fat Yes.

Has it been worth it? Most definitely. 🙂

Am I cured? No - like most people with CFS I still have some bad days. They are just fewer in number than before.

Would changing to this lifestyle work for you? I don’t know - I t’s something that you would have to decide for yourself.

I chose to follow the paleo-ketogenic protocol, after reading Sarah Myhill’s website and books. However this way of life should be carefully considered and researched before embarking on - especially if you’re female and menopausal. Obviously this doesn’t apply in quite the same way for the guys.

I’ve done a lot of bio hacking in the last 7 years and it’s possible that a lot of my issues have been due to gut dysbiosis and a leaky gut. A systemic candida infection may also have been a contributing factor.

I hope this helps. As Troilus says, there is no better thing than listening to your body’s needs. And if that is telling you to rest, that’s totally ok. Do the best you can. You have nothing to prove to anyone.

[peege]

I totally know how you feel. It doesn't help that others don't understand so there's little empathy.

I too have read Dr Sarah Myhill's book and found it helpful in several ways. 1, she describes imagine you begin the day with an envelope of energy, use no more than whats in it or you'll be in deficit. I try to do that & when spent rest up until replenished. Its so hard to do when working.....2, I decided to look i to her fatigue pak of supplements and vitamins, im on a tight budget so decided to try each item o the list to see if one particular item worked before having to take the whole combination. I chose ubiqinol 1st and it seems to help. I wrote a couple of posts about it. ......3, I'm thinking of trying the paelo food regime. My daughter and family have been on it for other reasons but its made quite a difference to her (she's in early menopause at 40).

Its a question of research, trial and error. Id like to try Perrin Technique but just can't afford it. Best wishes to you Suei. P