CFS and Uni ventage

[EvieLee]

Hullo all,
Please don't feel obliged to reply to this. Am just hoping ventage will help settle me down a little.

Basically, I've struggled with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since pre-pubescence but have only recently been losing that struggle. I took last semester off uni as I was sick and bed ridden for about 7 weeks. I only just went back, knowing that there was a strong possibility that it was stress of uni itself that was making me sick.

I've barely been back a week and already I'm slipping. I'm having to face the possibility that I can't study and be healthy at the same time. I'm on part time work load, only doing two courses a semester and it's still too much for me. I can't do any less than what I'm doing without being at uni for the next millenia.

I know that my health should always come first, but without completing my degree what am I supposed to do about a job? Or if I do complete my degree before the second freakin' coming, how will I ever hold down a full time job to be able to support myself?

Again, please don't feel obliged to reply to this. One of the niggly little symptoms that I have to deal with is being over emotional, so I could be just blowing this way out of proportion. lol. But it's like PMS I suppose, right now it seems like the end of the world, despite my knowing better.

[Annorah]

Please don't give up - CFS is a nasty illness and one that generates little sympathy.

I have suffered from it since 2000 but it is now more or less under control. The main thing is to concentrate on what you can do rather than what you can't.

I had to give up my Masters degree studies and the sign language course I loved because I just couldn't cope at that time. However, I am now back to studying - only part time and at my own pace but it was something I never thought that I would be able to do again.

There is light at the end of the tunnel - you will recover from this but there is no magic wand that can be waved or pill you can take to make you better. The trick is to make sure that you don't put any undue pressure on yourself. It is a frustrating illness and the mental effects are as bad, if not worse, than the physical ones, however, if you can just take one day at a time, not worry about the future, eat a healthy (preferably organic) diet, take a little, gentle exercise on your good days and get plenty of rest, I am sure that you will find yourself on the road to recovery.

If you want to talk, feel free to PM me as I really DO know what you are going through.

Brightest blessings

:hugz:

[EvieLee]

Thank you Annorah,
IMO, while CFS is recognised as a physical illness (as opposed to a mental disorder) it is still an underestimated ailment. I really have to hunt around for a GP that knows even the slightest thing about it. :S

I get frustrated with people telling me that things will get better and I'll have a semi-decent life one day when all I can see is the heap I'm in now and the heap I've been in for the past 7 years. However, it's nice to hear it from someone who has a clue what they're saying. lol. It's especially difficult to have developed CFS at a young age so that I don't remember a time when I was "normal".

I read the greatest advice today which I think rings true (for me at least) - when CFS patients get even the smallest hint of extra energy than they're used to, they try to make the most of it and end up over doing it. That's exactly what's happened to me and I can't help thinking that it took me a whole semester plus the x-mas holidays to store up only a week or so worth of energy. WTF?! lol.

I am feeling somewhat better now after having my big blubbery cry (tell you what, it's hard to type when you can't see the screen.) even though it just made things worse, like it always does when you have a headache. lol.

Thanks for being the poor unfortunate soul to listen to my prattle. :o

[MerryBe]

Thank you Annorah,
IMO, while CFS is recognised as a physical illness (as opposed to a mental disorder) it is still an underestimated ailment. I really have to hunt around for a GP that knows even the slightest thing about it. :S

I get frustrated with people telling me that things will get better and I'll have a semi-decent life one day when all I can see is the heap I'm in now and the heap I've been in for the past 7 years. However, it's nice to hear it from someone who has a clue what they're saying. lol. It's especially difficult to have developed CFS at a young age so that I don't remember a time when I was "normal".

I read the greatest advice today which I think rings true (for me at least) - when CFS patients get even the smallest hint of extra energy than they're used to, they try to make the most of it and end up over doing it. That's exactly what's happened to me and I can't help thinking that it took me a whole semester plus the x-mas holidays to store up only a week or so worth of energy. WTF?! lol.

I am feeling somewhat better now after having my big blubbery cry (tell you what, it's hard to type when you can't see the screen.) even though it just made things worse, like it always does when you have a headache. lol.

Thanks for being the poor unfortunate soul to listen to my prattle. :o


I am sorry to see you have CFS/ME. It IS very underestimated as far as the general public/general practitioners are concerned.
Most people do not realize that there is a whole myriad of complex symptoms to this illness. Not that I blame the General Public, since little was taken seriously about the illness for years.

It is only in recent times that the illness is getting the attention it deserves. So many people sufferring with no cure in sight...yet.

I understand. My best advice is to pace yourself. Don't overdo. Oddly when a person with CFS/ME does feel well enough to do something they cannot usually do, they want to make up for lost time and conquer everything. It's probably best to stop or slow down before one run's out of steam, cause by then it's usually too darn late.
Then it takes days, weeks, months, whatever the body needs to recuperate. And still, it's not 100%.

You have company out here. You are not alone.
I hope you have some kind of personal support system for yourself, cause it's a nasty thing to go through alone.

The poster before me also gave you some good advice. She understands as well.

hugs & don't be hard on yourself, (something I think we all do at times) take one day at a time, use baby steps if you have to. Go ahead and let out whatever you need to. You have friends here.

Wish you well, you can PM me too if you wish!
Merry

[Annorah]

Hi again, Evie Lee

Just had a few more thoughts -

MerryBe is absolutely correct in saying that on your good days you tend to overdo it and just make things worse - it is difficult to know where your limits are and you want to get everything done now because tomorrow it might not be possible.

Anyway, over here one of the latest things they are suggesting as helpful for CFS is to eat a small amount of dark chocolate every day - I think it is supposed to be about 85% cocoa solids and about 40 g. I find it helps but then again I can be a bit of a chocoholic :)

Also, my other and much better half got involved in a very long conversation with a bioscientist who specialises in thyroid disorders and has an interest in CFS and he suggested that I should take a supplement of selenium as that seems to help with a compromised immune system. (Apparently, even though I am very much better, my immune system is still not likely to be right and selenium is beneficial).

Personally, I found that wearing a high strength magnetic bracelet really helped with the pain - I was able to stop taking the aspirin, which I had been taking like sweets just to keep the aching under control. The one I used was called a Bioflow. I don't know if you can get them in your part of the world - although I am sure you could find something similar.

With regard to other supplements, I found Evening Primrose Oil helpful - my doctor was a bit sniffy about it at first but agreed to me giving it a try for six to eight weeks. Anyway, she went away and did a bit of research on the subject and found that it could be helpful in improving concentration, memory etc.

I know just how desperate you are for a cure - I went through the same thing and tried all sorts of strange and wonderful "treatments" (some of which helped, some of which did nothing). I was lucky in that my doctor was extremely good and very understanding, even though (medically) there was very little that she could do.

It is perfectly natural that you feel depressed, resentful and frustrated with the illness and the limitations it places on you - if you can accept that, I think you might start to feel a bit better about it all.

There is life after CFS - hang on in there!

[EvieLee]

Thanks for the support everyone.

There does seem to be a miriad of "treatments" floating around, which I suppose is a good thing in a way as it shows that there is someone thinking about us. lol.

So far the most affective treatments for me have been magnesium (for the muscle aches), potasium and coQ10 supplements and general blood pressure treatments to help improve my circulation. I've always had cold hands and feet and numbness, but never thought it was to do with the CFS. lol. The varicose veins gave it away though (varicose veins at 18! I couldn't believe it!) Also, I've just recently joined a gym and it's amazing the energy levels a nice work out can give you. That chocolate treatment sounds scrummy though, must try. lol.

I'm quite over my little bout of depression and looking back it all seems a bit silly, as it always does, but at least now I know there are some lovely people on here who have/had the same experiences.

*huggles* for all.