me

[Miss-Ladybug]

I think i may have ME (or at least something similar) but im rather shy at the doctors because im petrified they will think im making things up (i get it from my younger days) so how should i bring it up?

[Octavius]

Despite the fact that the Department of Health now accepts ME/CFS as a genuine medical condition, diagnosis can still pose a problem because ME/CFS symptoms are similar to those present in a number of other medical conditions. In addition, there are no examination findings which can confirm the diagnosis. This means there has to be a process of elimination (the exclusion of other conditions) before a diagnosis of ME/CFS can be made.

Just go to your GP and explain your symptoms, it may not be ME at all.

[Doc_Spock]

Yuppie flu in otherwords.

[LoftyLottie]

Octavius is right, there are many conditions with the same symptoms of ME. Fortunately these days GP's are very sympathetic. Back in the mid 80's when I first started to suffer I was backwards and forwards almost on a weekly basis to the doctor with a list of different symptoms and felt as if I was a hypochondriac because he treated me like one. I was actually very frightened because I knew something was really wrong and wasn't being taken seriously.

Gone are the days when it was called 'yuppy flu' (thank goodness).

Just go to the doctor and say exactly what you have said here in your question. Tell them of your worries that you might be making it up or a hypochondriac. I am sure the doctor will put you at ease.

[Miss-Ladybug]

Thank you Lottie

I have never been a well person and am always at the doctors or hospital and have even been told i was 'making it up to get attention' by a doctor!!

[LoftyLottie]

Doc Spock, I don't know whether you were being serious , but I can tell you that not being able to walk for more than a couple of yards, suffering from mutliple aches and pains, having blurred vision, muscle tremors, not being able to string a sentence together without forgetting what you are saying, as well as suffering from continuous fatigue that sometimes renders you bedridden for days, (plus loads of other symptoms) is absolutely awful and was the most dreadful period of my life. I had young children at the time!

I still get relapses when I am tired or under the weather but I know how to deal with it now.

[Ice.Maiden]

Hope you get it sorted out Miss L. My friend suffers from ME, and it can be a very debilitating condition. x

[zig.zag]

be strong Miss-Ladybug , theres three stages of ME

believe in your strength and stave it off if you indeed have it

theres always the possibility you may not

[LoftyLottie]

Make yourself an appointment as soon as possible and try to stop worrying. Worrying will not help your symptoms and will only make them worse. I promise you once you have plucked up courage and seen the GP you will start to feel a bit better straight away!

Good luck and best wishes.

[LoftyLottie]

One of the things I learned is to accept that on bad days you just have to rest and sleep and not feel guilty. Most women are very bad at achieving this and we are geared up to having to keep going.

Most ME sufferers have good and bad days and learn how to pace themselves correctly. There is a lot more advice and help available now than when I was really ill and good support networks.

[Miss-Ladybug]

Yeah i find it so frustrating because my mind is very get-up-and-go but my body just doesnt listen =/

Asides fatigue, are there any must-mentions to get a diagnosis? I have a list of symtoms as long as my arm but dont know which are more useful to know.

[LoftyLottie]

Everybody is different, just tell them your major symptoms first and perhaps then mention that you do have other problems.

My main symptoms were extreme tiredness (and I do mean extreme!) muscle tremors and pains, not being able to think clearly and a dislike of bright lights and loud noises. I also felt like I was walking on jelly all the time. I also experienced numbness in my fingers and face (in fact I was positive I had MS!

[LoftyLottie]

Personally, I wouldn't tell the doctor you think you have ME. Just tell him all the symptoms and let him think what the diagnosis might be. Many doctors don't take kindly to people trying to self diagnose - silly really in this day and age when people are much more aware and have access to so much information.

Don't forget though there are lots of illnesses that present similar symptoms, especially the fatigue element.

[Eve]

As said above, there are so many things that can cause certain symptoms, or even a number of things,it's just easier for us to try and fit them into one little box giving hope for treatment rather than think there may be multiple things going on.

Go see your GP and start the conversation saying that you are worried by your medical record, how many times you have to see them and how often you feel ill and that you don't want to be like that and can you work together to try and find a solution.

That should hopefully impress upon then that you are not just attention seeking but want to make proactical stepes to get yourself back on track.

It may take a while, a barrage of symptoms, unless they have a significant pattern of pointer can be very hard to get to grips with. It may mean making a list of problems and targetting them gradually, ie the worst first or easiest to sort first.

It may mean going for some therapy to help you cope in the mean time and assist in decreasing any stress or anxiety which may be contributing - possibly even subconsciously.

Stick to one doctor who you can talk to and deal with so you have continuity so that they may start to see a patters in your illnesses.

Sit down and make a list of what problems you have had when in the past with dates, investigations, treatments and diagnoses. You could also make a note on how this affects you in every day life so you can look at ways of making that better. Doctors can find this useful.

Take it to your doctor when you go to see them and have the chat mentioned above, ask them if they would review your medical notes in conjunction with it then agree to make another appointment to make a plan of action.

Making a diary could also help identify patterns or triggers, responses to treatment etc... and your doctor may also find this useful.

Hope this helps :) x

[LoftyLottie]

Testing

[LoftyLottie]

Brilliant reply Jenna. You deserve dozens of stars from Miss Ladybug.

[andy-hughes]

Fantastic responses here - especially from LoftyLottie - as usual!

As Ocatvius advises, ME is often diagonsed as the final condition when everything else has been eliminated.

Thank heavens it is recognised now, and not simply sen as being 'tired'. We all get tired, that is part of us, but the exhaustion of ME is entirely different - my wife suffers, and has had to learn to manage her condition, without railing against the 'mind energy v. body energy' issue.

Hope you are sorted Miss-MLadybug - please let us know.

[LoftyLottie]

Thank you Andy. I now have a swollen head!!

[mirela]

good luck to miss ladybug

hi to lofty lottie, best wish to you as well, never know your situation before, just wann a say i love your replies on A&N tooxxx

[LoftyLottie]

Hi Mirela. Thanks. There are so many lovely people on animals and nature and the support they give is incredible. Best section on the site. Hope you are well and coping with that crazy boyfriend of yours ;o) x

[MrXLA]

Please don't be offended Miss-Ladybug as what I'm about to say is not meant to apply to you.
Unfortunately ME/CFS is extremely difficult to diagnose as several people have discussed above.
Also remember that you may not have it Miss-Ladybug.
I think its fruitless to debate whether the condition/syndrome exists or not, however it is very important to remember that it is very rare and sadly a fact that many people are incorrectly diagnosed with it by exclusion.