Have I got M.E?

[mountainboo]

Im in late 20's, have generally always got something wrong with me, but anyway I was diagnosed as having depression toward the end of last year and along with that also IBS and have always suffered with OCD. I have to point out that in comparison to others I suffer relatively mildly; the majority of the time. I have had chest infec after chest infec particularly in the last year and feel so overwhelmingly exhausted 99% of the time. I go to the gym once a week but usually I'm so tired afterwards that I have to have a sleep. I think I eat the correct foods and take in enough water. I don't want to go to doc as I've been so frequently in the last year that he'll probably open another surgery soon... Any advice from suffers of this illness greatly apreciated. Thanks, sorry for the ramble.

[coco pops]

I think you should go back to your doc and ask to be refered to an M.E specialist. I have Fibromyalgia and it has some of the M.E symptoms so i understand how you feel being exausted. It took me years to get a correct diagnosis . It sounds like you are doing too much at the gym, still go but cut back on the exercise a bit. Sleep when you need to sleep . I have to go to bed at 7pm most nights so that i don't need a sleep during the day.

[sunflower71]

My brother too had Fibromyalgia and it took over 5 years to be diagnosed however it did take a change of GP to push for more tests after things were eleminated.
all the best mountainboo.

[beaniesq]

Hi, well, it does sound like you have some form of Post Viral Fatigue. That's not exactly the same as ME. Mainly because you have to have had a particular set of symptoms for a minimum of 6 months before you can be properly 'diagnosed' with ME (it's a complicated condition). Nobody knows why some people get these odd post-viral conditions, but we do know they tend to be people who constantly run on full speed, both emotionally and physically. You have OCD and IBS - both these conditions are strongly linked with anxiety. You probably push yourself hard in your job etc. and are generally feeling the effects of long term stress. Then, to compound the problem, you get a chest infection or two, which are probably viral in nature. That is the perfect set of conditions to develop Post Viral Fatigue/ME/CFS. The best thing you can do, is have a general blood test to screen for problems with your immune system. If the test is clear, and you still feel ill, then that is a diagnosis in itself. The best thing you can possibly do is REST!! Sleep when you want to sleep, take some time of work if possible. If you cant take time off, try and arrange flexi-time. Just take yourself away from the stress for a while and let your body recover from the infections. I'm speaking retrospectively here, because I am also in my late 20's, and I also got a virus that I couldn't recover from. I tried to carry on working and studying until, in the end, I was so floored by exhaustion that I had to stop work altogether. I often wonder, if I'd just give myself time to recover, would I be in this situation now? I wish I'd listened to what my body was telling me. Anyway, hope you feel better soon. And I hope you are able to take some time out to recover! Caroline PS. You are NOT lazy. Don't ever think that!

[mountainboo]

Thanks Beaniesq, that makes alot of sense and is valuable advice. I will certainly take action where work is concerned. I'm really grateful for your reply.