Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia

the-reluctant-dragon · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject: anxiety attacks

hi there, i'm 18 yrs old and was diagnosed with CFS two years ago. for the past year and a half i coped pretty well, just got on with my schooling and everything, but this year in my final year of school it just all got too much and i suffered a severe anxiety attack and had to drop out. thinking that i could finally get some time off to recuperate, i was ok with my decision. unfortunately, the anxiety attacks didn't stop, and i have been struggling with them ever since. i have also had quite severe depression, which wasn't much of an issue before. i had a really weird symptom change, actually several months before the anxiety attacks started. i woke up one morning with really bad stomach cramps and nausea, and then i passed out about an hour later. since then i have had terrible stomach symptoms as well, mainly nausea, and i have lost heaps of weight from not being able to eat as much as i used to (and i used to eat a lot!!).
so yeah, i was wondering if anybody else with CFS or FMS has had similar experiences with anxiety attacks, and couls share experiences/advice. also, if anybody has the vaguest clue on why my symptoms have changed and if there is anything i can do to help my poor stomach, i.e. long term diet change etc its kind of strange, because my energy levels have improved since taking a supplement for my adrenals. Smile

the-reluctant-dragon · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject:

oh i also forgot to mention, i am on zoloft, what are other people's experiences with this. i didnt think it made much of a difference until i forgot to take it one morning! has anybody had adverse reactions to it?

0NRG · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:59 am Post subject:

This is my first post here and I'm assuming that you're new here too. So welcome to the board! I hope that we can both find help here.

I've had anxiety on and off over the past few years since I was diagnosed with CFS. For me, the worst is when I have to confront people verbally. I have trouble catching my breath and it feels like my heart is about to pop out of my chest. It's awful. I'm not afraid of people at all and never have been, but even so much as complaining in a restaurant about bad food or service and I can feel my chest tighten up. I also have nagging worries that are unrealistic and unfounded that seem to come and go. A few things have helped me along the way but since you're taking medicine, you'd have to check with your doctor and pharmacist before even thinking about taking any new herbs or medicines.

But all in all, it seems like the symptoms go in cycles.

Right now I'm taking high doses of vitamin D and that seems to be helping for the moment. I hate having to rely on herbs, vitamins or medicine, but at this point like everyone else finding things that help are more important.

Chronicfatiguetreatments · Site Admin

I used to have both of those symptoms. Nausea and anxiety, but they both went away. I had them when my problems first started.

I think it may have had something to do with an antibiotic i was taking for acne. All my symptoms started when i started taking the antibiotic, i took it for about 3 years, not thinking that it had anything to do with it.

But when i stopped taking it my nausea, headaches, diareah, anxiety went away.
But i still had major fatigue and concentration problems. I have heard about other people saying that their chronic fatigue came on after they took antibiotics for long periods of time.

the-reluctant-dragon · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:38 pm Post subject:

thanks so much for posting! its so great to hear from other people with CFS and a relief to know i'm not alone Smile

my anxiety symptoms also seem to come and go in cycles, mostly i just get frustrated and freaked out by how my body is feeling. the isolation of a chronic illness does make social experiences a bit of a nuisance to my anxiety levels. as for the nausea, i am starting to wonder if maybe the zoloft is causing it, as far as i know having CFS makes you kind of sensitive to drugs and side effects can be a problem (i once had a really bad reaction to sleeping pills). i would quite like to come down off it and find a herbal alternative like st johns wort, but i'm a bit scared so i might have a chat to my doctor first!

ONRG, its interesting what you say about vitamin d because i get cravings to go and sit outside in the sun! i actually feel quite calm after doing so, too. good luck with your anxieties, have you ever spoken to a psychologist, councellor...etc? if you can find someone you get on with then it can be very beneficial.

0NRG · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:34 am Post subject:

Chronic Fatigue Treatments, now that you mention it, I too was on a very powerful antibiotic for almost a year and just after that is when my CFS started...

What treatments has worked for you?

Chronicfatiguetreatments · Site Admin

[quote="the-reluctant-dragon"]
my anxiety symptoms also seem to come and go in cycles, mostly i just get frustrated and freaked out by how my body is feeling.[/quote]

I think its a pretty common symptom, alot of people say they feel like their stress system is on overdrive. I feel like that too, small things that arent that big of a deal really stress me out. But when im feeling better, i feel alot more relaxed and dont really have the problem as much.

Chronicfatiguetreatments · Site Admin

[quote="0NRG"]Chronic Fatigue Treatments, now that you mention it, I too was on a very powerful antibiotic for almost a year and just after that is when my CFS started...

What treatments has worked for you?[/quote]

Most of my symtpoms are contentration and brain fog. I have fatigue, but i can go on bike rides somtimes and still have some energy.

But lately ive been doing hydroxycobalamin b12 shots, and its really helping.
My brain fog is definatley improving slowly. I had a set back last weekend when i went out drinking. Im really sensitive to alcohol and that really set me back. But after about a week, my head is starting to clear up again.

Have you ever been tested for candida?

Ive read that antibiotics can kill all of the good bacteria in you intestines and sometime you can get a yeast called candida. Which might make you sick.

I had high levels of antibodies for it, i treated it but didnt feel better. It still may be worth checking out for other people though.

I met a Dr. in a waiting room once and he told me to take an enzyme called cellulase for the candida. It can be really hard to get rid of, but the cellulase can kill it pretty quickly.

My dr gave me 2 different prescriptions for it and it didnt go away. But i started taking cellulase supplements and it was gone in about a month.

It was a supplement called candex.

the-reluctant-dragon · Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 7:51 pm Post subject:

thanks so much for posting. i have since come off my medication, and i know this sounds weird, but i actually feel less anxious without it! the nausea i was experiencing is slowly wearing off, and i'm feeling more inspired. i still get anxious, but i'm able to deal with it. Very Happy

Maynard · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:24 am Post subject:

Acute anxiety and social phobia was one of the first symptoms I got.

Got better very gradually with Buteyko technique breathing exercises (to reverse chronic hyperventilation, which is v.common in CFS; basically gets your CO2 levels up which relaxes the body, balances blood ph, etc.) and a regular multivitamin supplement.

Saw MUCH bigger improvements when I got on high dose B vitamins (Niacinamide esp. is really good for mitochondrial function and anxiety - some thing B6 is also great for anxiety & depression. And B5 is obviously important for the adrenal glands. Adrenal fatigue kills your ability to cope with stress.)

Magnesium deficiency also probably played a bit part. So getting on high dose mg chloride and trans-dermal mg chloride helped further.

Omega-3 seemed to help immediately with sleep. Believe it's also had a very positive effect on anxiety.

And the new one I've started, Phospho-serine (can't ever recall how to spell it properly! from the simplified yasko.) Seems to nullify anxiety very effectively. Has neurological and hormonal effects afaik.

All of these can be deficiencies common in stress states. So getting on supplements for a while can help the body get back on top, get back to producing most of these things for itself.

the-reluctant-dragon · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:22 am Post subject:

wow, thanks so much for the advice on supps - i am taking notes! At the moment I take a supplement for my adrenals which helps greatly, it has all the b vitamins. i also take magnesium and high dose fish oil. II have just started on hypericum (st johns wort).

kenvj · Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:59 pm Post subject:

It was raging anxiety which brought about CFS for me. Probably the best thing for anxiety is meditation. I would recommend the Gupta Program which aims at reducing stress to a minimum and allowing the body to recover.

the-reluctant-dragon · Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 11:47 pm Post subject:

Thanks kenvj, i'm very interested in the gupta program. the only thing i'm worried about is the temporary increase in anxiety i've heard comes with it. I'm just worried because i have been hospitalised previously for my anxiety attacks. But i am willing to try anything to get my life back (i'm 18 and a whole life of CFS is looking rather daunting)