anyone on this board with cfs in their 20's

[SpectralGhost]

I'm 20, gonna be 21 in January. I have had M.E/CFS since i was 13 years old. I can not even begin to express how much M.E/CFS effects people on a social level. I was stuck and have been stuck in my room for 7 years now and i'm at breaking point. I just found this site randomly a few mins ago, just today i have had an internal blowout of emotion at where my life is not going and what i can't have because of my M.E/CFS. I'm an introverted person.. but seriously after 7 years no friends and nobody to talk to it gets to a point where even introverted people get lonely. I live in the UK on the Isle of wight.

I wish everyone the best, you can PM me if you wanna talk on MSN or whatever ^^;

[alibrunner]

Hi,
I'm 23 and today the doctors office called and said I have Chronic Epstein Barr Virus and Parvo Virus.
Is Chronic Esptein Barr Virus similar to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? My symptoms are simply fatigue.....i sleep A LOT and still feel tired. my email is ali.brunner@gmail.com

any support would be appreciated.

[kissaragi]

Im nick, 26, living in the midlands, uk. Ive had it since i was 8, doing part time primary school before having to give up school completely in year 8 and generally not being able to do much at all since then. My email is daisysofthegalaxy@gmail.com

[LilNic000]

I am 25, I've had it probably 5 years but was only diagnosed a year ago.

It's a horrible age to have something like this. All my friends are starting to climb up the career ladder, getting their first mortgages, and getting married, and it's like I am stuck at 21 when I graduated uni... Had to move back to my parents house through lack on money (anyone in the UK know if CFS qualifies you for any benefits - I only work part time, but I can't find anything I am eligible for to make up enough money to live).

I've always been very independent and motivated and really wanted to get the most from life, and your 20s is the age when you should be seeing the world and having fun, but with CFS you can't do any of that... I feel like a caged animal!

Can anyone relate??

[cfspatient]

Hi, I just joined this forum a couple of days ago. I'm 26 and I have had symptoms of CFS for years. I currently live in southern ontario, Canada. Haven't been coping well as of late. Lately my fatigue/faintness symptoms has been getting alot worse and I've also been feeling depression because of my low living conditions.

How is everyone else doing as of late?

[NewWorldAntidote]

I am 24 and have CFS. It sucks a big one. I got CFS at 22 right after Mono. I never really recovered from Mono and have been crapped out ever since until now. However, through my battle I have overcome some huge obstacles that have let me recover to almost 80%. The only thing I can't do right now is hard core exercises. Before I could hardly get out of bed and make it to the bathroom. Anyways, I did a bunch of research and found that you must give your body exactly what it needs; raw vegetables, good quality protein (fish, chicken, steak), clean water, and lots and lots of sleep (try for 10hrs although I usually laid around for 3 during the night). Most of the time CFS is caused by hormonal imbalances. I took a cortisol saliva test and showed low throughout the day. Doc. recommended adrenal supplements and bio-identical progesterone. Progesterone helped with my sleep ALOT!!! However, I was sketched out at first about taking progesterone (being a guy and all), but I did research and this is a valuable precursor hormone that helps with cortisol and other hormone production, even in men (we have a lot lower levels than women). I rubbed about 1/8th teaspoon on my arm once a day. It really helped lift my mood and sped up my recover times. I also tried to remove all environmental toxins from my body and surroundings (there's a lot more toxins being put in your body than you know of) and detox as much as possible. I try to eat all organic, I know it is expensive but oh so worth it. Do not eat refined sugar at all and limit fruit consumption. Sugar makes your body stressed, even fructose (fruit sugar). I've am almost completely recovered. It took about 1 yr to fully adapt to this new lifestyle and then another year to begin the recovery process. You have a journey ahead of you, but stick with it. It is a learning experience. We are more sensitive to toxins and stress than other people. Good luck, stay strong.