Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia

electracat · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 12:11 pm Post subject: do my symptoms suggest CFS?

hi there,

i've had insomnia and unrefreshing sleep for the past 20 years (i'm now 3 Cool

; i can sleep 10 hours and wake up tired, BUT sometimes i wake up refreshed and if i can take a good nap, it refreshes me. I do have a lot of anxiety surrounding the sleep, and i've had sleep studies (nothing showed except lack of stage 3/4 sleep). When i am tired, it hits me like a ton of bricks, and i have to lie down and try to sleep--nothing else gives me relief. That has been my main complaint the past 20 years--the sleepiness/fatigue that i thought is related to my sleep.

This past year, i've been getting a low-grade fever a lot (99.3--99.8--enough to feel it!), sometimes with slight cold symptoms or temporary swollen glands. I've had lots of blood work, and the only thing that shows is that my myelin has inflammation (of course purely western docs don't put much into this), and that i still have antibodies from EB virus in blood. Also my vitamin D levels were down. Oh, and i've also been having what feels like Restless Legs Syndrome.

So, wondering if this qualifies for CFS? I suppose it doesn't really matter, as one can only treat the symptoms, but...Well, thanks for any advice! Rolling Eyes

cfs_since_1998 · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 6:44 pm Post subject:

Hi!

Are there times when you aren't tired at all? If so I would say you don't truly have CFS. I would say that CFS is characterized by "permanent" fatigue that only varies in severity. It seems to me like your insomnia is the larger problem--have you sought any treatment for that? Don't get me wrong, you could very well have CFS, but it is hard to tell from your description.

When I have trouble sleeping I take one of the following. They all work to a degree but the effects seem to wear off if you take the same thing several days in a row. They are melatonin (150 to 300mcg/micrograms), 5-HTP, valerian root, kava kava, and holy basil.

Here is the diagnostic criteria for CFS:

* Unexplained, persistent fatigue that's not due to ongoing exertion, isn't substantially relieved by rest, is of new onset (not lifelong) and results in a significant reducation in previous levels of activity.

and

* Four or more of the following symptoms are present for six months or more:
- Impaired memory or concentration
- Postexertional malaise (extreme, prolonged exhaustion and sickness following physical or mental activity)
- Unrefreshing sleep
- Muscle pain
- Multijoint pain without swelling or redness
- Headaches of a new type or severity
- Sore throat that's frequent or recurring
- Tender cervical or axillary lymph nodes

(Just to give you an idea of how comlicated CFS is --it's not just fatigue-- I've had all 8 of those symptoms at one time or another).

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia

do my symptoms suggest CFS?