If You Haven't Been Sick For 6 Months You aren't Really Sick
By speakeasy
@speakeasy (4171)
United States
July 17, 2007 3:25pm CST
Huh?
That is what it takes to be diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. You have to have it for 6 months before they can even tell you that is what you have.
See this article - http://communati.com/main/im-sorry-until-youve-been-sick-6-months-i-cant-give-you-diagnosis
After reading this, it makes you realize these poor people really suffer while trying to get a diagnosis from their doctor so they can be treated.
I personally have not had this and do not know of anyone who does have it. So, have any of you had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, currently have it, or know of someone who does have it? Is it really this bad? What did you have to go through to get diagnosed? Has treatment helped?
2 people like this
2 responses
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
12 Dec 07
I have had CFS for 18 months but the diagnosis was not finalised until I had been ill for over a year. I went to the Doctor for the symptoms I was suffering individually. I just knew I was tired all the time, not why. I can trace it back to July 2006. 5 months later I took on a part time job on a 3 month contract. I struggled to cope even though it was only 3 days a week work. I would crash for 2 days after work. Then when the contract was finished I crashed big time and have not recovered. I kept going to the Doctor and after many tests he diagnosed CFS in August this year. It is hard to diagnose as the diagnosis is one of exclusion. After 6 months of tests to exclude all other illnesses he said it could be CFS but even then he was unwilling to formally diagnose it. I read many articles and realised that I had 8 of the 11 symptoms that medical sites say should be present for a diagnosis. I had gone to the Doctor for all 8 individually.
I have been told there is no treatment and no cure but it is called a temporary illness because most people recover either partially or fully but it can take between 2 and 10 years to recover. Each individual is different.
Doctor's are very reluctant to diagnose it as an illness and it is true that the fatigue must be present for at least 6 months before they will even consider cfs as the cause. This is because there are so many possible causes of fatigue and they must rule all others out before they can be sure. It is hard but understandable.
It does not make that much difference anyway since there is no real treatment for it. I have pain killers for the muscle and joint aches but there is nothing that cures fatigue. I have been reading about a new medication but that just makes you feel awake it does not cure the problem that is causing the sleep problems. I sleep at least 8 hours or more a night and wake up feeling as though I have not slept at all. I do not think a stimulant will help that. It might make me feel more awake but it does nothing for the underlying problem.
By the way there are many people who still do not believe in the illness and regard you as lazy or depressed. ONe of the tests I was given was for depression. I came out as not depressed and I have never been lazy. I get quite upset about the housework I can't do, the garden I can't take care of but I have learned that if I try to do too much I just crash and that can last for days sometimes. Then I have to start working my exercise up again very slowly. So I have come to accept what I can and can't do without making myself worse. Stress is extremely bad. I used to cope with a high level stressful job and now the slightest stress brings on panic and hot flushes etc. Useless in a world were employers want people who can handle high levels of workloads and stress.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
12 Dec 07
You might want to try a supplement called DHEA.
DHEA is an natural substance our body's make. We have large amounts in our body between ages 20 - 30; but, then it starts dropping off.
People who know about it recommend 25 - 50 mg a day for women over age 40 to replace what our body is no longer making on it's own.
It does several things:
1) strenthens the immune system
2) reduces the affects of stress on the adrenal gland, stress is really bad for this gland and the adrenal produces almost ALL of a womens hormones and natural steroids after perimenopause starts. When stressed the adrenal gland stops production of everything except for cortisol and DHEA actually combats the effects of cortisol and gets the adrenal gland to produce other things again.
3) increases energy and sense of well being
4) increases strength and endurance
5) reduces mood swings, irritability, and depression
It has also been used to treat both CFS and lupus. It is not a "cure"; but, it does combat many of the symptoms (and possible causes - some people think CFS may be an immune system problem or linked to hormones inbalances).
One word of warning - in 5% of the people who take DHEA; it does cause sudden severe depression in just 3 - 5 days of use. If this happens; stop taking it immediately. But, only one person in 20 suffers this side effect; AND, this is the ONLY known side effect DHEA causes. This problem can be overcome by switching to "7-keto-DHEA"; which is harder to locate in stores. In clinical trials levels of 200 - 500 mg a day, of both DHEA and 7-keo-DHEA, have been taken safely.
Maybe this will help.
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
1 Jun 11
This is the same with Fibromyalga, etc. as well. They want you to suffer for at least 6 months not wanting to really give you anything to see if this is something real, or made up. Then as they finally really see that this is not made up, then they start wanting to offer more options, etc. I know that maybe in time there will be more diagnoses to help me as well?
