Posted by dazedandconfused on August 20, 2004, at 13:32:01 [reposted on August 20, 2004, at 13:41:44 | original URL]
In reply to Re: Ilene - how was your CFS diagnosed? » dazedandconfused, posted by Ilene on August 20, 2004, at 13:21:11
> I never thought of fatigue as my primary symptom. I was getting frequent recurrences of what I thought of as flu. I had sore throats, swollen glands, stomach problems, cognitive difficulties, and malaise. In between I was okay.
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> My misdiagnoses included hepatitis C and ulcers.
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> I was diagnosed w/ CFS by a rheumatologist/immunologist at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, DC. It was based on exclusion of everything else plus my history.
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> I also had post-exertional fatigue, but at the time I didn't know it was abnormal.
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> It turns out I have neurally mediated hypotension, which is associated with CFS.
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> I get light-headed in the heat, sometimes even after a shower, after I exercise, and sometimes after drinking coffee.
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> I had the CFS under control for several months by avoiding heat and exercise, but it returned when I was under extreme stress.
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> I don't have any major allergies (some things give me a little hay fever) or food sensitivities.
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> I started getting symptoms about 20 years ago. I don't recall any particular illness as a trigger. I've been depressed since I was a child, so I don't know if the depression is entirely distinct or not.
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> The internist who used to treat me prescribed Florinef for my low blood pressure. It seems to help, esp. since I'm taking an MAOI that lowers my BP. Other than that I take vitamins and minerals, when I remember.
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> The internist I who was treating me before I moved said he considered depression a symptom of CFS. He said his patients needed very high doses of ADs. (He is also Laura Hillenbrand's MD. She's the author of Sea Biscuit, and has written and been interviewed about her CFS.)Ilene,
Thanks so much for your post. If you don't mind my asking, could you tell me a bit about your cognitive problems, malaise, and post-exertional fatigue? I ask because I definitely have cognitive difficulties (ADD like symptoms I posted in my above "Larry youre my idol post). I am able to exercise but nowhere near what I used to be able to. I walk instead of run, do yoga, pilates, stuff like that. I try to do cardio 3-5 times a week for 30 min. and can even do strenth training at times. Although one of my symptoms is an overall feeling of weakness. I sometimes get dizzy when I exercise and ususally have to lay down for awhile afterwards.I sometimes wonder if suffering an episode of major depression was the so called "trigger" that started the CFS...
Thanks again. I really need some help at this point.
poster:dazedandconfused
thread:379959
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20040729/msgs/379972.html