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A Blog For Those Affected By Environmental And Invisible Illnesses Written By Fellow Survivors
new to forum- need information for cfs sufferers
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I am new to the forum...my question is for cfs. my best friend has had cfs for 20 odd yrs...has all the symptoms..from aches, no sleep, fatique, fever, etc..has all listed symptoms...takes meds to conbat fever...aches...but has no quality of life..is almost homebound. Can go out one day and is sick the next day. Does not feel like seeing a specialist..think the antidepressent drugs are numbing her? what can i do as a friend..she has no family exc. spouse and son whom lives away. spouse is absorbed in his work and is used to the problem..i read so much about the gut and nutrition..think she should see a specialist instead of her gp...any help out there..have any of you gotten better with vitamins or a nutrition change - thank u
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Comment last edited on about 9 years ago by Maff MaffIt is definitely worth your friend getting the thyroid tests Burkey describes since people suffering from ME/CFS often have hormonal problems, including thyroid, adrenal and sex hormones. People with hypothyroidism may sometimes be misdiagnosed with ME/CFS if adequate tests (as listed by Burkey) are not carried out. However, ME/CFS is NOT a symptom of an underactive thyroid. It is more correct to say 'fatigue', or possibly 'chronic fatigue' are symptoms of hypothyroidism, ME/CFS is a very serious and complex illness in its own right and an altogether different kettle of fish!
While treating any issues with the thyroid may improve a ME/CFS patient's symptoms, it is just one piece in the puzzle and is highly unlikely to lead to full recovery. Conversely, someone with hypothyroidism alone can expect to make a complete recovery when thyroid hormones are restored to their optimum levels.
I would recommend your friend see a doctor or clinical nutritionist who practices functional medicine. This kind of healthcare professional will assess your friend from every possible angle, looking at immunity, the gut, liver, hormonal and neurotransmitter imbalances and so forth. After all, the body operates as a system and in ME/CFS in particular there are problems in each one of these areas that can have consequences for the others, creating a viscious cycle.
Are you in the UK? Please let me know which country you are in and I will give you some links to help find a suitable practitioner for your friend. Beyond that you just need to keep offering her support and encouragement, as I am sure you are doing. Try to get her to visit support sites online herself as many people with ME/CFS are able to make significant improvements in their health and even make full recoveries. I am a ME/CFS sufferer myself and for many years had given up all hope and was plagued by suicidal thoughts. However I now run this website, have a degree in nutritional medicine and have steadily uncovered the underlying factors behind my illness and am now on the road to putting things right. The gift of hope is the best thing you can give to your friend in any way you can.
Best wishes to you both.Like 0 -
Comment last edited on about 9 years ago by Maff Maff
Have the person's Thyroid Checked. Get a complete Thyroid Panel to include TSH, T4 free, T3 free, reverse T3, and Thyroperoxidase Antibodies and Thyroglobulin Antibodies. The symptoms you describe are that of a person who is Hypothyroid. CFS is just one of 60 + symptoms of Hypothyroidism. Here is a list I copied from a dependable site:
HYPOTHYROID LIST of SYMPTOMS
Less stamina than others
Less energy than others
Long recovery period after any activity
Inability to hold children for very long
Arms feeling like dead weights after activity
Chronic Low Grade Depression
Suicidal Thoughts
Often feeling cold
Cold hands and feet
High or rising cholesterol
Heart disease
Palpitations
Fibrillations
Plaque buildup
Bizarre and Debilitating reaction to exercise
Hard stools
Constipation
No eyebrows or thinning outer eyebrows
Dry Hair
Hair Loss
White hairs growing in
No hair growth, breaks faster than it grows
Dry cracking skin
Nodding off easily
Requires naps in the afternoon
Sleep Apnea (which can also be associated with low cortisol)
Air Hunger (feeling like you canĂ¢â‚¬â„¢t get enough air)
Inability to concentrate or read long periods of time
Forgetfulness
Foggy thinking
Inability to lose weight
Always gaining weight
Inability to function in a relationship with anyone
NO sex drive
Failure to ovulate and/or constant bleeding (see RainbowĂ¢â‚¬â„¢s story)
Moody periods
PMS
Inability to get pregnant; miscarriages
Excruciating pain during period
Nausea
Swelling/edema/puffiness
Aching bones/muscles
Osteoporosis
Bumps on legs
Acne on face and in hair
Breakout on chest and arms
Hives
Exhaustion in every dimensionĂ¢â‚¬â€œphysical, mental, spiritual, emotional
Inability to work full-time
Inability to stand on feet for long periods
Complete lack of motivation
Slowing to a snailĂ¢â‚¬â„¢s pace when walking up slight grade
Extremely crabby, irritable, intolerant of others
Handwriting nearly illegible
Internal itching of ears
Broken/peeling fingernails
Dry skin or snake skin
Major anxiety/worry
Ringing in ears
Lactose Intolerance
Inability to eat in the mornings
Joint pain
Carpal tunnel symptoms
No Appetite, or
Extreme hunger, especially at nighttime
Fluid retention to the point of Congestive Heart Failure
Swollen legs that prevented walking
Blood Pressure problems
Varicose Veins
Dizziness from fluid on the inner ear
Low body temperature
Raised temperature
Tightness in throat; sore throat
Swollen lymph glands
Allergies (which can also be a result of low cortisolĂ¢â‚¬â€œcommon with hypothyroid patients)
Headaches and Migraines
Sore feet (plantar fascitis); painful soles of feet
now how do I put this one politelyĂ¢â‚¬Â¦.a cold bum, butt, derriere, fanny, gluteus maximus, haunches, hindquarters, posterior, rear, and/or cheeks. Yup, really exists.
colitis
irritable bowel syndrome
painful bladder
COPD
Asthma
Emphysema
Dysphagia, which is nerve damage and causes the inability to swallow fluid, food or your own saliva and leads to Ă¢â‚¬Å“aspiration pneumoniaĂ¢â‚¬Â.
I have many articles I have written and many sites to direct you to where you may find a cure, just using nutrition. You are welcome to e-mail me directly at:
burkes_law@comcast.net.
I am a clinical nutritionist and I believe I can direct you to the sites to find what you need to heal your friend naturally.Like 0
