Chronic Fatigue?

[Blueaegis]

Does anyone have any experience with Chronic Fatigue? My Dr. did some blood tests and suggests I may have it, but told me just to rest. Thats not an answer.

I'm searching the web for Dr.'s who treat Chronic Fatigue but haven't found anything substantial.

[KnottedYet]

Try searching out some physical therapists who treat chronic fatigue. Generally "rest" isn't the answer.

But be *sure* of your diagnosis. What did the blood test show that made your doc pick chronic fatigue?

I worked at a clinic that got a lot of referrals from a rheumatologist who did a lot of immunological work with her patients before she would diagnose chronic fatigue. (cuz the symptoms can be caused by so many other things, she was very careful to be sure it was an auto-immune issue before she'd let it go)

She also sent us her auto-immune chronic-pain-in-the-connective-tissue (the word has utterly escaped my head!) patients. It was the fashionable catch-all diagnosis for women for a while, but her patients REALLY had it.

[Blueaegis]

Everything else looked normal, so he immediately said "Oh its probably just chronic fatigue, stop riding your bike so much and rest". I've tried the rest remedy, now I think its time to find another Dr. who will at least eliminate other potential diagnoses.

[Torrilin]

Chronic fatigue gets used a lot as a catch-all diagnosis. My dad got "diagnosed" with it when he started feeling tired all the time and stopped having the energy to run. His normal weekly mileage went from 15-20 down to half that or less, very suddenly. Turns out he had injured his knee and developed a rare auto-immune disorder. Doctors have tried to pin chronic fatigue on my mom too. Nope. Habitual insomnia due to sleep apnea is the major cause, helped along by her tendency towards major depression and (at the time) her need for a hip replacement. Mom basically ignored her doc, since there are plenty of good explanations for why she's tired. Dad listened for a while, but kept harping on the symptoms that didn't fit. In both cases the doctor had decided they were middle aged semi-hypochondriacs and was trying to get rid of them with an easy diagnosis.

[Blueaegis]

WOW, thanks for info. Sounds like Dr.'s just want to use Chronic Fatigue when they don't want to take the time to dig deeper and do the work.

I researched and found a Dr. who for $650 will run a series of tests to eliminate other possible problems and then create an appropriate progam. Of course he is not a part of any insurance plans.

Would a rheumatologist be a place to start?

[coyote]

Rheumatologist is a good place to start...they will be able to rule out auto-immune diseases that may be leaving you feeling crappy.

On the other hand, it sounds like you need to evaluate how your doctor arrived at this dx and whether that was logical and thorough. CFS is generally arrived at after doing all the test necessary. If you don't like the DR response, then go back to him and say that is not acceptable or find another dr, one who can work with you. I hate to say it but it seems like the MDs want to put everyone in a box and they really don't want you to ask questions. Not all are like that.

The one that will do the test and provide a treatment for you may be an Eastern and Western Medicine type dr. I forgot what they are called. If you do have CFS or something else, they will find it and prescribe lifestyle changes, supplements and maybe medication that may help. I would check the DR. out, some of them have their own supplements that for a mere $$ per month...At any rate, I'm not knocking that. My Partner has Lupus. We went to an Integrated Medical Clinic thru the University, it is in addition to all her other DRs. They have helped her greatly and are usually the only ones to listen and take action.

[LBTC]

She also sent us her auto-immune chronic-pain-in-the-connective-tissue (the word has utterly escaped my head!) patients. It was the fashionable catch-all diagnosis for women for a while, but her patients REALLY had it.

Do you mean fibromyalsia?

FWIW I'm struggling with a similar difficult to diagnose problem, which includes a lot of fatigue. Doctors have basically told me that I'm not sick enough for them to help me.

So....I'm transitioning towards homeopathic remedies. I've had some tests done by a naturopathic practitioner, and am working with an acupuncturist and a massage therapist (who is doing integrate massage that includes cranio-sacral therapy and gentle visceral massage, and I don't know what else).

If you want more info on what I'm doing, PM me (or post if you want others to know about it). To be fair, I haven't actually started the Homeopathy yet as I'm getting off the prescribed drugs first. But this is the first time I've seen any changes or felt any hope in about a year....

Sending you butterflies with healing, energy, patience and elightenment - green, orange, blue and white.

Hugs,
~T~