Humans of ME/CFS

I came down with what I thought was the flu in February of 2013. I never really recovered from it though, feeling tired and having frequent headaches and joint pains.

At first I tried exercising more, eating better and getting more sunlight, all to no effect. In April of that year, I finally went to the doctor about it. Long story short, after seeing several healthcare professionals and being prescribed the usual (as I now know) drugs such as steroids, antidepressants, SSRIs, antibiotics, etc., etc., nothing helped.

I had more blood tests than I can remember, a sleep study, X-rays, full body scan; all they could find was high titers of Epstein-Barr and a slightly elevated white blood count. Finally, after some two years of this, my rheumatologist diagnosed CFS.

I am now on disability. I have tried on my own all the various supplements and vitamins that people mention on blogs and websites, too numerous to account here, and none helped. I am encouraged by the stories of those who have gotten better or improved, and equally discouraged by the stories of those who haven’t.

I try now to eat healthy, nap as needed, and pace myself. Minimizing stress is important as well. One day at a time is how I have to live now, and I hope for the future to be different. I got sick at the age of 52, and I am grateful that this didn’t happen earlier in my life.