Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

[MoPHo]

I witnessed an argument going on in the line at Best Buy today. Woman #1 was calling Woman #2 "lazy" but Woman #2 was saying she had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. She claimed it was a disability, not being lazy. I had heard of CFS before but today was the first time that I actually decided to check it out online. After looking at it online, I was wondering if maybe I had it because of the wide range of symptoms.

Anyways, after reading the CDC's site, I really feel like there are people that have serious health issues that encompass a wide range of the symptoms. However, this doesn't sound like it should be a real diagnosis. It sounds more like an excuse for not being able to diagnose someone properly. It even says that the occurrence of the symptoms ranges among patients...

Has anyone on here been diagnosed with CFS or know anyone who has? Also, do you guys think that this is a real disease? I'm just curious about this so called epidemic that "1 and 4 million Americans suffer from"...and that "6) no two CFS patients have exactly the same symptom set."

CDC Site

BTW, if anyone here has been diagnosed with CFS, I'm not trying to insult you or anything. The symptoms are obviously real but the diagnosis just seems so ridiculous.

 

[Tooncesthedrivingcat]

its bullshit

 

[Born2bwire]

I can't remember if it was this forum or another one where there was a poster that claimed to have CFS. But the symptons they had described were pretty extreme, like the idea of being able to find her out of the house at a Best Buy would be very unlikely. It wouldn't surprise me if people try to abuse the label like they do with ADD.

 

[xSauronx]

another link

this is the DMS-IV description.

kinda sounds like a catch-all diagnosis used until something else can be diagnosed as causing the problem. *shrug* whatever. some psychological disorders are really, really strange and hard to believe.

 

[dennilfloss]

Originally posted by: Tooncesthedrivingcat
its bullshit

'Bullshit' that shows as a marked reduction (40%) in blood perfusion in frontal and temporal lobes on my SPEC scans, amongst other physical indicators (like altered enzymes, etc...) . I should know, I have it since the mid 80s. In Canada we call it M.E. (myalgic encephalomyelitis).

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/553/meef5.jpg

http://www.fm-cfs.ca/cfs.html
http://meao-cfs.on.ca/about_me/index.shtml

 

[MoPHo]

Originally posted by: dennilfloss

Originally posted by: Tooncesthedrivingcat
its bullshit

'Bullshit' that shows as a marked reduction (40%) in blood perfusion in frontal and temporal lobes on my SPEC scans, amongst other physical indicators (like altered enzymes, etc...) . I should know, I have it since the mid 80s. In Canada we call it M.E. (myalgic encephalomyelitis).

http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/553/meef5.jpg

http://www.fm-cfs.ca/cfs.html

Like I said in my OP, I'm not saying it doesn't exist or that it's a 'bullshit' disease, but as xSauronx said, it does seem like a filler disease until another one can be found.

Just because you have it; do you feel that that is the actual cause of your symptoms or that there may be something there that doctors are just unsure of?

 

[dennilfloss]

One of the main things you go through for a diagnosis is to eliminate other illnesses with overlapping symptoms. However, there are other ailments that like to tag along with M.E., IBS for example. The illness is formally recognized in Ontario and I am declared permanently disabled by it, hence I get a provincial disability pension as I am no longer able to work.

 

[leeland]

CFS...it is called having kids...they tire my ass out every single day

 

[rezinn]

I'm going to have CFS tomorrow because I don't feel like driving in the snow.

 

[MoPHo]

Originally posted by: dennilfloss
One of the main things you go through for a diagnosis is to eliminate other illnesses with overlapping symptoms. However, there are other ailments that like to tag along with M.E., IBS for example. The illness is formally recognized in Ontario and I am declared permanently disabled by it, hence I get a provincial disability pension as I am no longer able to work.

Do your symptoms occur daily with a difference in severity or are there days where you are fine and others where you can't do anything?

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: MoPHo
Like I said in my OP, I'm not saying it doesn't exist or that it's a 'bullshit' disease, but as xSauronx said, it does seem like a filler disease until another one can be found.

Just because you have it; do you feel that that is the actual cause of your symptoms or that there may be something there that doctors are just unsure of?

i agree with the filler disease statement. there are a few that fall in this. such as Fibromylasia.

the doctors know something is wrong. they can can prove that. just saying WHAT is causing it they really don't know.


I have Fibro (and RA wich seems fibro is a tag along with RA). I have all the symptoms of it. my RA doctor did a series (of painful) test. he rulled out everything else so he said it was Fibro. lol

its one of those disease that there is no 100% proof and many claim are BS.

 

[brxndxn]

I have hypothyroidism.. and I had it apparently for years until I got diagnosed for it and began treatment..

Before treatment, I was tired all the time and never had the energy to do anything..

 

[Gothgar]

Originally posted by: Tooncesthedrivingcat
its bullshit

just like add

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Tooncesthedrivingcat
its bullshit

For some, maybe. For my mom, hell no. It pretty much robbed her of most things she enjoyed in life.

She was always more active than me, enjoyed hiking, swimming, square dancing, and she worked as an RN, which can be quite draining.
I'd receive accusations of laziness from her whenever I wanted to spud out at the computer all day.
One day back in 2000, she came home utterly exhausted and dizzy, and from then on, she just never recovered.

Now the only thing keeping her sane (her words) is the fact that she can still do quilting, though some days she doesn't have the energy or focus to do that. She's no longer able to hold a job either, and was effectively forced into very early, unwilling retirement. It's stolen her mental focus, and her ability to function in crowds; the noise is just too much.

Some who have it are almost entirely bedridden.

It sounds more like an excuse for not being able to diagnose someone properly.

Unfortunately, CFS is kind of a catch-all term, because they don't know what causes it.
"You're exhausted all the time, so you seem to have something that's abnormal; we just haven't got the slightest clue what it might be."

It might even be some kind of immune response thing; one hypothesis is that the immune system goes into overdrive all the time, like it's constantly fighting off an infection that isn't there.
Incidentally, she has not been sick, not even with so much as a mild cold, for nearly 9 years now, which is rather atypical, especially for someone who is constantly working around many infirm people, as well as members of the public who come in to visit.



Some doctors don't recognize it yet either; the CDC only officially recognized it a few years ago.
Granted, in some cases, yeah, it's going to be misdiagnosed, and/or used as an excuse. But CFS itself is certainly not "bullshit."

 

[venkman]

damn this restless leg

 

[Slew Foot]

It's kinda like fibromyalgia, ADHD, and autism. Yes there are people that really have these diseases, but most people were probably given the dx by a doctor who wanted to either get rid of the patient or bill a higher price for the encounter.

 

[dennilfloss]

Originally posted by: MoPHo

Originally posted by: dennilfloss
One of the main things you go through for a diagnosis is to eliminate other illnesses with overlapping symptoms. However, there are other ailments that like to tag along with M.E., IBS for example. The illness is formally recognized in Ontario and I am declared permanently disabled by it, hence I get a provincial disability pension as I am no longer able to work.

Do your symptoms occur daily with a difference in severity or are there days where you are fine and others where you can't do anything?

I am past the morbid phase of the illness so I am no longer bed ridden or have mood swings but there are still days when I do very little. I am also way less confused than I used to be but anything that requires much concentration will trigger a CFS migraine. That is why I quit my Ph. D. five years ago.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7420477

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

I know someone who has/had it - she was once really lively and cheerful, then she was just sleepy and miserable a lot. She's still funny, though.

 

[RaiderJ]

My roommate has it (recently diagnosed). In their case, however, it seems to be more of a psychological issue. "Don't think bad thoughts about yourself", "allow for mistakes", etc. Always being stressed out and being overly active is very destructive on the body - don't give your body time to recover.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Tooncesthedrivingcat
its bullshit

For some, maybe. For my mom, hell no. It pretty much robbed her of most things she enjoyed in life.

She was always more active than me, enjoyed hiking, swimming, square dancing, and she worked as an RN, which can be quite draining.
I'd receive accusations of laziness from her whenever I wanted to spud out at the computer all day.
One day back in 2000, she came home utterly exhausted and dizzy, and from then on, she just never recovered.

Now the only thing keeping her sane (her words) is the fact that she can still do quilting, though some days she doesn't have the energy or focus to do that. She's no longer able to hold a job either, and was effectively forced into very early, unwilling retirement. It's stolen her mental focus, and her ability to function in crowds; the noise is just too much.

Some who have it are almost entirely bedridden.

It sounds more like an excuse for not being able to diagnose someone properly.

Unfortunately, CFS is kind of a catch-all term, because they don't know what causes it.
"You're exhausted all the time, so you seem to have something that's abnormal; we just haven't got the slightest clue what it might be."

It might even be some kind of immune response thing; one hypothesis is that the immune system goes into overdrive all the time, like it's constantly fighting off an infection that isn't there.
Incidentally, she has not been sick, not even with so much as a mild cold, for nearly 9 years now, which is rather atypical, especially for someone who is constantly working around many infirm people, as well as members of the public who come in to visit.



Some doctors don't recognize it yet either; the CDC only officially recognized it a few years ago.
Granted, in some cases, yeah, it's going to be misdiagnosed, and/or used as an excuse. But CFS itself is certainly not "bullshit."

:thumbsup: My mom has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Crones Disease. They've tried to rob her of a lot of things, but she's a pretty resilient lady. In the last couple of years she's been feeling much better (except for one trip to the hospital for Crones) and has taken up hiking and skiing again.

I think that people that hide behind their disease and try to use it as an excuse are pathetic - "you can't get mad, I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome!" - but those that struggle with it every day fight to live their lives to the fullest are incredibly admirable.

 

[Modelworks]

Maybe used too much, but it is a real condition. I thought it was what was wrong with me, but it turned out to be related to narcolepsy instead. It is no fun trying to do work and the whole time you are so damn tired you want to lay down, but you try to continue working anyway. Imagine feeling weak and tired the entire time you are awake, regardless of how much sleep you get.
It truly does suck.

 

[IGBT]

Originally posted by: Tooncesthedrivingcat
its bullshit

..there could be organic reasons (cancer,lupus,diabetes) but it's also a good sickleave/disability scam.

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: BeauJangles

:thumbsup: My mom has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Crones Disease.

:laugh:
While the diseases themselves are no laughing matter, calling your mom's illness crone's is.
She might take issue with that. Although my husband might say I have Crone's Disease.

crone - a withered, witchlike old woman.
Chron's Disease - what your mother has.

 

[meltdown75]

it's real, and so is the cure: a really hard slap in the back of the head.

 

[nanette1985]

I had a neighbor who said she had CFS and used that to try and get everybody to do stuff for her. Funny, she still managed to do all the stuff she wanted to do.

Then one day she died suddenly, it turned out she had some weird cancer that hadn't been detected.