I do not know if I may have Chronic Fatigue or something less or more serious. Since I was a small child (maybe aged 6) I have always been weak at EVERYTHING! I look very fit, tall, slim even athletic build and always have done. However I have never been able to keep up with my peers, even overweight smokers and drinkers. At school I always came last in everything. I like sport and have always wanted to be good at it. Everytime I exercise I start off well (for about a minute) then I find myself completely out of breath, unable to get enough breath in. More recently I have found that my muscles get very tired very quickly but that may just be because I haven't been exercising much in recent years. I used to be a keen skiier (every day - although still needed long rest breaks) but now just twenty minutes skiing and my calf muscles cramp up. I go cycling (on my own as it is too embarassing with others) and I push myself to finish the run by counting to one hundred over and over again to take my mind off the pain. In the early hours of the following morning I get cramps so bad in my legs I can't move, and then my legs are stiff and very painful for days afterwards. I have also in recent years been experiancing air hunger without exercise. However I recently found, by doing an exercise test, that if I do hard exercise then I get air hunger brought on by it which lasts for weeks afterwards - it is almost like I damage something when exercising. When I exercise I feel as if I really am going to die, my eyes stream, my nose streams, all my muscles feel weak, I can't breathe, my chest hurts, my legs feel like I am walking on the moon - light but yet out of control, after about 10 mins of brisk walking my vision starts to go cloudy black clouds appear in my vision. Afterwards my head pulsates and I will be unable to walk or move very far until I get at least a full nights sleep, I will often still feel tired the next day. I also find when going for more than ten minutes walk on rough ground I become very clumsy, tripping etc as I become exhausted. Apart from the exercise intolerence I also sometimes have bad stomach pains, which can occassionally feel like a stitch (this is when at rest) and even get sharp pains in my shoulder. I am often cold (feet and lower legs), I fall asleep most afternoons am unable to stop my eyes from closing and need more rest than most, I find it difficult to concentrate for long periods of time, I have morning headaches and I get hiccups alot which can last for up to 30 mins and be very tiring. I have several swollen but not painful nodes in my neck. I never remember things and seem to spend my entire life making endless lists so I don't forget things. I can't read a book a chapter a night because by the third night I will have forgotten the first chapter. I eat little and often which amounts to alot at the end of the day! I cough/ vomit mucus every morning. I do not think this is the core problem though as my sinus's were fine before injury and my fitness/ memory wasn't. I could only do science and maths subjects through school as I coud find the answers in the paper through logic, memorizing things was impossible.

My medical history:
Diagnosed with asthma by family doctor when I was eight - inhalers never worked asthma clinic tested me and claimed it wasn't asthma.
Suffered a facial injury at 12
Suffered from continual colds, flu's and sinus/ throat infections from 14-20
Had a node removed from neck at 17 it was clear
Had sinus op at 19 cleared a sinus blockage and have not had any serious problems with infections again

I have been tested for heart conditions, Glandula Fever, Thyroid, Diabetes and Anemia several times. I do not have asthma, my peak flow is above average from someone my age and height/ weight. My stamina is very good, in a gym fitness test they were surprised that I could hold out for such a long time on a treadmill despite my heart rate being so high.

I am slightly dysphrasic (bad co-ordination)

My age is 23 and I am female.

Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong with me, I cannot lead a normal life with this, I'm an outdoors person, but yet I can't walk the dog, run for the bus, walk up the stairs or do anything without feeling absolutely exhausted and severly out of breath - why do I look so fit but feel so bad?!!! I have spent my entire life being told I am lazy both physically and acedemicaly but yet I have always wanted to be fit and always wanted to achieve.

Miss Butt Monki, please take a look at my postings on "Chronic Fatigue - A Possible Explanation". Your symptoms sound a bit similar to mine.

Your symptoms do indeed sound like CFIDS. Air hunger is a common symptom, often brought on my exercise, which then lasts throughout the "flare". I recommend going to the CFIDS Foundation website, which you can find through doing a google search. There is much good information there, including the symptomology required to fit into the CFIDS diagnosis category. Although to date, there is no known cure, once you have determined this is what you have, you will be better able to do research and find information that can help alleviate some of your symptoms.

All the best!

Peregrine

Thankyou all for your help, I have been advised by the heart specialist that tested me for possible heart problems, which were clear, to check for metabolic disorders or a post nasal drip. I am seeing my doctor on Friday and I am also going to ask about possible Adrenal Fatigue or CFIDS, and try and get tested for everything!

Does anyone know anything about metabolic disorders?

I really hope they come up with something as I am fed up of the rolling eyeballs when I am fatigued and out of breath just walking a short distance and constantly being asked why I am always sighing or yawning when it is just that I can't breathe!

Thank you for your feedback.

As I have come to discover, the concept of "Adrenal Fatigue" is not widely accepted right now. So you may not get a satisfactory answer from your doctor. Which is why I recommend taking a look at the 2 books and becoming more knowledgable about the subject matter first. Then you'll have a better chance communicating with your doctor.

My doctor is pretty understanding, he's a super dupa homeopath guy that is all wise in many things. He has agreed to send me for the following tests CK, Growth Hormone and VMA. I am going to get these done ASAP. I am trying to find a doctor/ clinic that specialises in metabolic diseases of muscle - does anyone know of one?