Hi, I'm new this board although regular on the IBS and Anxiety boards. I have been reading up on ME today and realised that the symptoms closely match anxiety related symptoms. I was diagnosed with anxiety in May 2002, caused by work overload and bereavement.

My general symptoms are:

Dizzyness
Fatigue (seems to fluctuate, sometimes I will feel tired all day for a few days)
IBS (Stomach pains and sometimes nausea)
Muscle aches, often left side only
Muscle cramping and spasms, generally upper body, both arms, chest and back
Headaches, very often, also frequently on only left side
I do sometimes find it difficult to concentrate
*And the big difference, Occassional Panic attacks/feelings

Now based on the symptoms of anxiety, I seem to fit into that but also these are all symptoms of ME.

The problem with both conditions is that there is no magic test and no magic cure.

What are your thoughts? Is anxiety something people with ME have or could someone with anxiety actually have ME?

Hi, I'm new this board although regular on the IBS and Anxiety boards. I have been reading up on ME today and realised that the symptoms closely match anxiety related symptoms. I was diagnosed with anxiety in May 2002, caused by work overload and bereavement.

My general symptoms are:

Dizzyness
Fatigue (seems to fluctuate, sometimes I will feel tired all day for a few days)
IBS (Stomach pains and sometimes nausea)
Muscle aches, often left side only
Muscle cramping and spasms, generally upper body, both arms, chest and back
Headaches, very often, also frequently on only left side
I do sometimes find it difficult to concentrate
*And the big difference, Occassional Panic attacks/feelings

Now based on the symptoms of anxiety, I seem to fit into that but also these are all symptoms of ME.

The problem with both conditions is that there is no magic test and no magic cure.

What are your thoughts? Is anxiety something people with ME have or could someone with anxiety actually have ME?



Ive just read the above and im exactly the same as you, ive been only looking on the Panic Disorder page until now. Ive heard of ME a few times and wonder wether i too have got this condition. Ive been tired now for the last 12 months, i suffer with anxiety, panic attacks, IBS, headaches, & generally feel like crap all the time. I reckon there is definately a connection with ME and this disorder. How do u cope with life in general ie work, and your social life?

Hope u reply

Neil

Ive just read the above and im exactly the same as you, ive been only looking on the Panic Disorder page until now. Ive heard of ME a few times and wonder wether i too have got this condition. Ive been tired now for the last 12 months, i suffer with anxiety, panic attacks, IBS, headaches, & generally feel like crap all the time. I reckon there is definately a connection with ME and this disorder. How do u cope with life in general ie work, and your social life?

Hope u reply

Neil

Neil, I have pretty rough periods where work and social life are difficult. I don't tend to go out much these days anyway (probably a bad thing). I am lucky with work as I get to work at home a few days a week or when I'm not feeling up to the trip into the office.

I go through episodes of depression, not severe but bad enough, just feel sometimes things look worse than they are. Often wonder if I'll ever get back to normal again (whatever that is!)

I recently increased my medication so I'm getting by, although still tired. Seems to have helped settle the panic side even though the anxiety is still just about hanging in there.

Glad u r feeling a little better, i feel terrible today, breathless, dizzy and worst of all absolutely shattered. Im sat at my desk at work hoping that no one speaks to me this aftenoon and just leaves me to get through until 5.30pm. When i can go home and try to relax. What medication are u on? Ive recently started taking prozac (nearly 3 weeks ago) and have been on beta blockers for a few years now.

Your really lucky to be able to work from home some days, everyday is a real chore for me, i have an aim when i get up in a morning, that is to make it through work and to just get back home. I have no life, i just exist. Do you feel like this.

Glad u r feeling a little better, i feel terrible today, breathless, dizzy and worst of all absolutely shattered. Im sat at my desk at work hoping that no one speaks to me this aftenoon and just leaves me to get through until 5.30pm. When i can go home and try to relax. What medication are u on? Ive recently started taking prozac (nearly 3 weeks ago) and have been on beta blockers for a few years now.

Your really lucky to be able to work from home some days, everyday is a real chore for me, i have an aim when i get up in a morning, that is to make it through work and to just get back home. I have no life, i just exist. Do you feel like this.

Neil, I've felt like that many times, feeling like all I do is work and feel ill. Then I have to remind myself that I should be happy to be alive. I notice the world around me more these days, weird really, I even look at trees and think it's amazing they grown and live so long!

I'm taking dothiepin at night, seems to be helping a fair bit. I've also been trying CBT techniques, positive thinking and all that. It is true, you are what you think. If you can think positive, kick out bad and irrational thoughts when you can, you do feel better. I've found the mood gym website very good for this alone.

Hope you have a better day tomorrow!

Thanks Chris,

Not as bad today just really tired again, my eyes are really sore!!

sorry if it sounds like im windging, just fed up with it all really...ive had a look on that websire you mentioned, it looks quite informative, so will have a good read of it later.

You sound quite positive, so i suppose there can be light at the end of the tunnel, the thing is i arent really depressed to be honest just gets me down feeling bad all the time. Suppose feeling low is the same as depression, so perhaps these anti depressants will help me. Im going to try and do something over the weekend, as it surely cant help me sitting in my house every weekend, doing nothing. Even though a bit of exercise might help me.

Hope you have a good weekend and you get time to reply.

Cheers mate

Neil