Hello,

I'm new to this board (not new to healthboards just this topic). I had a long bout with chronic fatigue in 2003 - 2004. Around April of 2004 I started feeling normal again (after months of thyroid supplement therapy) and haven't exhibited any symptoms since (unending indescribable exhaustion, brain fog, muscle aches, completely slowed down in task, concentration difficulties). Since my turnaround however, I have battled insomnia and huge sleep-wake cycle disturbances and have ever since struggled with the symptoms (and medication) of bipolar disorder. Recently my new bipolar meds have ensured that I get 10-12 hours of sleep a day and my other bipolar symptoms have calmed down. But this week I'm been trying to ween my self into sleeping a normal 8 hours aday but have only managed to wake up each day feeling the same way I did when I had chronic fatigue (minus the brain fog this time).

Now that you know my story, I was wondering if anyone else has experienced a cycle of cfs disappearing and reappearing later. If so, does anyone know why that is? Could it be linked to lessening the amount of sleep my body is accustomed to?

Thanks,

Reesie

Yes, this is certainly possible.

Most people with CFS have it much longer than 1 year. I don't personally know anyone who is completely and totally symptom free as CFS can act as a charlatan, receding (even for as long as a year) only to reappear again when under stress. One theory is that CFS is a virus and acts similarly to the way AIDS, MS and other viruses do; that is,the virus lives in the system & when one is stressed, exercises too much, drinks a lot of alcohol, or does any of the other things that aggravate CFS, it can erupt again. My friend, after 15 years with the illness, was symptom free for 2 1/2 years. When her sister died she was experiencing a lot of grief and the CFS symptoms returned again. This is why it is so important to understand one's own body and what your particular triggers are, so you can try, as much as humanly possible, to avoid them. I, for instance, cannot touch a drop of alcohol. If I do, within hours I start to feel the effects of the virus. Other triggers I am aware of (for my body) are overdoing exercise (I can't do any aerobics) , perfumy odors, wheat, lack of restful sleep and, of course, stressful situations.