Hi, everyone. :wave: I'm relatively new to this area of the boards and was hoping you could help me with a couple of questions. I'm a 50+ year young female who was recently diagnosed with CFIDS and FMS, "in addition to whatever neurological problems (I) might be facing."

I won't bore you with a long history, but I was wondering if anyone here has experienced tremors (shaking of the legs, hands, or head) due to CFIDS.

I was also wondering if anyone here has experienced bladder stress incontenience and/or a neurogenic bladder (frequency and/or urgency) due to the CFIDS. :eek:

I read somewhere that men can have erectile dysfunction due to CFIDS, but no mention was made about female sexual dysfunction. So ladies, if I may ask, has your "Good Girl" gone on a permanent vacation? Do you have little or no stimulation response to touch or any other methods you and your partner use? :(

I know these last two are very personal questions, but I really need to know. I don't think anyone has documented any of these symptoms, but that doesn't mean they're not out there with this.

Please, be an angel :angel: and let me know if you have had any of these symptoms and if they were or were not linked to CFIDS, and if not to what were they linked. Thank you so much.

Debra

Well, since no one has responded, I'm guessing that these experiences are my own and have nothing to do with the CFIDS/FMS, but rather have something to do with my degenerative disk desease/herniations/spondy or another as yet undiagnosed neurological problem. For those of you who believe, please pray with me that God will open that bigger and better door that I might receive the proper diagnosis and healing of these afflictions, "for where two or more are gathered in His name, it shall be done." Thank you for standing with me. God bless you all.

Debra

yes to the tremors in my legs and also jerking of arms and occassionally my legs. This was about 2 years ago. I upped my magnesium/potassium aspartate and through in some malic acid and I had huge improvements. I also took NADH, amino acid, L-carnitine.

The doctor also that I had MS & possibly lupus but I stopped all products with ASPARTAME and now that portion is gone.

I also started taking some supplements in April 2006 that worked in three days and now I no longer visit my doctor. He is the crazy one not me!

Good cellular nutrition. Everybody & living cell needs it.

Give me a call or send me an IM and I will give you more details about what works for me.

Not terribly savvy re: IM, so I will respond here. Thank you for the information. I do not eat or drink anything with aspertame and haven't unless accidently in many years. Terrible stuff. I prefer stevia or other natural alternatives. I've been on all kinds of supplements for years and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy for my thyroid, etc. Will be adding L-Carnitine soon and working up to 3 grams per day along with Gensing, NADH, and light therapy. I may try accupuncture, but want to try adding these other things my doctor recommended first. She has me on Glutathione/ATP 1 cc with 2 ML B-12 IM once a week. I have taken heavy duty multiple vitamins, minerals, and supplements for years that include all of the B vitamins, fish oil, calcium, magnesium, zinc, CoQ10, Ginkgo Biloba, etc. My standard diet has consisted of lean protiens, nuts, legumes, beans, fresh or frozen (no sauces) vegies and fruit. Dairy is limited to organic milk on my steel cut oatmeal and the occasional (rare) icecream.

I have many food allergies so my dietary restrictions are not all voluntary, but I have learned to enjoy the benefits of healthy eating. In fact, I've eaten this way for so long now that the occasional treat can often upset my stomach if I over indulge.

I have been told by several doctors that I may have MS, but so far for circumstances out of my control and that I won't bore you with, I have not been able to get the testing needed to confirm or deny that and several other suspects. I understand that the initial tests don't always show the markers anyway, so it's probably best for now. I'm sure God will open that door for me when it's the right time. :angel: I find I'm happiest and feel better physically when I don't worry about things over which I have no control.

Thanks again for your response.

Debra

Not terribly savvy re: IM, so I will respond here. Thank you for the information. I do not eat or drink anything with aspertame and haven't unless accidently in many years. Terrible stuff. I prefer stevia or other natural alternatives. I've been on all kinds of supplements for years and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy for my thyroid, etc. Will be adding L-Carnitine soon and working up to 3 grams per day along with Gensing, NADH, and light therapy. I may try accupuncture, but want to try adding these other things my doctor recommended first. She has me on Glutathione/ATP 1 cc with 2 ML B-12 IM once a week. I have taken heavy duty multiple vitamins, minerals, and supplements for years that include all of the B vitamins, fish oil, calcium, magnesium, zinc, CoQ10, Ginkgo Biloba, etc. My standard diet has consisted of lean protiens, nuts, legumes, beans, fresh or frozen (no sauces) vegies and fruit. Dairy is limited to organic milk on my steel cut oatmeal and the occasional (rare) icecream.

I have many food allergies so my dietary restrictions are not all voluntary, but I have learned to enjoy the benefits of healthy eating. In fact, I've eaten this way for so long now that the occasional treat can often upset my stomach if I over indulge.

I have been told by several doctors that I may have MS, but so far for circumstances out of my control and that I won't bore you with, I have not been able to get the testing needed to confirm or deny that and several other suspects. I understand that the initial tests don't always show the markers anyway, so it's probably best for now. I'm sure God will open that door for me when it's the right time. :angel: I find I'm happiest and feel better physically when I don't worry about things over which I have no control.

Thanks again for your response.

Debra

I have FMS and possible CF and lupus. Though i dont know what good my answers will be to you.

I too dont know what neuro problems i totally have as ive seem to have casted off doctors due to being put aside. I do have tremors/shakes in my arms, legs and head. Though i do have epilepsy i dont think the two are related!

Bladder frequency and urgency is also a yes. Its so bad that im going 3 or 4 times an hour when i do drink. I dont really drink that much, definately not the regular 8 glasses a day as reccommended.

Now with the "Good Girl" issue... im so flat lined in that section of my life it isnt funny. (I so hope fiance aint readin this..) lol. It's hard being any age and not even feeling adequate enough for your better half

I hope you find your answers soon :angel:

Debra,

I've reached your post after being online for a while and I'm exhausted. I have to sign-off soon. But, I've had ALL of your symptoms and more. My weakness/tremers got horrible. The spastic bladder occurs especially during "flares", and my libido became HISTORY. My husband found a girlfriend and left me last fall after 15 years together.

I am 40 y/o, was diagnosed last fall with CFIDS and Hashimotos hypothyroidism. I'd strongly suggest thyroid tests by a knowledgeable doc (and I say that with some emphasis - many docs are good but know very little about hypothyroidism). You need a TSH between 0.3 and 1.5, and Free T4 within the upper 1/2 of normal, and you need to have no elevated antibodies in TWO thyroid antibody tests (antimicrosomial AB AND anti TPO antibodies). My endocrinologist kept testing antimic AB antibodies (for 4 years), and they were normal. My TSH was 8 but I was asymptomatic at that time (7 years ago). Once my symptoms started my TSH was always normal until last year. When an endocrinologist finally tested my anti TPO antibodies, he found them very elevated. (All the women in my family have hypothyroidism). BINGO. Symptoms (including libido) have improved with Synthroid though not completely gone away.

Good luck!

KM

Hi Debra,

Yes, tremors and twitching were very common back in "the bad old days" for me when my CFS was at it's height. Used to get it in the arms and legs and left eyelid. It is a recognised symptom (least ways it is in the "Living with ME" book by Doctor Charles Sheppard) and I seem to remember it would come and go.

Highly re:) commend the above book although it may be out of date now - it really helped me to see symptoms I was experiencing listed there, made me feel less of a freak!

I can't comment on your other question (being male!) other than to say I definitely lost interest in relations for many, pretty obvious I guess, reasons: not having the physical strength, being pre-occupied and self-centred, depression.

I must be 10 years on now from diagnosis and several years of real cr#p but generally much better. Sadly I am curently having the most serious relapse in years which is why I have stumbled across this forum.

Stay happy.

Tim