I went in to see a doctor last spring and he did all the normal blood tests, including thyroid. Everything came back fine. He said in order to diagnose me with CFS or other sleep related disorders, he would have to send me to a sleep specialists and have me do sleep studies overnight. I never went through with this because im in college and I cant just stay overnight with all the classes I have to go to.
However, my parents will not consider my fatigue as being a legtimate excuse until I have been officially diagnosed. Basically, my parents cannot relate to what I am going through. They dont come out and say it but I know they think I am just being lazy. Its hard for me to get them to believe me because my mom was a full time student like me but she also worked full time as a nursing student. Since I am not working and she was able to do school and work, she and my dad just assume I am being lazy.
While I wish I could get diagnosed so they can actually believe that I am not lazy, I also dont have the time to conduct sleep studies. Any Ideas?
Are you talking about being fatigued or having CFS? They are two different things.
If you have fatigue, but without any other accompanying symptoms, then the sleep test might be a good idea. However, if you have the disorder - CFS - then the sleep test is useless. Insomnia is a symptom of CFS but CFS is not a sleep disorder. You would need to see a doc that specializes in this area (few and far between) to get the proper blood tests done.
I didn't have to have the sleep test when they diagnosed me. It took 2 years for my GP to diagnose me. I had the usual blood tests and when they rule out all the other illnesses theres a list of 9 symptoms and if u have more than 4 they conclude u have CFS.
CFS doesn't only get diagnosed with a sleep study--it's not a sleep-related disorder. Insomnia or unrestful sleep are symptoms of CFS, but it doesnt' mean that every sleep apnea or insomnia sufferer has CFS.
Then again, if this bout of fatigue came on suddenly, it COULD be due to not sleeping well--if there was nothing that could set it off.
I got diagnosed with CFS because I had a virus, and I didn't get better. After four months, they diagnosed me with FM and CFS--because they couldn't find anything, but also because it was obvious that my condition was due to the virus that I'd had.
If you truly want to figure out what's wrong, then you have no choice but to do the sleep study. If it was a case where there was a significant event or time that you noticed the fatigue come on suddenly, then maybe it wouldn't be so difficult to get diagnosed, but with something like this, you need to do a sleep study.
Your clinician should consider a diagnosis of CFS if these two criteria are met:
Unexplained, persistent fatigue that's not due to ongoing exertion, isn't substantially relieved by rest, is of new onset (not lifelong) and results in a significant reducation in previous levels of activity.
Four or more of the following symptoms are present for six months or more:
Impaired memory or concentration
Postexertional malaise (extreme, prolonged exhaustion and sickness following physical or mental activity)
Unrefreshing sleep
Muscle pain
Multijoint pain without swelling or redness
Headaches of a new type or severity
Sore throat that's frequent or recurring
Tender cervical or axillary lymph nodes
When I was originally diagnosed 11 years ago it was by an Infectious Disease Specialist. At that time I was also tested for sleep apnea, but did not have it. 9 years later, after gaining a ton of weight due to CFIDS, I was tested again and now have Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
One thing about the original poster. Could the fatigue be caused at least in part by her heavy course load? I mean, if she is too busy for an overnight sleep test then maybe she is just plain run ragged.
Getting Diagnosed 
