My doctor told me 2 weeks ago I have chronic fatigue syndrome in addition to addrenal fatigue. Has anyone been diagnosed with both of these? Also, I wondering why this syndrome seems to affect mostly women and not men.
So sorry for your diagnosis. It is nice to finally have one, though, isn't it?
Yes more women are affected by ME/CFS than men. I read something about the amount of blood women have in their body compared to men. I'll try to fingd what I read and share it. As for adrenal fatigue, I don't know.
How were you diagnosed with adrenal fatigue? Blood or saliva tests?
I think that most people who have CFS and related problems also have adrenal fatigue. The only real measure though of the adrenals is through a saliva test, which most docs won't prescribe.
I can tell you that I too have been diagnosed with both. I've had Blood, urine and saliva tests done. The saliva test showed that I had severe adrenal fatigue. I found a doctor who was willing to treat me with Cortef and Armour. This did NOTHING for me. I've also tired all kinds of natural remedies with it as well.
I finally found that I had Mono. Mono was the reason for the start of my fatigue and the stress of it all is what continued it.
I believe you need to keep searching. Continue with blood tests.
Thank you for the response. I did the saliva test and said I was Stage 2 of Adrenal Fatigue. Everything started about 2 years ago when I got a viral infection below my ear going down to my neck. About a week later I started developing a horrible parathesias in my neck, arms and back. Terrible burning. I was in constant pain with this for about 9 months and developed severe anxiety/depression due to the pain I was in. (Before this, I was in great physical health, except for low testosterone that I was treating with Androgel) The burning sensation subsided around last year, but I started developing chronic tension headaches, confusion, dizziness, no concentration and terrible fatigue. Went to one doctor after another who could find nothing wrong. I found a few weeks ago and wonderful Internal/Anti-Aging doctor who dx me with chronic fatigue/addrenal fatigue and has put me on weekly injections to raise my testosterone. He also has me on DSF and Ashwaganda for addrenal fatiuge and D-Ribose for chronic fatigue, along with Magnessium. Oh, I have also developed high blood pressure this year. Haven't started BP meds, yet; this doctor has put me on natural supplements to see if it will lower this way. I see that AlwaysTired is a male; is there any other males on this site???? Also wondering if anyone on here who has CFS has developed fibromyalgia too?
Can someone describe how the saliva test is done? I am going to a new doc next week and want to ask about this, but I've heard they have to take samples throughout the day, and that's why most doctors don't like to even bother. Is this true?
I have both ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia.
It seems like Fibromyalgia is very common now. A lot of people I know say they have it. I guess I am guilty of the same thing that frustrates me about these "invisible" diseases. Most of these people sure don't seem to be affected. A couple of them, I know really are in pain, though.
I've been wondering if the doctors over here have been misinformed about how to diagnose Fibromyalgia.
I don't get around much anymore, and it seems like I am meeting 2-3 people a week with Fibromyalgia. Maybe there's an epidemic!
Sorry to hear of your troubles, and glad to hear you've found a good doc. It's interesting that you've developed high blood pressure. Paul Cheney, MD, says that high bp essentially rules out a diagnosis of CFS--people with CFS have low bp.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FEELBAD62
Thank you for the response. I did the saliva test and said I was Stage 2 of Adrenal Fatigue. Everything started about 2 years ago when I got a viral infection below my ear going down to my neck. About a week later I started developing a horrible parathesias in my neck, arms and back. Terrible burning. I was in constant pain with this for about 9 months and developed severe anxiety/depression due to the pain I was in. (Before this, I was in great physical health, except for low testosterone that I was treating with Androgel) The burning sensation subsided around last year, but I started developing chronic tension headaches, confusion, dizziness, no concentration and terrible fatigue. Went to one doctor after another who could find nothing wrong. I found a few weeks ago and wonderful Internal/Anti-Aging doctor who dx me with chronic fatigue/addrenal fatigue and has put me on weekly injections to raise my testosterone. He also has me on DSF and Ashwaganda for addrenal fatiuge and D-Ribose for chronic fatigue, along with Magnessium. Oh, I have also developed high blood pressure this year. Haven't started BP meds, yet; this doctor has put me on natural supplements to see if it will lower this way. I see that AlwaysTired is a male; is there any other males on this site???? Also wondering if anyone on here who has CFS has developed fibromyalgia too?
Hi. I have alot of the same symptoms you do. I am male and have been going through Chronic fatigue since February of 2004.
It started with a car crash where a volunteer fireman speeding to a call with a blue light on hit a patch of ice and slide into us at about 70 miles per hour.
Thank god the car we were in was an old heavy car.
Right after that a flu type virus popped up and lasted for a month and 1/2.
And came back as this horrible fatigue with the dizziness at times,extreme fatigue,acid reflux at times,and a general feeling of just not feeling good at all along with trouble concentrating and getting the words out.
I later found out I had,had Mono. The test showed Epstein Barr.
By June 2004 a Lyme test showed positive. A Dr. Gave a years worth of anti-Biotics and they did not help. In fact the anti biotics made me feel worse.
I am seeing a specialist now that told me I have C.F.S. and now Fibromyalgia popped up too. As if one of these flipping ailments was'nt bad enough.
Yes,guys get this too but it does seem like a lot more women get it.
In Ct. I know 3 men that have had this condition.
Have you started the testosterone treatments yet and if so,do you feel any better. Also how old are? Do fluorescent lights bother you and make you dizzy. For some C.F.S.sufferers,it does.
I am tired all the time. I have tried G.A.B.A. and it seems to help brain function and anxiety. It may make you feel a bit better.
I hope we all fel better. Peace and God Bless. Summer
Quote:
Originally Posted by FEELBAD62
Thank you for the response. I did the saliva test and said I was Stage 2 of Adrenal Fatigue. Everything started about 2 years ago when I got a viral infection below my ear going down to my neck. About a week later I started developing a horrible parathesias in my neck, arms and back. Terrible burning. I was in constant pain with this for about 9 months and developed severe anxiety/depression due to the pain I was in. (Before this, I was in great physical health, except for low testosterone that I was treating with Androgel) The burning sensation subsided around last year, but I started developing chronic tension headaches, confusion, dizziness, no concentration and terrible fatigue. Went to one doctor after another who could find nothing wrong. I found a few weeks ago and wonderful Internal/Anti-Aging doctor who dx me with chronic fatigue/addrenal fatigue and has put me on weekly injections to raise my testosterone. He also has me on DSF and Ashwaganda for addrenal fatiuge and D-Ribose for chronic fatigue, along with Magnessium. Oh, I have also developed high blood pressure this year. Haven't started BP meds, yet; this doctor has put me on natural supplements to see if it will lower this way. I see that AlwaysTired is a male; is there any other males on this site???? Also wondering if anyone on here who has CFS has developed fibromyalgia too?
I was told the same thing, and it affects women more because of all of our hormones, I am waiting to go on the bioidentical hormones to see if they help. What do you do about yours?
Hi Summer; Yes I Have Started The Weekly Testosterone Injections. Been About 4 Weeks Now On It. Initially I Was Feeling Alot Better, But Over The Last Week, The Fatigue And Foggy Head Has Come Back. I Absolutely Have Had No Energy The Last Week And Feel Terrible. I Have A Followup Appt. With My Doctor For Next Week, But Called Today And Asked If He Can See Me Asap. I'm Supposed To Be Going To Florida This Weekend And Don't Won't To Feel Like Crap!
Was just dx'd with CFS today and the dr suspects adrenal fatigue as well as heavy metal toxicity. All this on top of a thyroid nodule the size of a lemon. Fun, huh?
He sent me home with a saliva test kit, a urine DMPS mercury chelation test kit (apparently this will test the amount of mercury in my tissues), and a list of blood tests. Since this all just happened today, my head's still spinning (more than usual). Just exactly how do you figure out where one illness ends and another begins?
I have both ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia.
It seems like Fibromyalgia is very common now. A lot of people I know say they have it. I guess I am guilty of the same thing that frustrates me about these "invisible" diseases. Most of these people sure don't seem to be affected. A couple of them, I know really are in pain, though.
I've been wondering if the doctors over here have been misinformed about how to diagnose Fibromyalgia.
I don't get around much anymore, and it seems like I am meeting 2-3 people a week with Fibromyalgia. Maybe there's an epidemic!
Tawnyjade- I think your right, it seems like I am always hearing someone with minor aches and pains or fatigue saying they have ME or FM and I wish the doctors would further classify it, since there are people like me out there that can't work anymore or keep up the house and I'm only 34. It just seems like when I tell people that is the reason for sleeping so much, pacing, etc. they are always like oh yeah so and so I know has it too. She's able to do this and that, why aren't you. It makes me feel misunderstood or lazy at times.
FYI--I had RSD as a child and I guess there is suppose to be a link between that and FM as an adult. I got sick for a couple months when I was 19 and after that developed ME, FM and was months later diagnosed with hypothyroid, ME and FM. I was lucky it wasn't very severe for many years until a back injury and viral infection hit my thyroid in 2000. I haven't been able to work since 5/01. Anyone else have RSD as a child or RSD problems at some point in time and then develop ME or FM?
Best Wishes to all
Was just dx'd with CFS today and the dr suspects adrenal fatigue as well as heavy metal toxicity. All this on top of a thyroid nodule the size of a lemon. Fun, huh?
He sent me home with a saliva test kit, a urine DMPS mercury chelation test kit (apparently this will test the amount of mercury in my tissues), and a list of blood tests. Since this all just happened today, my head's still spinning (more than usual). Just exactly how do you figure out where one illness ends and another begins?
What type of doctor are you seeing? A specialist? An endocrinologist??? Make sure you are seeing someone real knowledgable and that you feel really understands and listens to you. I found getting my thyroid in order first really helped me figure out which were overlapping symptoms and what was the CFS/ME or FM. FYI, with treatment of my hypothyroidism with levoxyl (I stay just a bit hyper with a TSH of .40 to .80) my nodule went away I hope your treatment does the same for you. My mom had Grave's disease and they had to finally remove her nodule and thyroid. She does well as long as she sticks to her synthroid same time everyday (she also has FM and has done better with it after thyroid problem was dealt with)
Thank you for the response. I did the saliva test and said I was Stage 2 of Adrenal Fatigue. Everything started about 2 years ago when I got a viral infection below my ear going down to my neck. About a week later I started developing a horrible parathesias in my neck, arms and back. Terrible burning. I was in constant pain with this for about 9 months and developed severe anxiety/depression due to the pain I was in. (Before this, I was in great physical health, except for low testosterone that I was treating with Androgel) The burning sensation subsided around last year, but I started developing chronic tension headaches, confusion, dizziness, no concentration and terrible fatigue. Went to one doctor after another who could find nothing wrong. I found a few weeks ago and wonderful Internal/Anti-Aging doctor who dx me with chronic fatigue/addrenal fatigue and has put me on weekly injections to raise my testosterone. He also has me on DSF and Ashwaganda for addrenal fatiuge and D-Ribose for chronic fatigue, along with Magnessium. Oh, I have also developed high blood pressure this year. Haven't started BP meds, yet; this doctor has put me on natural supplements to see if it will lower this way. I see that AlwaysTired is a male; is there any other males on this site???? Also wondering if anyone on here who has CFS has developed fibromyalgia too?
HI- not a male but yes I have CFS and FM. It is not uncommon according to the specialist at the CFS clinic I go to for people to develop both. Just curious did the area that burned feel cold to the touch? Also I had a bout of high-blood pressure for a little while and it did not change my CFS diagnosis (someone mentioned that would rule out CFS) but I do regularly have a lower BP.
I'm working on getting my thyroid problem hashed out. Was on 3/4 grain of Armour to try to shrink the nodule, but even that small amount made me have hyper symptoms. My dr and I both suspect adrenal fatigue. Just did the saliva test this weekend and will be sending it in today.
The dr I'm currently seeing (and who dx'd the CFS) is an MD who also practices alternative medicine. I saw an endo (she was the one who rx'd the Armour), but she attributes all my symptoms to perimopause. I've had symptoms since my teens (in my 40s now). I haven't been in peri since then, dagnabbit! I've subsequently fired her and went over to my current doc. The doc before the endo was an ENT who's answer to every thyroid problem was surgery. Run, run far away. And I did.
Honestly, I'm not even sure his dx of CFS is accurate. While I've been having bouts of severe fatigue, aches, swollen glands, sore throat, etc. for years, they could also have been caused by any of the other things he suspects (I think?), including thryoid problems. And that's not even close to a full list of my symptoms (could take a whole paragraph to do that). I still don't have an official thyroid dx because nobody's bothered to test my free Ts before now. Finally, this dr has ordered them and I'm getting tested this week.
One of the reasons I like this guy is because he really does listen. We spent close to 2 hours going over symptoms, medical history, family medical history, meds/supplements, test results, and physical exam. He's the first doc who hasn't made me feel like I was on some kind of medical assembly line.
Hi Summer; Yes I Have Started The Weekly Testosterone Injections. Been About 4 Weeks Now On It. Initially I Was Feeling Alot Better, But Over The Last Week, The Fatigue And Foggy Head Has Come Back. I Absolutely Have Had No Energy The Last Week And Feel Terrible. I Have A Followup Appt. With My Doctor For Next Week, But Called Today And Asked If He Can See Me Asap. I'm Supposed To Be Going To Florida This Weekend And Don't Won't To Feel Like Crap!
It could be because your body didn't need more Test at this time. Increasing Test will give you a boost, but if it's not needed, it will shut down production at the testes. Be very sure you're going through testosterone deficiency or any type of hormone imbalance before playing with HRT (hormone replacement therapy). Did your blood work show low Test? Are you having the obvious signs of low Test (low/no libido, cannot grow facial hair, hot flashes) ?
Have you also been tested for Lyme, anemia, electrolytes, allergies, sleep study, EBV/CMV? Mono can sometimes not show up in standard blood work looking at IgM/IgG's. That is how mine was undiagnosed. I had Mono all along, and didn't know. It wasn't until a few months ago I was tested for Chronic, not accute and they found that the EBV Titer Anti-bodies were through the roof.
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Last edited by AlwaysTired247; 05-30-2007 at 04:46 AM.
Hi. I have alot of the same symptoms you do. I am male and have been going through Chronic fatigue since February of 2004.
It started with a car crash where a volunteer fireman speeding to a call with a blue light on hit a patch of ice and slide into us at about 70 miles per hour.
Thank god the car we were in was an old heavy car.
Right after that a flu type virus popped up and lasted for a month and 1/2.
And came back as this horrible fatigue with the dizziness at times,extreme fatigue,acid reflux at times,and a general feeling of just not feeling good at all along with trouble concentrating and getting the words out.
I later found out I had,had Mono. The test showed Epstein Barr.
By June 2004 a Lyme test showed positive. A Dr. Gave a years worth of anti-Biotics and they did not help. In fact the anti biotics made me feel worse.
I am seeing a specialist now that told me I have C.F.S. and now Fibromyalgia popped up too. As if one of these flipping ailments was'nt bad enough.
Yes,guys get this too but it does seem like a lot more women get it.
In Ct. I know 3 men that have had this condition.
Have you started the testosterone treatments yet and if so,do you feel any better. Also how old are? Do fluorescent lights bother you and make you dizzy. For some C.F.S.sufferers,it does.
I am tired all the time. I have tried G.A.B.A. and it seems to help brain function and anxiety. It may make you feel a bit better.
I hope we all fel better. Peace and God Bless. Summer
Hi,
Have you have your thyroid checked? Alot of people will develop thyroid problems after being in car crashes, I think the jerking of the neck area. Left untreated you will develop adrenal fatigue as well. The proper thyroid tests are Tsh, Free T3, Free T4, Anti-TPO and TgAb.
I wasn't in a car crash but I became hypo after suddenly losing my father to cancer and then kept testing "normal" but very low normal so no doc would help. Long story short, I was very hypo and ended up going three years without meds and working a very physical job and I ended up with adrenal fatigue, severe candida and Epstein-barr. Lost my job and haven't worked since 2004. Am finally being correctly treated with armour for thyroid and cortef for my adrenals and doing much better. Truth is, I'm self treating as docs would not put me on enough meds to get me well. Been doing so for the past four months and have made more progress than the last three years working with docs.
After a years of antibiotics, no doubt you have candida as well. Need to start learning all you can about it and start treating it as well.
I have problems with certain lighting as well. A regular wal-mart won't bother me but let me go in a wal-mart supercenter and I'm weak and skitsy within about 15 minutes.
I have been recently diagnosed with CFS. I found a wonderful doctor (after wasting years). She called today and said I have Epstein Bar. She also suspects adreanal fatigue - which we did a salava test for - waiting for results. Also is testing for iodine deficiency (urine test...waiting for results). She is starting me two supplements - Transfer Factor, and Beta 1-3 Glucans....which boast the immune system. Anybody ever used these supplements?
