Janey -
I was diagnosed just over 3 years ago. I had been working 80 hour weeks at my job in the summer times, and I was a full time college student in the Fall and Spring. It all started with me being tired. Abnormally tired. It didn't seem consistent except when it got really bad. Then it seemed hard to pull myself out of it. I like to describe it as this: I feel like on my bad days, my body is full of sand, and I am walking and breathign in water. Some days, it seems almost impossible to walk up the stairs. Now, it builds to that point, but I have felt it none the less.
My doc said I need to eat better, exercise, no diary - yada yada. Easier said than done.
I have tried countless things. One, is I have done a TON of research about it. I have never been one to sit around and "let things happen" to me. So, the books and countless articles say there is no cure, and once you have it, you are stuck with it forever. I don't believe it. I refuse to. I am 25 and I want to have kids - but I DO NOT want to pass this on to them. So I am trying my hardest to get through this.
So, here's what I have found...You will have good days and bad as you have noticed. The reason to eat healthy, and sleep when you need to and as long as you need to, drink less, quit smoking - yada yada - is because your immune system will stay stronger that way, and your body can handle stress better. Our bodies were not designed to handle enormous amounts of stress and anxiety (feeling alone adds to that). So, when we stress out, our bodies pump adreneline into our blood stream to get us through it. Well, when we pump enough adreneline (and our bodies are not equipped to generate a lot of adreneline), then our adrenal glands (which produce adreneline) get depleted. Once they get depleted or overworked, then our immune system starts to fail. Once that happens, we get sick more often and exhausted. This exhaustion is like having mono - it can last for a couple of weeks, or a couple of months. You want to account for "lag" time. Meaning, once you feel super tired, you may stop drinking and start eating better. BUT, it takes time for your body to get used to this new change in your habits. Once the good-eating and exercise becomes a habit, your body is happy again, and you aren't tired.
Crazy, huh? So, I love enjoying life as much as the next person. I like going out, and I like eating chocolate sometimes. Just try to have it in moderation so you don't hit a wall. I know it sucks. I KNOW!
For now, hang in there. It is important to talk it out, and write it out anyway - even if people don't fully understand. DON'T shut down!
You can get through this. Everyone on these message boards can. And I am not trying to be a cheerleader here, but I have needed to hear that countless times myself. It's ok to believe it.
