- Name
- Michelle
- Diagnosis
-
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Disease Course Over Time
- In 1979 at age 32 Michelle became ill four months after having given birth and one month after getting the polio vaccine. She was not sleeping well and then woke with severe vomiting, nausiness, within 2 weeks experienced dramatic loss of energy. She was mostly bedridden and housebound for three months.
- Approximate Date of Illness Began
- <1980
- Symptoms
- She experienced fatigue and sleep problems, difficulty standing, heart irregularities, pain, numbness, temporary vision loss and to top it off, her breast milk dried up.
- Treatments That Helped
- She removed dairy products, nearly all grains (rice is ok), fermented products, alcohol, MSG, sugars most fruit, most of the “nightshade” family of plants. Lives on vegetables, organic olive oil, organic eggs and chicken, some fish, rice, red lentils, chick peas, a little fruit, occasionally nuts. Vitamin C always at least one gram and boosted to 8 or more grams in divided doses when virally affected. Probiotics. Use of echinacea, olive leaf, andrographis, siberian ginseng when needed with infections – occasionally other herbals.Muscle strength and muscle pain: magnesium chelate, osteopathy tai chi/ qigong (also vital for overall immune function, balance, heart functioning.) Cognitive behaviour therapy, mindfulness, positive psychology, prayer, breathing exercises: incorporated into daily life to control stress and use the mind, body and spirit appropriately throughout the day.
- Present State of Health
-
- Leads near normal life but cannot exercise vigorously
- Words of Advice
-
Read all you can on the web and test out anything that seems appropriate to your situation (doctor supervised where necessary). Huge amounts can be done for some forms of ME/CFS by dietary changes so consider whether that would apply to you – no one ever gets well on a poor or unsuitable diet. Magnesium chelate also seems very important. I also think tai chi'/qigong is important, and osteopathy if you have muscle pain/ joint pain.
Be persistent in looking for answers and as far as possible avoid the use of pharmaceuticals as they all have side effects.
Listen to your body and trust your own instincts – don't try to fit yourself into another person's mould. Also don't expect others to treat you well – most have no comprehension – educate those you need to enlist help from and ignore the rest.
- Suggested Resources
-
The Phoenix Rising website and all the other multitude of websites but look for situations similar to your own as there are many variants of how ME/CFS presents.
Vital to have a doctor who is supportive and knows something of this condition so you can bounce your ideas off them. Educate your doctor yourself if they know little.
Huge amounts can be done for some forms of ME/CFS by dietary changes so consider whether that would apply to you – no one ever gets well on a poor or unsuitable diet.
Listen to your body and trust your own instincts – don't try to fit yourself into another person's mould. Also don't expect others to treat you well – most have no comprehension.
Listen to your body and trust your own instincts – don't try to fit yourself into another person's mould. Also don't expect others to treat you well – most have no comprehension.
