I have had these symptoms for weeks, and I don't know what to do. Chronic Fatigue?

Brain and nerves
1

Hi, all. I am new to this community, and I wanted to reach out to see if anyone could help me. I am a twenty year old college student and am not an athlete.

I have experienced these symptoms over a timeline a little longer than a month:

  • I have had a constant headache every single day for the past four weeks.
  • Everything I do exhausts me. Even every day things like making the bed, driving to the store, etc. I feel like I have no energy at all.
  • For as long as I have had a headache, I have also had a consistent sore throat. This soreness feels different than strep throat or allergies. It is a new sensation I have never experienced.
  • I ache in random areas of my body. Joints hurt when I haven’t even done anything to exert myself. My neck is especially painful right now.
  • I have trouble sleeping. I lay down around 11:00, and it takes me hours to fall asleep. Even on nights that I do sleep, I don’t feel rested.
  • I am constantly out of breath.
  • My hands and other areas of my body are swollen.
  • I feel as though I can’t focus on everyday, normal tasks. I know what I want to say, but I can’t get the words out.
  • I am easily light headed and experience Vertigo multiple times throughout the day.

I am a relatively healthy person. Yes, I will admit that I am a little heavy. Most people say that I am built like a football player. I work in the performing arts industry, so I get my exercise with a lot of dancing. Sometimes, I even walk up to 8 miles per day. However for the past few weeks, I have not been able to perform. I have never ever felt as bad as I do now.

A few weeks ago while I was at work, I lost feeling in my left arm. I also lost the ability to speak for about 90 seconds. I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath. The staff called 9-1-1. EMS assured me that I was just dehydrated and told me to go home and drink some Gatorade.

About two weeks later, I woke up with my eye swollen shut. When I went to the doctor, he told me that I had a staph infection. It has since cleared up (so we think).

The reason I tell you those two stories is to see if they might be related to what I am feeling now or to each other.

Right now, my doctor found that I have an irregular heartbeat, and he thinks that this (as well as a minor high blood pressure) is the cause of all of my problems. He put me on a moderate beta blocker (on top of the minor blood pressure pill and anxiety meds I am already taking), and I feel even worse. - - - I just don’t know if this irregular heartbeat is the sole case, and I am having trouble accepting it.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar? I have heard about Chronic Fatigue, and I believe that I have 8 out of the 10 symptoms. I am going back to the doctor and a cardiologist this week but would love any suggestions if you all have them or have experienced this.

2

Chronic Fatigue and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME are two different things so I would do some research on both and then get your Doctors to rule out anything else.

The problem with CFS/ME, if this is what you meant, is that it is badly diagnosed by ruling out other illnesses and then fitting your symptoms to the criteria for the disease. At this point your symptoms match many other issues from mineral or vitamin deficiency onwards really.

There are some key symptoms that are required for a CFS diagnosis, one being PEM or Post Exertional Malaise and generally you would need to have your symptoms for at least 6 months.

If it is Chronic Fatigue as opposed to CFS/ME then generally this will clear up although it can take months.

I would do some research on both as because of the current situation with diagnosis and research, often we have to do a lot of the work ourselves as Doctors are mostly ignorant of CFS/ME.

3

i would try neck or spinal adjustment could leaning on nerve maybe thats a reason for the headache too just something to try rule out things once you do that you start to know whats what ive had 6 years its been learning curve in uk we dont have the doctors to deal with sort of illness fully also pace yourself dont over do everything until you fully understand whats going on

4

you sound like all the symptoms I have. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia with chronic fatigue syndrome. I take cymbalta for energy and to help my brain fog. it took a while to start working but I still have bad days. they have to rule everything out to give you a diagnosis. took me 4 years.

5

Sounds like you are in the process of seeing doctors and getting diagnoses. CFS diagnosis takes a while since there are no tests and it’s just a matter of ruling out other things.

My advice would be to just continue on this course with the tests and treatment of your doctors. It’s sometimes helpful to keep a daily diary of meds and symptoms for you to see a trend and for the doctors to have. Do they recommend you keep track of your heart rate and blood pressure? Blood pressure monitors are available at most drug stores. Then you can bring in the diary when you see the doc.

Be your own healthcare advocate and don’t be afraid to ask questions and share your concerns. Tell them if a medication makes you feel worse. Best of luck to you ~ Liz

6

Hi there

Just a thought to add to what everyone else has said. You might want to get tested for viruses in your blood. Even just to rule it out. I’m thinking Epstein-Barr in particular. Your symptoms sound a bit like low-grade glandular fever. Mine went undiagnosed for 40 years, until finally I saw a smart endocrinologist who figured it out!