CFS a Way Out
Hello again,
Welcome! I have a distinctive perspective about CFS, and as always, everyone is on their own journey, so take what you like and leave the rest...
I write the following post speaking from A LOT - years, years, years - of experience and having tried many, many protocols for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and with all my heart and soul, I wish for you to find the way out.
Frustration
My doctor wrote a book about CFS where he talks about the inherent sexism (since mostly women experience it) in that people don't believe us - and this has been the hardest part for me regarding the mental game in dealing with the loss of a normal life.
I was made fun of again today. My wonderful family member (whom I love VERY much) joked, "Oh, I was thinking of taking a nap, and sleep made me think of you - so I called." I have been the butt of a lot of jokes for 30 years for sleeping - my life away, actually.
When you have chronic fatigue, you are actually a member of a minority, and recent social events reveal how minorities are often treated: Minimized, not listened to, and made to feel like they are invisible.
Unfortunately when I tell someone I have chronic fatigue, the comment I most often hear is, "Don't you think it's all in your head?"
Pain, Sickness, Exhaustion
Frankly, this is excruciating, after 30 years of sleeping 10-12 hours a day, pain, always being sick, isolation because I lay down all the time, loss of friends, loss of playing music (I'm an accomplished jazz musician).
I can handle the physical pain (borderline fibromyalgia, curling up in a ball crying), I accept the loss of thousands of dollars in supplements and doctors that didn't work, and the loss of...not exaggerating....probably 100Kish from having to work part-time for several years and having my career vastly interrupted.
I really hate the physical pain and confusion and collapsing - yes, you can actually collapse from exhaustion, and it's happened to me many times.
I hate that I have to modify every single area of my life, every detail, and spend most of it at home.
There's A Way Out
I don't write this to feel sorry for myself, but to tell you that you are not alone, and there is a way out of feeling beaten down by life.
Seven years ago I found a great holistic Doctor, and although his medication didn't work (I gained 20lbs, my hair started to fall out, I got a rash all over my face - the meds made my condition worse) he was smart enough and humble enough to send me to acupuncture and a homeopath.
Acupuncture definitely works for CFS - I haven't collapsed in a long while, and I don't hurt as much. (I also did Bowen massage therapy, as even mild fibro can hurt a lot - fibro is sometimes misdiagnosed as autoimmune, and mine is mostly reversed).
Medical Medium
But the real answer didn't come until I read Anthony William's book Medical Medium: Secrets Behind Chronic Mystery Illness and How to Finally Heal. His eating protocol changed my life and, in fact, I have an appointment with one of his Healing Ambassadors Nicole Galante in a couple of weeks, to help with supplements and even to get a reading.
(Anthony Williams, the Medical Medium, is considered one of the most credible and legitimate medical intuitives living today.)
Remember the old (now humorous) George H.W. Bush quote "Read my lips, there will be no new taxes."
Well, read my lips...There is "technically" no such thing as fibro or autoimmune disease, these are only symptoms - the body isn't attacking itself - in fact, viruses are...but there is no Western Medicine test for viruses in the liver.
Here's a wonderful recording of Anthony. The answers come around 35:00 - clearing hidden Epstein-Barr virus is easy and not scary. (Again, a test won't pick up the virus hidden inside organs).
That is good news! We can change the way we eat! We can do something! I am no longer stuck in Western Medicine's gray area...because eating the correct foods makes ALL the difference in the world for me.
You might want to consider reading Anthony William's first book, Medical Medium. It doesn't cost much compared to all the doctors visits and supplements, and it's a HUGELY powerful book to have in your arsenal.
Here's to Your Success
I love, you, I know there are hundreds of you are out there, I know we've been through the same thing.
This was my life - can you imagine trying to hide pain and exhaustion for 30 years and no one, including doctors, believe you? I'm sure you can because you've experienced it!
The Medical Medium eating protocol is one of the few things that's worked for me, and it might be helpful for you too.
I hope folks have found this post useful...again, take what you like and leave the rest!
Blessings,
Alix
Postscript - Full transparency, a day after I wrote this I got cocky and ate some frozen mac and cheese - dairy, gluten, eggs, msg ("natural flavors"). I woke up with a splitting headache and will spend most of the day laying down. Slipping is part of the process, live and learn! I'm even more motivated now - see what Anthony Williams says about why eggs, gluten, dairy, sugar, processed foods make chronic fatigue worse.
