CFS – My Chronic Fatigue – Can My 40% Improvement be Quantified?

Around Christmas time, I was feeling about 25% better.  This meant that I could do one or two things without collapsing altogether.  I was able to take a 20 minute walk, OR do the dishes, OR cook dinner without too much complaint.  This is stark contrast to where I began this journey last September, when I was unable to get dressed or evey comb my hair.

Since then, I’ve changed my diet, added some important supplements – NT Factor and D-Ribose and my sleep has greatly improved.  Indulgences of Christmas took me several weeks to get over -   re-dieting and paying greater attention to my goals.   In February and March, I’ve kept up with my supplements and gone a little wayward on my diet due to wildly flucuating PMS, but in general I’ve maintained my program. 

About 2 weeks ago, I took a 2.5 mile hike!  If that doesn’t scream out 40% better, I don’t what .   This past weekend was a Family Easter Party Event and I had fun!  Foremost in my mind was the comparison to my family’s christmas party where I was able to stand and talk and participate emotionally.  But after that party was over – I felt the need to collapse and recover.   This time, for the Easter party, I had more fun – easily standing and engaging in conversation (CFS sufferers find conversation very difficult and energy consuming).  I noted to my family that I had showered, dressed, gone to the grocery store, played at the party and still felt good!   I was sure tired when I got home, but it felt like a supreme accomplishment.    I’m pretty sure that the preparation for the Christmas Party required taking my shower the day before and laying out my clothes in advance to save on energy costs

So there you have it, I can do Something, or Two Things, not including the energy expended for showering and getting dressed!  I can participate emotionally and converse and enjoy small portions of life without getting immediately overloaded. 

Just this past week, I went through another bout of PMS, and sugar was in my house once again – Arrgghh! it’s like a sickness that stuff!  Anyway, I’m back on the program again and paying attention to non-processed foods, extra veggies and salads and seriously considering sauerkraut juice ‘therapy’ a.k.a. flingin’ it up my butt once again.   It’s so weird…  when I have PMS I am just not in my right mind and I simply cannot control that sugary stuff -  I’ve conquered that in the past, but MAN I struggle.   I know now that I have to prepare for the onslaught of PMS insanity a week in advance and be deadset on not screwing up! (Stevia helps with this, and I’m out, let’s get some!)

I’m taking walks several times a week, usually for about 30 minutes, but haven’t crossed that magnificent 2.5 mile threshold again…. but I’m a’gonna!   I’ve noted previously in my blog that I’m starting Colonix Colon Cleansing again in April – that’s still gonna happen too!

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – Cortisol Treatment? It Makes Me Skeptical

I am the first to admit that I have a distrust of the medical community, perhaps it’s more reasonable to say that it’s pharmaceuticals, either/or let’s say.  Recent reports show CFS symptoms can improve through the application of cortisol shots administered by your physician.  Another “non-cure” and yet effective treatment.    Cortisol is low in CFS Patients Study , Cortisol Treatment Study Shows CFS Symptom Improvement .  

 Not too long ago, I watched a PBS special with Dr. Perricone wherein he stated that my cortisol levels were at the root of my weight gain and aging complaints, he’s termed it the “death hormone“. 

I’m no scientist,  I know adrenal fatigue is a major factor in my CFS symptoms and cortisol injections would indeed further adrenal fatigue.  It makes me suspicious once again of the medical community.  Like my most recent experience with the drug Advair for asthma, I stopped using it for this reason - millions of asthma patients use it, yet people are dying from its use?  Advair Article   I am again suspicious of the cortisol treatments until there’s a long term treatment study.

The variances between the formal medical community and natural healing methods can be so enormous and worrysome, that it makes me tend toward natural methods exclusively.  I hope that my diet and supplement path works as well as cortisol injections.  If you’re a CFS patient and receiving these cortisol shots and no other medications, please comment on your results!

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – You’re Not Alone

 

I’m living proof that your CFS  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can improve!  How did I get here after suffering for so very long?  In this article I’ll show you briefly where I’ve been and how I’ve improved to the point of being able to get dressed and being able exercize and live again.   First and foremost, it’s important to realize that even though you probably can’t get out of your house – you’re not alone.

You’re not alone in not being mobile or active, and you’re also not alone when you’re searching for advice, research and community.  Having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can be devastating to your life and emotional health; we all need to take advantage of the resources at our fingertips.  The Chronic Fatigue Treatments Forum is one of the sites that I’ve used for outstanding and varied treatment information as well as a community of common sufferers that offer the support you’re looking for.

This CFS forum details several Chronic Fatigue Protocols: Amy Yasko, Garth Nicholson, Marshall Protocol, the leaders in cfs research, and more importantly proven results.   In addition, Jacob Teitelbaum’s clinical trials are covered in another area , which features a discussion on D-Ribose, a supplement that I can personally attest has done absolute wonders for my fibromyalgia pain as I’ve discussed previously in my blog.

In September of 2007, I was completely unable to get dressed or go out.  On this particular day – Labor Day Weekend, I had asked hubby to set aside time for me so that I could do “whatever I wanted”.  This meant dinner and a movie.  But I couldn’t even brush my hair or teeth on that day, let alone go out. I decided that was the absolute limit of the depths of my illness – I just wasn’t going to stand for it anymore.  (I use the word ‘stand’ as a pun - Orthostatic intolerance, OI, or the inability to stand for any length of time is the primary symptom of CFS.)

Since many of my difficulties in life can be attributed to medications that I’ve received in the past, I decided to go on an all natural treatment protocol.  Two supplements NT Factor and D-Ribose have helped me to the point of being able to get dressed, exercise, do the dishes, get groceries And make dinner all in the same day.  Amazing!  NT Factor has helped with creating energy, D-Ribose has helped me with the overwhelming pain of daily living. 

Supplements aren’t the only answer though.  I’ve carefully researched the effects of diet and digestion on CFS and have found that I’ll be on my clean diet program for many months, if not years to come.   I simplify this diet into three words on another blog post: water, meat, veggies.  Other people discuss their diet and supplement results on the CFS Forum too.  All kinds of helpful info. 

My most sincere desire is that for anyone with CFS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia to realize that they’re not alone -  You CAN feel better,  there IS hope,  the research is showing results, you can do it without spending a million dollars on doctors or drugs, and the Community is there for you.

Walking – Change Like Miracles

Once were carefully metered steps

Every pace, ache, a shake in my bones

Breathless, worthless, fettered in pain

Silent suffering in open wind.

Change now, promise like Spring

Strides overcome painful footprints

I sing into the gray breeze

lifting my weary head

thankful to the sky

Goal Setting for Summer Fun Among the Fatigued

I’m better than I ever could have imagined and still, no where near where I could be.  I hiked for 2.5 miles last week ! (I did come home and take a nap right after though *sighs*). That was so far beyond anything I could have hoped for years, and still, I could be feeling better yet if I could stick to a cleaner diet. 

It took me a bit of time to overcome the Christmas dietary delusions and I’m back to feeling like I can accomplish some things, but this wayward trend toward sugary things when I have p.m.s is truly my downfall.  It’s keeping me from getting “mo’ bettah” sooner.

So… my current goals:

1. Get back to eating 5 full servings of veggies a day – currently consuming about 3.
2. Get the ding dang sugar and processed foods out of my diet – ya looney pms crazed woman.
3. Maintain an exercise schedule, currently taking 3 or 4 walks a week, with emphasis on increasing times.
4. Boost up on supplements – I still forget to take them every day, and they help so much!
5. Focus on the Future -  I need to get better so I can be normal AND get a job! 

The catalyst is that my neice is graduating from highschool in May and we have a trip planned.   I hope to include much more activity than previous (last 15 years?) vacations.  Previously, I could go on a trip – but the only thing that I would ever think about was when I could sit down, or where – truly my only thought.  But this fantabulous resort has a water park in florida weather and I want to play! 

I took a trip with hubby last year to florida and georgia.  On the beach in florida, I was able to sit in the sand and look at the gulf, but I wasn’t able to walk or swim.  In georgia, we stayed at a resort and I was able to swim in the pool, but only for 10 minutes, then I was wasted.  Swimming is one of my greatest pleasures in life -  I’m going to do everything in my power to be able to swim and have the “Fun” word.  I just want to be normal.

In April, I plan to go on colonix again, and get back to the strictest of diets – meat, veggies, water.  I’ll keep you posted……

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