| Topic: |
Sociology > Depression |
| User: |
"Fred" |
| Date: |
28 Jan 2004 03:46:52 AM |
| Object: |
Is this CFS or depression ? |
Hi all,
I have been suffering from a CFS like condition for just over 4 years now. I
have visited a multitude of medical practitioners over that period but most
often fail to raise any concern regarding the symptoms that have dogged me
for so long. I thought I might post this plea here to see if any of you
learned and empathetic folk can relate to my symptoms and give me your
opinion on whether they are consistent with CFS.
The symptoms began in December 1999. I started feeling tired with what were
flu like symptoms. What concerned me most in the beginning was the weird
feeling in my head. Not dissimilar to the spinny feeling one might have when
they have a bad cold or fever. To this day, this mental fogginess is by far
the most annoying symptom.
The symptoms never lifted even though I was initially convinced that it must
have been a viral infection. The list of persistent symptoms, those that
have stayed with me for the four years so far are ...
1) The mental fog. I have learnt the expression brainfog from reading on the
internet. This seem to adequately describe the feeling. Just difficulty
concentrating. A kind of dizzy feeling without actually loosing my balance.
Sort of blurry vision without things really being out of focus and sort of
an occasional faintness without ever passing out.
2) general tiredness and very poor interrupted sleep patterns.
3) a feeling of tired muscles most of the time.
Transient symptoms that come and go include
1) Occasional nausea
2) nervous system peculiarities such as shaking sometimes and muscle
twitching.
3) loose but regular bowel motions.
4) a really weird feeling when in some light such as at the supermarkets.
5) palpitations sometimes.
What makes this seem unconventional in terms of CFS is that I don't really
have any muscular or joint pain. I sometime feel a bit stiff but nothing
causing great discomfort. I can exercise without having to pay the price
later. For example I can ride my bike for an hour and feel no different the
next day. I don't get headaches.
I have had lots of blood tests, a brain scan, a barium NMR to check the
intestine, ultrasound imaging of the organs, chest x-ray. My blood pressure
and pulse are perfect, my weight is fine. In fact with the strict diet I
have been observing my weight has equilibrated on my ideal weight. I walk
and ride regularly. For all intents and purposes, I am a really healthy 39
yr old. I just feel like rubbish. I will emphasise again that this brainfog
really does have an incredible effect on my life and work.
So, the verdict, does this sound like a mild form of CFS? The medical
practitioners seem to think that it is a type of depression. I will admit
that I am depressed, but I keep thinking that it is a symptom rather than a
cause for the condition. The other thing that perplexes me is that I always
imagine that depression symptoms would more or less wax and wane over such a
long period with occasional symptom free periods.
Any advice would be gratefully received.
Thanks
Fred
.
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| User: "Flashfire" |
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| Title: Re: Is this CFS or depression ? |
29 Jan 2004 06:24:10 AM |
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Fred wrote:
Hi all,
I have been suffering from a CFS like condition for just over 4 years
now. I have visited a multitude of medical practitioners over that
period but most often fail to raise any concern regarding the
symptoms that have dogged me for so long. I thought I might post this
plea here to see if any of you learned and empathetic folk can relate
to my symptoms and give me your opinion on whether they are
consistent with CFS.
The symptoms began in December 1999. I started feeling tired with
what were flu like symptoms. What concerned me most in the beginning
was the weird feeling in my head. Not dissimilar to the spinny
feeling one might have when they have a bad cold or fever. To this
day, this mental fogginess is by far the most annoying symptom.
The symptoms never lifted even though I was initially convinced that
it must have been a viral infection. The list of persistent symptoms,
those that have stayed with me for the four years so far are ...
1) The mental fog. I have learnt the expression brainfog from reading
on the internet. This seem to adequately describe the feeling. Just
difficulty concentrating. A kind of dizzy feeling without actually
loosing my balance. Sort of blurry vision without things really being
out of focus and sort of an occasional faintness without ever passing
out.
2) general tiredness and very poor interrupted sleep patterns.
3) a feeling of tired muscles most of the time.
Transient symptoms that come and go include
1) Occasional nausea
2) nervous system peculiarities such as shaking sometimes and muscle
twitching.
3) loose but regular bowel motions.
4) a really weird feeling when in some light such as at the
supermarkets.
5) palpitations sometimes.
What makes this seem unconventional in terms of CFS is that I don't
really have any muscular or joint pain. I sometime feel a bit stiff
but nothing causing great discomfort. I can exercise without having
to pay the price later. For example I can ride my bike for an hour
and feel no different the next day. I don't get headaches.
I have had lots of blood tests, a brain scan, a barium NMR to check
the intestine, ultrasound imaging of the organs, chest x-ray. My
blood pressure and pulse are perfect, my weight is fine. In fact with
the strict diet I have been observing my weight has equilibrated on
my ideal weight. I walk and ride regularly. For all intents and
purposes, I am a really healthy 39 yr old. I just feel like rubbish.
I will emphasise again that this brainfog really does have an
incredible effect on my life and work.
So, the verdict, does this sound like a mild form of CFS? The medical
practitioners seem to think that it is a type of depression. I will
admit that I am depressed, but I keep thinking that it is a symptom
rather than a cause for the condition. The other thing that perplexes
me is that I always imagine that depression symptoms would more or
less wax and wane over such a long period with occasional symptom
free periods.
Any advice would be gratefully received.
Thanks
Fred
Sounds more like CFS to me....my partner's mother has CFS and is one of the
most undepressed people I have ever met, even with the illness. The symptoms
you describe, sound very much like what she goes through and she has had CFS
for over 20 years.
--
Regards Lee
~~
No one is compelled to serve great causes,
unless he feels fit for it.
Sir Winston Churchill
.
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| User: "AJ" |
|
| Title: Re: Is this CFS or depression ? |
28 Jan 2004 07:06:54 PM |
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|
My sister was having similar issues (she's diabetic) and they couldn't find
the cause. She researched and discovered she needed a sports drink. She
was exercising hard and depleting herself of glycogen.
"Fred" <newsposting@newsposting.com> wrote in message
news:BC3DA5E3.3B73%newsposting@newsposting.com...
Hi all,
I have been suffering from a CFS like condition for just over 4 years now.
I
have visited a multitude of medical practitioners over that period but
most
often fail to raise any concern regarding the symptoms that have dogged me
for so long. I thought I might post this plea here to see if any of you
learned and empathetic folk can relate to my symptoms and give me your
opinion on whether they are consistent with CFS.
The symptoms began in December 1999. I started feeling tired with what
were
flu like symptoms. What concerned me most in the beginning was the weird
feeling in my head. Not dissimilar to the spinny feeling one might have
when
they have a bad cold or fever. To this day, this mental fogginess is by
far
the most annoying symptom.
The symptoms never lifted even though I was initially convinced that it
must
have been a viral infection. The list of persistent symptoms, those that
have stayed with me for the four years so far are ...
1) The mental fog. I have learnt the expression brainfog from reading on
the
internet. This seem to adequately describe the feeling. Just difficulty
concentrating. A kind of dizzy feeling without actually loosing my
balance.
Sort of blurry vision without things really being out of focus and sort of
an occasional faintness without ever passing out.
2) general tiredness and very poor interrupted sleep patterns.
3) a feeling of tired muscles most of the time.
Transient symptoms that come and go include
1) Occasional nausea
2) nervous system peculiarities such as shaking sometimes and muscle
twitching.
3) loose but regular bowel motions.
4) a really weird feeling when in some light such as at the supermarkets.
5) palpitations sometimes.
What makes this seem unconventional in terms of CFS is that I don't really
have any muscular or joint pain. I sometime feel a bit stiff but nothing
causing great discomfort. I can exercise without having to pay the price
later. For example I can ride my bike for an hour and feel no different
the
next day. I don't get headaches.
I have had lots of blood tests, a brain scan, a barium NMR to check the
intestine, ultrasound imaging of the organs, chest x-ray. My blood
pressure
and pulse are perfect, my weight is fine. In fact with the strict diet I
have been observing my weight has equilibrated on my ideal weight. I walk
and ride regularly. For all intents and purposes, I am a really healthy 39
yr old. I just feel like rubbish. I will emphasise again that this
brainfog
really does have an incredible effect on my life and work.
So, the verdict, does this sound like a mild form of CFS? The medical
practitioners seem to think that it is a type of depression. I will admit
that I am depressed, but I keep thinking that it is a symptom rather than
a
cause for the condition. The other thing that perplexes me is that I
always
imagine that depression symptoms would more or less wax and wane over such
a
long period with occasional symptom free periods.
Any advice would be gratefully received.
Thanks
Fred
.
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| User: "Ivan Marsh" |
|
| Title: Re: Is this CFS or depression ? |
28 Jan 2004 10:09:23 AM |
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On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 09:46:52 +0000, Fred wrote:
Hi all,
I have been suffering from a CFS like condition for just over 4 years
now. I have visited a multitude of medical practitioners over that
period but most often fail to raise any concern regarding the symptoms
that have dogged me for so long. I thought I might post this plea here
to see if any of you learned and empathetic folk can relate to my
symptoms and give me your opinion on whether they are consistent with
CFS.
I've come to believe that CFS is nothing more than the physical
manifestation of depression and not a separate condition.
--
i.m.
The USA Patriot Act is the most unpatriotic act in American history.
.
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| User: "Whiskers" |
|
| Title: Re: Is this CFS or depression ? |
28 Jan 2004 02:51:36 PM |
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On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 10:09:23 -0600, "Ivan Marsh" <annoyed@you.now> wrote:
On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 09:46:52 +0000, Fred wrote:
Hi all,
I have been suffering from a CFS like condition for just over 4 years
now. I have visited a multitude of medical practitioners over that
period but most often fail to raise any concern regarding the symptoms
that have dogged me for so long. I thought I might post this plea here
to see if any of you learned and empathetic folk can relate to my
symptoms and give me your opinion on whether they are consistent with
CFS.
I've come to believe that CFS is nothing more than the physical
manifestation of depression and not a separate condition.
My GP says that CFS and Depression are the same thing; you get diagnosed
with CFS (or ME if your doctor is a little behind the very latest jargon)
if you live somewhere expensive, and Depression if you are poor. I've got
Depression, of course. 'Brain fog' is certainly part of it; I also 'lack
motivation', and tire very easily, and get lots of aches and pains in my
muscles and joints, and erratic sleep patterns. All 'classic' Depression
symptoms, apparently.
--
-- ^^^^^^^^^^ Interested in Citroens?
-- Whiskers <http://www.aacit.net>
-- ~~~~~~~~~~ <news:alt.autos.citroen>
.
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| User: "Nom dePlume nomdeplume1000-at-yahoo.com" |
|
| Title: Re: Is this CFS or depression ? |
29 Jan 2004 01:13:00 AM |
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I've known people with CFS, and I've known people with Depression. No
way are they the same thing, although nothing says you can't have
both, and I can well believe that CFS causes depression, or includes
it as a frequent symptom.
What you describe sounds more like CFS to me. I agree with Affinity
that you need your endocrine system checked, except that I'd recommend
an endocrinologist, not a GP. GPs can be very good, but you don't want
to settle for less than the best at times like this.
Affinity said,
"Get thee to a general practitioner and have a blood test for
hyperthyroidism (quick & painless procedure).
Make sure they test for thyroid antibodies as well as TSH, T4 and T3.
http://thyroid.about.com/bldiagn.htm"
I'd also add a test for testosterone levels. Low testosterone can
cause a lot of fatigue and depression symptoms, much as thyroid
problems can, and is often linked to thyroid problems as well.
--
Nom dePlume, Ph.D
Why, yes, in fact, I am a rocket scientist.
"Whiskers" <catwheezel@operamail.com> wrote in message
news:pan.2004.01.28.20.51.33.832361@ID-107770.user.uni-berlin.de...
On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 10:09:23 -0600, "Ivan Marsh" <annoyed@you.now>
wrote:
On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 09:46:52 +0000, Fred wrote:
Hi all,
I have been suffering from a CFS like condition for just over 4
years
now. I have visited a multitude of medical practitioners over
that
period but most often fail to raise any concern regarding the
symptoms
that have dogged me for so long. I thought I might post this plea
here
to see if any of you learned and empathetic folk can relate to my
symptoms and give me your opinion on whether they are consistent
with
CFS.
I've come to believe that CFS is nothing more than the physical
manifestation of depression and not a separate condition.
My GP says that CFS and Depression are the same thing; you get
diagnosed
with CFS (or ME if your doctor is a little behind the very latest
jargon)
if you live somewhere expensive, and Depression if you are poor.
I've got
Depression, of course. 'Brain fog' is certainly part of it; I also
'lack
motivation', and tire very easily, and get lots of aches and pains
in my
muscles and joints, and erratic sleep patterns. All 'classic'
Depression
symptoms, apparently.
.
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| User: "Whiskers" |
|
| Title: Re: Is this CFS or depression ? |
30 Jan 2004 03:05:17 PM |
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On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 23:13:00 -0800, "Nom dePlume"
<nomdeplume1000-at-yahoo.com> wrote:
I've known people with CFS, and I've known people with Depression. No way
are they the same thing, although nothing says you can't have both, and I
can well believe that CFS causes depression, or includes it as a frequent
symptom.
It's 'controversial'; some experts agree with you, some don't.
What you describe sounds more like CFS to me.
It does to me too. I'm just too tired to fight the GP about it - I don't
think it would make any difference to the treatment or my 'disability'
status, so the distinction is academic to me. YMMV of course.
I agree with Affinity that
you need your endocrine system checked, except that I'd recommend an
endocrinologist, not a GP. GPs can be very good, but you don't want to
settle for less than the best at times like this.
I've had various blood tests, and get them at least once a year; analysis
by the pathology lab in the local (very big) hospital. Only 'lipids' are
outside the 'normal' range. (Next test is due next week as it happens).
--
-- ^^^^^^^^^^ Interested in Citroens?
-- Whiskers <http://www.aacit.net>
-- ~~~~~~~~~~ <news:alt.autos.citroen>
.
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| User: "Affinity" |
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| Title: Re: Is this CFS or depression ? |
28 Jan 2004 04:00:33 AM |
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Thus spake Fred <newsposting@newsposting.com>:
Hi all,
I have been suffering from a CFS like condition for just over 4 years now. I
have visited a multitude of medical practitioners over that period but most
often fail to raise any concern regarding the symptoms that have dogged me
for so long. I thought I might post this plea here to see if any of you
learned and empathetic folk can relate to my symptoms and give me your
opinion on whether they are consistent with CFS.
The symptoms began in December 1999. I started feeling tired with what were
flu like symptoms. What concerned me most in the beginning was the weird
feeling in my head. Not dissimilar to the spinny feeling one might have when
they have a bad cold or fever. To this day, this mental fogginess is by far
the most annoying symptom.
The symptoms never lifted even though I was initially convinced that it must
have been a viral infection. The list of persistent symptoms, those that
have stayed with me for the four years so far are ...
1) The mental fog. I have learnt the expression brainfog from reading on the
internet. This seem to adequately describe the feeling. Just difficulty
concentrating. A kind of dizzy feeling without actually loosing my balance.
Sort of blurry vision without things really being out of focus and sort of
an occasional faintness without ever passing out.
2) general tiredness and very poor interrupted sleep patterns.
3) a feeling of tired muscles most of the time.
Transient symptoms that come and go include
1) Occasional nausea
2) nervous system peculiarities such as shaking sometimes and muscle
twitching.
3) loose but regular bowel motions.
4) a really weird feeling when in some light such as at the supermarkets.
5) palpitations sometimes.
What makes this seem unconventional in terms of CFS is that I don't really
have any muscular or joint pain. I sometime feel a bit stiff but nothing
causing great discomfort. I can exercise without having to pay the price
later. For example I can ride my bike for an hour and feel no different the
next day. I don't get headaches.
I have had lots of blood tests, a brain scan, a barium NMR to check the
intestine, ultrasound imaging of the organs, chest x-ray. My blood pressure
and pulse are perfect, my weight is fine. In fact with the strict diet I
have been observing my weight has equilibrated on my ideal weight. I walk
and ride regularly. For all intents and purposes, I am a really healthy 39
yr old. I just feel like rubbish. I will emphasise again that this brainfog
really does have an incredible effect on my life and work.
So, the verdict, does this sound like a mild form of CFS? The medical
practitioners seem to think that it is a type of depression. I will admit
that I am depressed, but I keep thinking that it is a symptom rather than a
cause for the condition. The other thing that perplexes me is that I always
imagine that depression symptoms would more or less wax and wane over such a
long period with occasional symptom free periods.
Any advice would be gratefully received.
Get thee to a general practitioner and have a blood test for
hyperthyroidism (quick & painless procedure).
Make sure they test for thyroid antibodies as well as TSH, T4 and T3.
http://thyroid.about.com/bldiagn.htm
.
|
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| User: "elegy" |
|
| Title: Re: Is this CFS or depression ? |
28 Jan 2004 07:58:13 AM |
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|
don't know but i can tell you you're not alone. i have been going
through the same thing. i do have a history of depression so i guess
they will not diagnose cfs? i'm not sure. bloodwork was as far as i
went and everything was normal (including thyroid).
so... am i depressed because i'm so tired all the time? am i tired all
the time because i'm depressed? are the two related at all?
it feels like the depression comes and goes but the exhaustion is
forever.
good luck.
i wonder if a trial with a psych med would do anything toward telling
you one way or the other? of course then there's side effects so maybe
you wouldn't be able to tell. just a thought.
--
"I have suffered the atrocity of sunsets." (sylvia plath)
http://shattering.org
x-no-archive: yes in the headers
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