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Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of, and finding treatments for, complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.
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When I started getting symptoms, I went to a regular PCP. By the 3rd visit he said "you may have cfs, theres no cure, I suggest counseling to help you tbrough it"
This was early 90's, and with Kaiser. Go figure..the Home Depot of health care diagnosed me.
After 5 years of being bounced between doctors my PEM became more clear so I autodiagnosed myslef ( I was progressive onset) so not as clear at first. So I asked my doctor to refer me to the Klimas clinic, I told him we have nothing to loose at this point an they are the faster to eliminate other things so is a win win. He very reserveredly agreed. Best decision of my live. If you go early on you have a better chance of getting cured. So loosing time on the medical bouncing Is not that good for you.
Cured? More like remission. Ive heard of folks nearly symptom free, only to have their lives slashed again with relapsing. It never leaves, it lurks.After 5 years of being bounced between doctors my PEM became more clear so I autodiagnosed myslef ( I was progressive onset) so not as clear at first. So I asked my doctor to refer me to the Klimas clinic, I told him we have nothing to loose at this point an they are the faster to eliminate other things so is a win win. He very reserveredly agreed. Best decision of my live. If you go early on you have a better chance of getting cured. So loosing time on the medical bouncing Is not that good for you.
It’s pretty hard not to be depressed when you’re that tired and your life slips away for no reason that you can do anything about. I’m pretty sure depression can’t make you feel that run down and lifeless either.From age 18 when I got CFS in 1971, until sometime in my mid-30's, I just figured I had untreated depression.
The rare times I went to family docs for something simple , I would mention how tired I was all the time. Mainstream blood work always tested normal, so that was that.
Then at the library in my mid-30's, I saw a book propped up on the New Books display titled something like 'Chronic Fatigue Syndrome'. Grabbed up the book, read it voraciously, and voila, I knew what I had.
I didn't seek a formal diagnosis until around 1995 at age 43 when I heard of a rheumatologist who knew about CFS. I went to him and got an official diagnosis.
Patti
It’s pretty hard not to be depressed when you’re that tired and your life slips away for no reason that you can do anything about. I’m pretty sure depression can’t make you feel that run down and lifeless either.
Depression is a symptom not a cause.