• Welcome to Phoenix Rising!

    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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Search results

  1. R

    What type of person were you prior to falling ill

    I was a very normal teenager, optimistic, and LOVED to be active, running, long walks etc climbing mountains being one of my absolute fave things to do! Could not just sit around had to be doing something! But I don't think I pushed myself and I put my illness down to a very stressful experience...
  2. R

    Energy boost?

    Hey all! Does anyone have anything they use/eat/drink etc that's helps to boost energy even if only a little? I don't mean so you can go climb a mountain just anything that helps take the edge off and makes moving around less painful/draining? Anything other than caffeine? As I don't really...
  3. R

    ME/CFS and work?

    Yes, torture is exactly how I'd describe it! And thanks, I search job sites pretty much every day and apply often! But I live just under London UK and so many people want jobs here making it hard to actually get one!
  4. R

    ME/CFS and work?

    @FinRinTin Wow that is so good you can do that, even though it's less than before! I'm currently in retail and it's about the worst job I could have with this illness, I'm in the unfortunate, but not uncommon, situation where I am surrounded by disbelief of my illness, so most people don't...
  5. R

    ME/CFS and work?

    Hey! Is there anybody on here who has found a job that fits around ME? I do appreciate that those who are servere aren't able to work, but also that those with less severe symptoms can work part time! I live in the UK near London....any suggestions? Thanks
  6. R

    Abdominal pain?

    @BeADocToGoTo1 The pain is more in the lower half of my upper body, and feels like my organs/insides in that area, e.i ribs, stomach, lungs etc are bruised as though maybe I have been punched relentlessly in said area (which I haven't of course 😂) I already use 3 pillows and I'm not sure how...
  7. R

    Abdominal pain?

    @valentinelynx Thanks, although my pain is mostly below my chest in the mornings and feels a bit like I'm bruised right across my lower front, it's a bit odd, maybe it's just me I don't know?
  8. R

    Abdominal pain?

    Hey all! So I keep waking up in the morning with really bad pain right across my front from under my chest down, it is extremely painful if I breath in hard or yawn and is just generally painful, it feels as though my insides have been involved in a punch up, this sounds super weird but it's...
  9. R

    Does Iron help?

    I have told her I don't have a defiencency, but you know what it's like they want to think they have the answer, she means well of course, but maybe I'll tell her about the dangers of overloading iron...
  10. R

    Does Iron help?

    Floradix is the one my friend is suggesting to me...although I'm not nearly over 50 😂 (I'm 20) I have also seen the advert for it "tired of being tired?" But as you say it's just a basic iron tonic with some vitamins....and sure it probably helps people with anemia etc but that's not me!
  11. R

    Does Iron help?

    I wish it was that easy, it's so hard to get anything on the nhs!!!
  12. R

    Does Iron help?

    @Wishful Although the latest person to suggest this to me is actually my best friend, it just wouldn't work trying to explain it, she seems to think if I "believe" it will help then it will!? A while back I tried iron supplements, before I new I wasnt anemic and what was actually wrong, and...
  13. R

    Does Iron help?

    @valentinelynx that's what I thought, if I'm not anemic I probably don't need extra iron, but friends keep suggesting it, because they don't understand that I'm not "just tired" I'm chronically fatigued!!!
  14. R

    Does Iron help?

    Thanks @pamojja I don't know where you are based but I'm in the UK and it's very hard to get the tests you need on the nhs! You pretty much just have to take what they give you and count yourself lucky if you get anything! So as far as iron is concerned I only know that I'm not anemic! So is...
  15. R

    Does Iron help?

    Hi, I'm just wondering does taking liquid iron such as floradix help anyone with ME/CFS to decrease fatigue at all? Friends keep suggesting it to me, (I haven't been diagnosed with ME yet, so people see me as "tired") but I have been tested for anemia and I'm not anemic. So just want to know can...
  16. R

    Who diagnosed you?

    @penny pitst0p Thanks for the advice! Yes I thought that must be generally the case, as I've heard so many stories of people struggling to get this condition noticed/diagnosed! Yes I agree, I've been ill for over 3 years and I'm worse than I've ever been and in the past year have gone very...
  17. R

    Who diagnosed you?

    Hi @jesse's mom Thanks for the info! Yes I think it's quite different in the UK as far as doctors etc are concerened as it's all on the NHS and a lot of the NHS local Drs seem to try and get away with doing as little as possible for you, it's sad but just how it is over here!
  18. R

    Who diagnosed you?

    The problem is with being on the NHS you only get to see whoever they refer you to! Is there any way of finding out if there are any ME specialists/ near by? Or at least someone who is willing to admit that it's a real illness and that I have the symptoms for it! Also why is there so little...
  19. R

    Who diagnosed you?

  20. R

    Who diagnosed you?

  21. R

    Who diagnosed you?

    Hi all, just wondering if you would mind posting what Dr/specialist actually diagnosed you... GP, ME/CFS specialist, rheumatologist etc etc??? I'm currently trying to get a diagnosis, and would be interested to know, who in the "Dr world" does the most when it comes to diagnosing an illness like...
  22. R

    Nausea! Help?

    Hi @Wolfcub Total exhaustion can cause nausea, in my case, anyway. I am pretty much constantly exhausted so maybe that's just the reason? Are there generally any times of day it's worse....or better? Not consistently, I also at times have nausea all day for days in a row!!! My mum did...
  23. R

    Nausea! Help?

    @Wolfcub thanks, yes I have seen a doctor enough this more than once and had tests/scan, but unless they find something obvious they just send you home to get on with your life! I do use ginger, like @Judee I use the candied ginger or ginger sweets I also have ginger tea, this can help to sooth...
  24. R

    Nausea! Help?

    Hi all, I suffer with frequent and severe nausea, it comes on completely random and suddenly and varies from unpleasant to feeling on the verge of vomiting! I also have a terrible appetite and find eating hard without feeling sick/stomach problems after. I get hungry like "rumbly tummy" sort of...
  25. R

    How do you actually get a diagnosis on the NHS?

    Hi @ryan31337 Thanks again for the advice, it's much appreciated! Interestingly my sister has both POTS and EDS (a hypermobility syndrome). I can say I'm almost certain I don't have a hypermobility disorder, and although I have many of the same symptoms as those with POTS, I don't have the...
  26. R

    How do you actually get a diagnosis on the NHS?

    Hi @ryan31337 Thanks for the info! To be honest I pretty much want a diagnosis out of desperation!!! I've been ill for 3 years now and after 3 years of people telling me I'll be fine and just to go to bed on time, when I'm going to bed at 8:30 and still feel like I can barely move when I wake...
  27. R

    How do you actually get a diagnosis on the NHS?

    Hi, I have just been told by my GP that she "thinks it could be the case that I have ME" or words to that effect! I tried to explain that I need a definite diagnosis and asked if she could refer me to a specialist, which apparently can't be done because of funding issues!!! I'm not entirely...