Illness is just as much a psychological thing as it is ‘physical’

Constantly worrying, researching (on the internet or books), visiting the doctor etc. always reminds you you’re “ill”.

Perhaps focusing on something more positive would be beneficial?

Really? I mean, really? We’re not talking about a duvet day with a cold or even flu here are we?

Yes really, because I know people (1 is a relative).

Imagine for one minute you are a healthy human being, young and fit. Suddenly to get a virus and it goes on and on and on. Of course you’ll be worrying, it’s called human nature.

Can’t be bothered typing anymore as I think some of us will just go around in circles.

does the virus go on and on though? You believe it does because of how you feel.

But is this really true? Doctors cant find anything can they?

Mayby it is the worrying that goes on and on, visiting docs, searching cures, avoiding things because of it, searching the net for answers.. etc. This behaviour (because you fear the fatigue) causes a lot of stress. A symptom of stress is fatigue.

Whatever caused the initial stress (and fatigue) has probably been and gone.. A virus, other illness, work stress, divorce, bereavement etc.

Apart from fatigue do you get nervousness, headaches, tight feeling in chest and stomach, breathing issues, negative thoughts as well, racing heart, overly emotional or mayby just a few of these symptoms as well.

Im not having a go at anyone, i know how hard it is.

Imagine for one minute you are a healthy human being, young and fit. Suddenly to get a virus and it goes on and on and on. Of course you’ll be worrying, it’s called human nature.

Of course you will worry – it is natural. It’s just that sometimes the worrying compounds the affects of the condition and you need to consider how you can try to control that worry. Using techniques which help you try to ‘not worry’ and focus on more positive things are useful and should be encouraged without belittling the physical presentation of these kinds of conditions.

There are ill people who don’t mind being ill, they revel in the fact they are looked after and get attention.

And I’m not really sure what the context of this statement is.

does the virus go on and on though? You believe it does because of how you feel.
But is this really true? Doctors cant find anything can they?
Mayby it is the worrying that goes on and on, visiting docs, searching cures, avoiding things because of it, searching the net for answers.. etc. This behaviour (because you fear the fatigue) causes a lot of stress. A symptom of stress is fatigue.
Whatever caused the initial stress (and fatigue) has probably been and gone.. A virus, other illness, work stress, divorce, bereavement etc.
Apart from fatigue do you get nervousness, headaches, tight feeling in chest and stomach, breathing issues, negative thoughts as well, racing heart, overly emotional or mayby just a few of these symptoms as well.
Im not having a go at anyone, i know how hard it is.

I realise you’re trying to help but you’re just projecting your own (past) problems onto others who have totally different problems! You wouldn’t tell someone with a heart condition or cancer that they can solve it by changing their thinking, would you?

I find the mental side of fatigue incredibly important for me – but it’s also very hard to discuss sensibly. There’s some people here trying to be helpful but coming across as pretty insensitive. I think for many people with CFS there is a fear that other people think you are shirking/malingering or whatever – suggesting that people’s problems are solely mental pushes some of those buttons.

I think it’s more complicated than that – for me it seems that your mental and physical health are so closely tied together that it can be impossible to separate them at times.

Mindfulness meditation and CBT type stuff has definitely been beneficial for me though.

But we arent talking about cancer or heart disease. We are on about fatigue and the effect it has on you mentally and physically, and the continued worrying about your fatigue creates stress and hence more symptoms of fatigue.

Anyway for those interested search a book by a Loz Evans, its free and nothing to do with me about her recovery from CFS.

You miss out on fresh air and sunlight, endorphins, a decent appetite, proper ‘tired’ sleep and the company of friends, so it’s natural that you’ll be depressed. But to me that’s the consequence, not the cause.

YMMV.

I realise you’re trying to help but you’re just projecting your own (past) problems onto others who have totally different problems! You wouldn’t tell someone with a heart condition or cancer that they can solve it by changing their thinking, would you?

The attitude towards an illness is equally important. You could either say:

“Oh well, I’ve got cancer, I’m screwed now. No point in planning that holiday next year, I’ll probably be dead soon”

or

“I might have been diagnosed with cancer, but I’m not let that going to stop me. I will fight it as much as possible, as I refuse to give into such a horrible illness. I will be going on holiday next year, and take great pleasure in planning it.”

Similar to the OP I was all good in August, doing Big Dog solo on my SS and feeling pretty fit, since then gone downhill. Had my first round of bloods done and came back with nothing, had the second lot done this morning and going to get results on 29th. Like others we have discussed Lymes, depression and CFS, although my doc would need to send me to a specialist for a CFS diagnosis. Along the way I have had a few good days and been out on my bike including a couple of days in Wales, but generally I have been sleeping, and feeling like crap. Into my second bout off work now, as i need a nap mid morning and another after lunch before going to bed at about 8:30. Might sound ideal to be cosy in bed all the time in winter but it is really hard trying to keep up with life particulaly around Christmas. My wife is holding the family together somehow sorting shopping etc and we are trying not to let it affect how we deal with the kids too much.

On the plus side I need a KNee op so I will try and get that sorted while I am off the bike and the office is mostly closed from Friday till the 5th of Jan so hopefully I wont miss too much.

In response to the last poster, I certainly have very bleak days when I am so tired I cant do anything, and as yet I have no diagnosis so it kind of feels like it is not real. It has no name to me, no timescale it is just ongoing, and when I have thought I am doing better I am knocked back to square one. I know it is not cancer, but my world has suddenly got a lot smaller in the last few months. I cant drive very far and travel is tiring.

Right I am off to bed

Again…

I apologise for not reading all the comments on this thread but I will ask this question of all the CFS sufferers, did you have your vitamin D levels checked as part of your blood tests?
Recently having swapped doctors as I was not happy with my previous surgery over other issues I had been feeling weak on rides, very fatigued at various times of the day etc etc etc was beginning to suspect possibility of Lymes or Diabetic complications. Anyway long story short full blood tests for all and sundry at the new docs resulted in me being diagnosed ( despite diet and being outside a lot and good diet) as being Vitamin D deficient!
Have a read up on some of the long list of symptoms and the benefits of D3 supplements have literally transformed my fatigue issues, dropped one of my diabetic meds as I’ve had a bit of an insulin sensitivity increase, and I’m hoping it will have sorted my immune system being lower than normal too.
Apparently there could be as much as 50% of the UKs population that are vitamin D deficient!

Not sure how related my experience is with this thread, so apologies if I’ve hijacked slightly… I recently started to feel very tired after gradually winding down my riding (from 60 road miles plus 20 MTB per week) to about 20-30 MTB plus 1.5 hours of running per week. To begin with, felt fine, but with the onset of winter, I seem to have started feeling very run down. Colds lasting for weeks, etc. I started to take a multi vitamin and it made me much worse. Does vitamin intake (or any of my actions described here) make a big difference?

Vit D is a very good call. I take 10,000 mu per day (which is a lot), but it’s helped me a lot.
Getting tested twice a year is useful and consider calcium and Vitamin K issues too.

Suggsey – thanks for that tip, it’s something I’m about to do as I have recently been diagnosed with osteopenia.

Trailrider Jim – as far as I understand it, the use of multi vitamins is a waste of time (according to doctors) as they are just passed out, straight through us in urine. Much better to eat healthily.