ME / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - HELP

[matthewfein]

Hi everyone

I've been diagnosed with ME and not worked since October. Having got myself regular massages, tried cranial sacral therapy and collapsed(!), changed my eating habits, instigated regular short meditation rests during the day I'm starting to get some energy back although I notice as soon as i get any stress/anxiety the fatigue symptoms really kick in again. I've read in a couple of journals that TCM has been proven to help ME - can anyone out there give me any success stories or maybe let me know if I should be looking at acupuncture or the chinese herbal medicine route. Or actually if anyone has any other ideas they would be gratefully received!!

Thanks

Lindyloo!! x

 

[clonHilk]

It sounds like you're doing all the right things and it's great that you're seeing some improvement. (I have also seen great results with reflexology and CF). You said that the fatigue kicks in when you get any stress or anxiety. Is there any way you can reduce the stress in your life to avoid this happening as much? It may be a warning sign that there are things you need to change. Change isn't easy but it may be worth taking a step back and assessing your life as it is now. Are you happy in your job/home/relationship/firendships? If any of these are cuasing you stress is there anything you can change? this may not ring true to you, but it's always a good idea to try and find the cause and treat that, rather than just the symptoms.

I hope your recovery continues and I'm sure you'll get lots more advice on here!

Sarah x

 

[Hobgoblin Jan n Kev]

Hi Lin

This seems to be more of an energy problem, something seems to go adrift and you lose your normal connections so you lose vitality, can I suggest you ring round some energy healers and sound them out to see if any of them can help you reconnect

 

[Tifa]

Thanks for your help Sarah - your comments about stress are very apt. The reason I am told this whole thing kicked off was stress from the ending of a relationship!! Couple that with being self-employed (therapist and project manager)and therefore not earning if I am not working as well as currently working towards another therapy qualification makes it quite difficult to avoid the stress!! I am trying to change my responses to things ie not over react, my exams will be over soon - if the memory holds out and then I think there will be some changes in job emphasis and home.

 

[Captain Claudius]

I have fibromyalgia and key factors are pain and fatigue. I too find that any stress triggers an attack. I have also tried many things and find that Reiki really helps me to relax, control/prevent stress and helps with my energy levels and pain management. Reiki also helped me make some decisions about managing my life.

Sarah has given you some good advice and Paul has suggested you look at energy healing , my recommendation would be that you give Reiki a go.
Best of luck to you

 

[nilla]

i am sorry to hear how you are lindyloo, ME and chronic fatigue are awful to have. not that i have had it but have had something similar. I have recently started on a programme of amino acids and it has greatly benefited my health. we often turn to diet and nutrition to heal and amino acids go a little further. our body doesnt reproduce/produce them and we are born with our reservoir of amino acids, some of which we have in abundance and last us a life time, some of them and there are many of them, we run out of this causes imbalances within resulting in illness/disease etc. some amino acids we can get from food, others such as argenine to name but one as i dont have the names to hand, sorry, really do help with health and disease. I dont know of anyone in uk that does a naturopathy programme using Amino acids but if u visit www.onlinenaturopath.net they may be able to help you. they will give you a free consultation and the naturopath knows a great deal about how the body works and how these imbalances occur. i know it is working wonders for me with Endometriosis and with this you get lack of energy but i have found this to be one of the things i now have in abundance.

i hope u dont mind me being so forward but i am sure it will help you.

with love

tammyx

 

[Dang! I Taste Delicious]

You have my sympathy, I have had / still have ME a bit, but I have been taking Omega 3 Fish Oils (GNC) 1000 mg x 3 a day with each meal, for just over just over a month now, and I have to tell you that I am a different person, my life has changed in all the things i do now. I had been struggling with things for a bit, when a friend who is an author was doing some research for a book and was looking into the diets and illness's to do with eskimos said that there was no illness as such within the communities, then there was an article in the newspaper, and a client of mine who has diabetes and gout told me that he had been taking it for 5 weeks and how fit he was feeling, so decided that as there were three incidents, I ought to listen as someone was telling me something.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

 

[Namibnat]

Hi,
I've found that reflexology and reiki have worked for me! I have also had homeopathy in the past too. Different people respond to different treaments, but if you've not tried reflexology or reiki Its worth trying, I personally had great success ( have only had a very short relapse in the past three years, triggered by stress i believe!)
my clients with ME/CFS have responded well too!
Love, light and always healing,
Lisa x
www.relaxreflexology.co.uk

 

[babiee gurll]

Hi Lin,

I am really sorry to hear you've been diagnosed with M.E. I think all of the above comments are valid, but you also need to bear in mind that M.E. isn't like having the flu or a cold, it doesn't always improve to pre M.E. levels, and that you can't rush your recovery.

My wife has had M.E. since just after we got married 10 yrs ago, at first she was asleep 18hrs a day, only had the energy to do one thing, ie she had to decide whether she wanted to have a bath, get dressed, or cook. Mentally and physically she couldnt cope with anything more.

After a year or so, it got to the point she was able to get out and about, but still had long periods of complete despair. She tried acupuncture which has helped immensely, but 7 yrs on from that she still has bad days, and often has to go to bed the minute I walk through the door.

Please take your time, don't rush your healing, you will have to adjust your life to meet your restricted physical/mental abilities.

Good luck, there is a plethora of information out there and support groups too, as chronic depression is often a by-product of your inability to cope with this disease.

p.s. I'll try not to end on a doom and gloom note by adding that each M.E. sufferer is unique and is affected in a different way, so you may be fortunate to fully recover in a short period of time!

 

[ch3z_s]

Aww thanks all of you that have replied so far - the energy healing path makes sense and I'm pleased to see that Top Cats wife had success with acupuncture. Sorry to hear she had such a bad attack of ME Top Cat, I'm sincerely hoping that I never get to that stage although at one point I was sleeping 12 hours then having to go to bed again in the afternoon.

It was an occupational therapist who had ME and had been to the National Center in Herts (I think) who put me onto the pacing idea which is 20 min rests 3-4 times a day(not sleeping but meditating) and grading the type of activity I do into easy, hard etc. That way your body doesn't get used to the need for so much sleep. Of course it does mean you have to discipline yourself to do the rests - and as for a timetable of graded activity, that caused me more stress trying to stick to it!!

Re amino acids - I'll go look at that site Tammy. I did try omega 3,6 & 9 in high dose Linseed and that really messed up my digestion but maybe if its fish oils its different??
Thankyou again for all your advice
Love
Lindyloo x

 

[Gina D]

Hi
I have also had ME and was unable to walk up the stairs, spent most days in bed and became very depressed. My recovery has been very slow, as I had very little help other than my doctor who kept telling me to listen to my body and adapt to its needs. She made me realise that it was not a crime to be ill and to help my recovery I needed to eat well and pace myself. I took many years to recover and gain my confidence again to the point where I re-trained am now able to give holistic treatments including Reiki, to others on a part time basis. My whole life has been changed and taken a completely new and exciting direction through ME. There is always a sliver lining if only we can find it! I do wish that I had had the support og HP when I was spending lonely hours by myself - it would have been a wonderful source of help and inspiration. So to cut a long story short - I wish all you ME sufferers out there much love and healing in whatever way it comes to you.

JM

 

[BK ~ ? ~]

Hi Lindyloo,

I have treated a client for ME with Reiki and her mother is always very pleased with the results. It is very effective at restoring the energy levels / motivation and the accompanying depression.

Hope that helps......

Saffron

 

[Sirlliaibia]

Hi I am a Bowen therapist and a friend of mine had great results with one of her clients with ME and Bowen. It really seemed to help her. Also some people diagnosed with chronic fatgiue/ ME may also be suffering from adrenal problems.

With adrenal fatigue one of the first things to do apart from cutting out all coffee and preferably tea too, is to have a glass of salt water (1/4 - 1/2 tsp of warm water per glass) about 4 times a day. As soon as you wake up, late morning, after lunch/mid afternoon, then just before bed.
Miracle of miracles - no sides aching, glands feel fine, energy levels stabilised, character back to normal (as of years ago!), humour more readily apparent....

A friend of mine did this and it took 24 hrs to take effect - I just can't believe it!

The reason: adrenal glands not functioning properly, not regulating the sodium balance with the tissues (thus sore muscles and tiredness) or blood (sore lymphatics). Levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotrophic hormone, aldosterone, insulin and regulation by the hypothalamus are all implicated too. Adding sodium to water - ensuring fast uptake into the blood system (and thus muscles) - is as fast as rehydration salts. Next things to do are to look at the diet and lifestyles - don't have any fruit first thing - this robs the body of sodium. Bananas a big no-no (too much potassium in them disrupting the sodium balance) and several other fruits too. Eating oils and carbohydrates together is better than just carbohydrates alone.


Hope this info helps x

 

[themann_ca]

Hi

There is a thread on the general health discussions part of this forum page two that Believer posted second page. It is full of information I have posted there as I suffered from ME around ten years ago.

I found Reiki, Supplements and an understanding why my body had it and what it was telling me made the difference.

For further info about my story check the thread out.

Warm Wishes

Sue
x

 

[IeeDrv]

Hi Sue
I've read that other thread - really interesting - a few similar stories in our lives I think! I have to agree that my body has definately been telling me a few things I think - this ME relapse swiftly followed the break up of a relationship and total disinterest in my main work! I had it about 12 years ago when I was working in astressful job I hated and again after my mum died 6 years ago.

I am going to get some Reiki treatment but I've now spoken with my intended acupuncturist who recommended Radionics first to sort out any viral involvement prior to going back to her to hopefully rebalance my energy levels. I know one thing - I think there's going to have to be some pretty big life changes when I'm a bit stronger !!
Thanks again for your feedback.
Lovenlight
Lin x

 

[HP Resource]

Hi Lin

Happy to help I know what it is like and I am so glad to have overcome it. Our bodies can take only so much strain then it will tell you when it has had enough. It will knock with a cold first to get our attention, we may slow down and listen if not it will knock with the flu next. We may slow down, rest, change or job, get out of the destructive relationship. If we do not listen then it will knock with something quite nasty and for me it was ME. I am glad to say I finally listened and made some big changes that is why I am ok today.

Good luck and Know you can overcome this when you are ready.
Surround yourself with positive kind people who will support you when you start your journey of change and leave behind anyone who drains you and is full of negativity.

Warm Wishes
Sue
xx

 

[The Unfunded Liability]

Hi Lin,

Just wanted to say hiya to you and everyone else who has posted on this subject as I too know what it is like. Our stories are similar in that I too am a therapist (part time as also had full time job) and have had to give it up just now until I am feeling better. I was also just coming to the end of a reflexology course and was lucky enough to have a very understanding teacher who allowed me to finish the course early while I was still able. I'm still working at my normal job but have reduced my hours and have to take some time off sometimes when I'm not well, although I do make a big effort to go in as I find it helps sometimes to act as though everything is "normal".

I've been trying loads of things, including cranial sacral (bit odd but seems to be doing something), shiatsu, aromatherapy, nutritional stuff (a massive help) and kinesiology. I'm sure they all help, but it will take time. My latest venture is to make herbal teas with proper immune boosting herbs and am also about to try Bowen. On your recommendation I will also get back into my meditation to see if that helps. I'm also going to do Reiki 1 at the weekend to see if that helps me retain my energy for myself rather than giving it away to other people. All this is costing quite a bit of cash of course so I'm going to focus a bit more on the stuff I can do myself like the herbs and meditation. I'll keep perservering and will let you know if I come across anything spectacular.

Reading back on this, I wonder where I got the energy to try all these things! But I'm doing what I can and staying positive, with the help of all the lovely people here on HP!

Take care,

Lucy

 

[Mike Stevens]

Hi folks

Message to massagemonkey in particular, I have fibromyalgia and I found Reik1 extremely tiring at first, I also had lots of palpitations, so be careful. Do let your master know that you have M.E. so that you can have protection against your energies being depleted. I am fine with it now and have learnt to channel energy.

Reflexology made a real difference to me, I really improved a lot and as a reflexologist now I have had really good results with M.E.

Have you seen Andi's post re aspartamine (sweeteners in diet coke etc).
I am going to try the salt water, sounds very interesting.

good luck

Iceni

 

[nova2fine]

Hi Iceni,

Thanks for the warning, I'll be careful with what I'm doing with the Reiki. The Reiki Master is a friend of mine so she is well aware of my situation. It's good to have a warning as I'm really not sure what will happen. Glad to hear you are fine with it now.

A lot of people here seem to have mentioned reflexology. As a newly qualified reflexologist I find this interesting but unfortunately the course seems to have put me off as I don't enjoy reflexology now, and I loved it before I did the course! I wonder why that is?

Lucy

 

[AAchieceswep]

Hi Lucy
Thanks for your comments - I'm interested in what nutritional changes you made. I did find a few local people who met as an ME support group but that has gone by the wayside - maybe we should create an online one here so the sufferers can compare their various trials of remedies and therapies although one condition would be it has to be a positive support group - anyone interested?

I've had my radionics diagnosis which found the Glandular Fever virus, the Cytomegalo (i think) virus and which also said I had systemic candida...[]!! So I have been told to cut out refined sugar - I'm not a big sugar eater anyway - dont do chocolate or sweets etc and I eat a lot of wholemeal type foods eg pasta, rice and bread but I would have thought I should cut out bread due to Yeast not the sugar content of the carb - any suggestions on this from anyone??

I have been taking my radionic homeopathic remedy for 2 weeks and would say at the moment there is no improvement but I know it takes time. On the aspartamine front I was told to use Splenda which is a sugar based sweetener made from sucrose which I am told is ok...any views on this anyone?

Thanks to all for feedback so far - it makes life a bit easier when there is feedback to support or warn against what you are trying to do.
Love

Lin