CFS – You Have a Choice
February 20, 2008 by laura
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
You have been feeling lousy for months. This flu you have has lasted a long time, and doesn’t show signs of leaving. You go to the doctor, for what is the 100th time. Your doc has given you every test known to man. Everything comes back negative. Finally, you are given the diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. You say, “finallly! great – now cure me”.
Your doctor gives you a few options:
- suggests you stop working, and implement the 50% rule, gives you a schedule of medications to take everyday
- gives you just the meds
- tells you to continue doing whatever you are doing, but make lifestyle changes
- refers you to a psychiatrist
- says that there are various alternative therapies that you should try, that can help
What would you do? When I was first diagnosed, I followed the advice to follow the 50% rule, and take medication. Now (keep in mind hindsight is 20/20 – and I am A LOT more informed these days) I would follow the combined advice of continuing to do what I was already doing, see a therapist, and seek out alternative treatment.
If all routes can lead to the same result – and they can (for many)- why do you choose your method?
I know lots of people disagree with my reasoning (meds – bad!) – and I think its cool that they do. Please leave a comment telling me why you feel differently….or why you agree?
I think you’ve got to find your own way, but sadly that usually means I lot of trial and error first. We have to decide what to try and when to stop and try something else. Hopefully, eventually we find a place that is okay for each of us.
Personally, I do take meds which are, not surprisingly, mostly antidepressants and some associated drugs. I take them for a very simple reason. They work for me. I’d be delighted if I could stop taking them, but I’m in much worse shape if I do.
Without meds I have CFS and depression. With them I only have to deal with CFS and minor side-effects. For me, that’s the better path. Most definitely not the ideal one, but the best one I’ve found so far.
I respect anyone’s decision to do it differently. With this disease which is so individual, we all have to find what works for us and follow that. The day may well come when I go trying other paths again, but for now I choose to stick with this one.
Others have to do what works for them; what works for me is irrelevant for them.
Kerry, I think you are right of course. Finding your own way is key – to just about everything.
I know lots of people who take antidepressants for depression – and it makes a world of difference for them.
Since depression is not part of my situation-its difficult for me to see how those kinds of pills can help with CFS…when all they did was hurt me.
But if you are finding success with them- then that is fabulous news, and I am pleased to know it.
You are right about it being irrevelant for anyone else. You are you! I hope you are enjoying it!
Thanks for a great comment!
I totally agree that there is no point whatsoever in taking antidepressants if you don’t have depression. That’s stupid. Do doctors really suggest that? (No, strike that question. I’m sure some do.) I do have depression – I have a family history of it so I’m not suprised I ended up with it. Mine came in about two years after the CFS began. So it’s a good plan for me to take the meds.
But if there’s nothing meds are going to help you with, I agree don’t take them.
Basically I think we both agree that the bottom line is finding the path that works for you individually.
I take Zoloft. All of my symptoms, but particularly pain, are made better by it. If I get my dose too low, I can barely function at all. Having said that, I completely agree that each person has to find for themselves, through trial and error, what works and what doesn’t. Hoping for a cure.
I don’t think I have a method – I have a constantly changing variations-on-a-theme. Mostly I try hard to listen to my reactions (difficult when emotion can get in the way of judgement, and when the variations in the disease can mask the true results of the newest attempt!), and keep what works and throw out what doesn’t. In April, my “method” will be totally different than what it was in January, because what I need is different.
The trick for me seems to be not to forget those things that do work. It’s so easy to let habit slide and three months later find that plan underneath three boxes of paper!
Kerry,
yes doctors prescribe antidepressants for CFS – whether depression is involved or not. Are they necessary? In my opinion, no! But lots disagree with me.
In my particular case, nothing except antibiotics worked for me – if we are talking pill taking. Because of that, I have a bit of a wrecked immune system – and need to seek help elsewhere. Which is why I praise alternative medicine as much as I do.
excentric,
is zoloft the only medicine that you are taking? I am only asking because I know that many doctors pair it with other antidepressants?
What kind of dose do you need to take for it to be used as pain management?
Jenna,
I agree- a day by day approach is a good one.
Change is important. Without change there can be no improvement.
Laura, right now I’m taking 100 mg. But I have taken as much as 150. Usually if I go below 50 mg, I cannot even get out of bed with the pain. I take ibuprofen alternated daily with extra-strength Excedrin for pain, usually before bed, but also if I know I’m going to be walking any distance or doing anything else physical. I could take more meds, I’m sure, but I just prefer not to. excentric
excentric,
wow. I can’t imagine taking that much of any kind of antidepressant to manage the pain. I have only taken a very very small dose of zoloft (10mg) and that was way too much for me. I used it to help me wake up in the mornings – and I always felt like I was in the middle of an earthquake.
I am glad to hear that you are finding something that works for you, thought.
I never had depression, I had clinical depression along with my CFS. Turns out, clinical depression means you might not be depressed, but your BODY is depressed and not sleeping nor eating properly. So antidepressants really helped my body work better, even tho I was never really depressed. So, yes, sometimes they should give you antidepressants for other reasons. Helps me.