Chronic Fatigue Syndrome...

Imagine... struggling to get out of bed every morning.. feeling tired, dizzy and dysfunctional after a good nights sleep.. imagine... walking a short distance only to find that this excursion has totally exhausted you.. imagine.. having constant muscle and joint pain.. and feeling that someone has stuffed cotton wool inside your head...and when you try to read.. the words in a book.. just seem to swim of the page.. which then leaves you feeling dizzy.. and sick..

Imagine... these symptoms lasting for years.. how would you cope?

The above is just touching on some of the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) or Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS)

To date... This condition is poorly recognised and misunderstood... In the 1990's it was recognised as ~yuppie flu~ and merely an excuse for the overworked "high flyers" of society to take some time off from work due to stress...

But to be honest.. this is Not!! a modern day condition regardless of what was first thought in the 90's as C.F.S./M.E. has gone back as far as the day's of Florence Nightingale... that she herself had suffered... and so did many of the soldiers... even though it was dismissed... Taking into consideration, the soldiers that fought the Gulf War... they suffered also, they were diagnosed with, now let me think?? Gulf War Syndrome ! Since then the condition itself, has been labeled as Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome... Chronic Fatigue Syndrome... and the list goes on... perhaps the terminology for this condition changes... but, the condition itself does not... as it continuously destroys it's victims hopes and dreams and capabilities... to the extent that their existence becomes a mere shadow of it's former self...

It is now estimated that there are up to 240,000 with (C.F.S.) in the UK. It can affect men, women and children from low income and minority communities... Mainly developing between early twenties.. and mid forty's.

The causes of (CFS).. are like that of the illness.. poorly understood.. it often develops after a virus.. like flu or glandular fever.. and it has been known to develop in the case that you have undertaken to have surgery done.. but... it can always develop for no obvious reason.. there are many trigger factors.. but it is not always the case that you are in the position to identify what triggered your condition.

Possible Trigger factors to include...

Chronic fatigue syndrome (cfs) or what was once dismissed as ~yuppie flu~, is taken a bit more serious these day's.. but still very poorly understood.. those affected not only fight the factor to find a ~magic pill~ to help them.. but the hardest part is dealing with the disbelief and the myth behind the illness.. they are often looked upon as being ~merely tired~ but the profound exhaustion from (cfs) does not even touch on the fatigue of a healthy person... who has had a busy day... it is also thought that the sufferer may just be depressed.. but most of those affected never suffered any mental health issue before the onset of this illness.

Regardless.. to the sufferer.. this condition is very disabling... and debilitating.. it disrupts.. work, social and family life.

Many sufferers choose to isolate themselves... I know I did.. I have been suffering (CFS) for 5 years... If I hid away from the world.. then they knew nothing of my illness.. If I lived in a world of unreality.. then I'm well.. if I avoided the things that I struggle with.. then I coped.. until my relapse in December 2005... and for a few months later.. this was my bible.. but until such time that you admit that there is a problem.. then the problem will never be resolved.

To date.. we as sufferers seem to have been lost in the system of disbelief then labelled by society as being lazy... and the N.H.S as a nation of depressives...

We are deemed to a lifetime of torture... both physically/mentally.. whereas..to implement this fallacy as being a sheer disgrace and for realisation to occur... that the torture that we receive is from the government itself.... as they are the one's that negotiate the N.H.S's expenditure to research and then treat any unknown illnesses... but we as a growing population of sufferers... are adding... to there miss diagnosed prognosis as being mere depressives... (as anti depressants made us worse) and yet they still try to sweep this issue under the carpet.... so to speak... at the moment I am just sat here wondering in what century... as in the timescale that this illness has already been dismissed... when will it be dealt with????

We as a population of sufferers...we are growing by the millions, but regardless.. we are still being swept under the carpet so to speak... but one day... and here is hoping... the government will investigate... the huge pile under the carpet... that they unfortunately tripped over...

Ooopss...

Personaly speaking it is there own fault... due to there constant denial... and as in pre-set budget which enabels the N.H.S itself.. to appear to provide a level consistency... within the health package.. as in cognitive behaviour therapy and anti depressants..

When I was first diagnosed WITH C.F.S/M.E... I searched the internet.. looking for answers.. as I was struggling, confused and scared.. yes, I came across many websites.. but sadly.. most of them were full of medical terminoligy which I did not understand... and panicked when my symptoms could not be found...

Within this factor.. I promised myself... that one day that I would provide a personalised website... and with the help of my best friend Colin... who initially took the time to help set up the website/forum and now, with the invaluable help and support from the Forum Chronic Fatigue Support Team.. Slow_Leapard and Mort (Tech Support), Agapanthus (Employment and Benefits Advisor), Sillysox, Roger and Sleepyhead (Board Moderators) and CHY (Carer's Section Moderator)... you are now reading it.

To date, I have written how it is.. and due to that factor, perhaps it will open a window of understanding.. for fellow sufferers, carer's and those who are just too ignorant... to realise how much we struggle... on a day to day basis... and with the addition of the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E) or Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS)Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (C.F.S)Support Forum (with an incorperated Chatroom for members only) I have provided a safe haven for both sufferers and Carers to unite.

Perhaps one day..we as sufferers will be able to look back on our lifestyle as it is at the moment... as a horrible nightmare which we have just wakened from...