Constant Fatigue, 20 year old female

Hi everyone, I just wanted to give an update since you were all so helpful and kind, especially since this could help some of your own diagnosis! I went to a new doctor who is wonderful and redid all my tests-- my C reactive protein was very high (inflammation), my TPO was high, and my TSH was high!! That coupled with the positive ANA absolutely points to Hashimoto's, which makes COMPLETE sense. I have no idea why this hasn't shown up in tests before (I have read that it takes a while for hashimoto's to show up in blood tests), but I am going to see a thyroid specialist soon. I pray he puts me on medication so I can function normally again!!! Thank you all again, I'm hoping this is the end of the road of this nightmare!

FANTASTIC! It is so wonderful that you found a physician who did a comprehensive set of tests, and exams. Glory Hallelujah! The results are not surprising, and I hope you are reassured to know your diagnosis now, and that effective treat is available. I hope your symptoms will start clearing up as you begin thyroid medications, and hope your appointment with the ENDO can be expedited. The day after I began taking levothyroxine (Synthroid) I finally experienced relief from a daily headache, occurring for three years! In a few weeks after beginning Synthroid, my skin normalized, energy returned, fluid accumulation (and carpal tunnel syndrome) remitted, and hair/nails improved. I pray that you will feel SO much better soon. Thank you for sharing your experience, @plshelpmyfatigue You are on your way to recovery!!! Happy Holidays!

@taterjoy Thank you so much for that lovely message!!! Happy holidays to you!!!! I really appreciate it. Enjoy the weekend!!

Thank you for the update @plshelpmyfatigue. That is great news.

John

I went to an integrated MD and was diagnosed EBV, mycoplasma, Lyme( my regular internist did blood work and it was all negative), and a host of other coinfections.

I would recommend concentrating on your gut health. Over the past 9 years I've seen so many people recover from chronic fatigue through removing bad stuff from their diets. Each person seems to be a little different, but the following is a summary of what people have reported that worked for them. The key was that it was generally something that they really enjoyed or craved that caused the most problems. The big ones have been sugar (soda, candy, milk chocolates), dairy, bread ( most grains), nightshades (tomatoes, pepper, chili). I'd recommend reading up on leaky gut. Essential oils have also been a good thing for some people, but this seems more in the healing rather than the cause side. Remove the cause and the gut will heal.

A big shout out to remove GMO foods. Since going all Organic, my health and fitness has rapidly improved.

@plshelpmyfatigue

One of the required symptoms of the neuroimmune disease Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ("Chronic Fatigue Syndrome") is "post-exertional malaise". That is, a worsening of disease symptoms (often delayed 12-48 hours) following physical or mental exertion. Other similar disabling illnesses do not have post-exertional malaise, and so this symptom is often used to distinguish ME.

For those with ME, trying to exercise beyond available energy can worsen symptoms dramatically for hours or days (causing a "crash" or "relapse"). That is, trying to exercise too much makes ME worse.

For severe ME patients (who are generally bedridden), even "mundane" tasks such as taking a shower or preparing a simple meal can trigger a crash. For mild ME patients, some light exercise and stretching every day can be beneficial. But part of the management of ME is knowing your energy limit, and consistently keeping exertion below the level where it triggers a crash.

Don't know if you tried Provigil/Modafinil? It is the only med that helps my MS fatigue.