I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome in my 30's. Almost 40 yrs ago. My PCP diagnosed it within 2 weeks. The chairman of infectious disease at my local hospital confirmed it. I was put on antibiotics. I had to go on disability for a month. Unfortunately because nobody knew much about chronic fatigue syndrome and they thought it was all in your head. I tested positive for Lyme disease, but my doctor thought it was a false positive. Consequently I was fired from my job for going on disability.

I was running 103 fever for almost 6 months. I was extremely tired, sleeping almost 14 hrs a day and had total brain fog. I would get lost driving and I wasn't able to work for almost 6 months. My doctor put me on Prozac along with the antibiotics. I couldn't remember a phone number for a very long time. The prozac helped tremendously with the brain fog. I not a pill popper, but my doctor convinced me to take it until I was feeling better.
I went to a symposium at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital for CFIDS. There were 500 people in attendance from all over the country. There were 10 infectious disease doctors who couldn't really tell you anything. There was one Asian doctor who said he couldn't explain it but his patience were taking Echinachea and it seemed to work. After about 30 days of trying echinachea, It's a Chinese herb. I started feeling better. I cried. My mind started coming back very slowly. I could finally remember a phone number. I had to change my habits and listen to my body . When I was tired, I had to rest. I didn't fight it. Exercise and health eating is important too. I would play tennis once a week even if I pushed myself. The social aspect was important also.
I still take 2 echinachea a day and will never stop. When I don't take it for a week, I start getting tired again and fever comes back. It's almost 40 years later and still not much being done. But I'm still feeling good.
Its an awful disease but you need to be your own advocate. I belonged to CFIDS for a very long time. I learned a lot of good tips on how to survive and enjoy life.
Sorry this is long, but chronic fatigue took my life away for half my life. But I learned how to cope and have been playing tennis and pickleball for over 40 yrs.
Hope this helps. Please don't let doctors tell you its in your head. Its very real! 🙏❤️

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