Chronic Fatigue

Andrew knows what having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome feels like...

It was, and still is one of the hardest things I have ever had to deal with in my life. When I was diagnosed in my early thirties, I was a new dad, had a new house, busy with DIY, working hard in new job, and whilst never a massive fitness freak, I liked to run and was very active, and could ‘push through’ if I felt tired and never got truly tired or fatigued. Then got glandular fever (GF) followed by Chickenpox and was off work for 2-3 months – since then I have never been back to my ‘old self’.

Post this viral episode I have had lots of infections, from kidney stones, viruses, migraines, sinus infections, shingles, tinnitus, insomnia, cold/flu like symptoms, all pretty horrid, but I could cope with all of that; It was the chronic and debilitating post stress/exercise fatigue and brain fog that got
me, and still does if I am not careful. A few days after increased activity or stress, I suffer from delayed onset chronic fatigue. It is difficult to describe, but it is simply a case of only having enough energy to get up and go to the bathroom, eating doesn't happen and at my worst I lost a lot of muscle/fat and entered a downward spiral of deconditioning.

ME/CFS is recognised as a post-viral fatigue syndrome. It is a long-term, multi-system disease that can have a devastating impact on functional ability and quality of life No effective drug treatment has yet been developed, and full recovery is rare, but symptoms can stabilise and improve over time with careful management and support.
Source : ME/CFS Association (UK)

Go to your doctor and they will follow the NICE guidelines link here, https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng206/chapter/Recommendations#diagnosis
My Doctor has been great, and in his view I had an auto-immune issue with compromised immune system. However, in my experience, western medicine has no real solution to offer CFS sufferers at this time.

It was the chronic and debilitating post stress/exercise fatigue and brain fog that got me, and still does if I am not careful.
A few days after increased activity or stress, I suffer from delayed onset chronic fatigue. It is difficult to describe, but it is simply a case of only having enough energy to get up and go to the bathroom, eating doesn't happen and at my worst I lost a lot of muscle/fat and entered a downward spiral of deconditioning.

There is a myth that you are just being lazy, sometimes you even think that yourself but it simply isn't true.

The Finding Wellness Program will really help you find what you need but Yoga and Yoga Nidra are two of the most important things I do! I am nearly fifty now and 20 years into CFS etc. and still can relapse if I am not careful, I still overdo things as the big danger with CFS (for me) is that I have drive, energy and am busy holding down a full time job but it is the delayed onset that gets me and only looking backward at a busy week of work/travel/social do I realise I have pushed too far again! So this is what has worked for me....

Clean eating - I like my beer, wine and food and am no saint, but a good healthy diet with no processed foods, plus walking, meditation (Yoga Nidra) and Yoga have been my path to recovery.
Walking – I loved running but every time I tried I just ended up relapsing and I hated walking – it was so boring….. Getting a dog was literally a massive step forward from a walk round the corner to walking an hour+ a day the movement, exposure to light it all helps – when tired it might only be a short walk but now it is 1.5 hrs a day most days.
Yoga Nidra – Very simply it is like a power up, 20mins to an hour really increases energy and mood, it really does ‘top up the battery’ if I have slept badly or am fatigued.
Yoga – I found Jo and her Wild Yogis, when walking in Jevington and was initially attracted by the mention of Nidra, but started going to her Yoga Flow classes and I now love going every week and find it a great way to ‘reset’ each week, improving and maintaining, core strength,
flexibility and laughter muscles!
Breathwork – I went on a ‘Lightening Effect’ course when I was really ill, mixed up with all the advice was a focus on abdominal breathing. It is the one thing from the course that I still continue with and is reinforced by the Yoga Nidra, which as stated is incredibly powerful at
reducing stress and making me feel better…
Cold Exposure – Shower 2 mins coldest setting every day, sets me up every single day, I hate the thought of it in the morning but love it, slightly addicted and get quite twitchy if I am abroad and can’t get my cold fix……
Food basically crap in = crap energy it is that simple – Veggie/Vegan/Meat – it doesn’t matter just eat as high quality unprocessed as you can
Family and friends – Not everyone understands what CFS is, and I had to make hard choices to distance myself from friends who were not supportive or negative, and focus on being around positive people. My wife, daughter and family have been so amazing, they put up with all the fatigue and illness (and grumpiness) and when I am in a dip and can’t see what has happened/why I am so tired etc. It is them who remind me it is OK and I will improve, they always help put perspective on things, and without them I would be a real mess. Keep your loved ones close, and surround yourself with positive people.