Re: Theresa-New Evidence On Chronic Fatigue Causation

[Guest guest]

Thanks Theresa, I needed to hear that, some days you just can't imagine it

getting any better, but it's nice to know there is a light at the end of the

tunnel. This disease is so isolating to begin with and to not have your

family behind you just makes it worse. I've had others tell me it may be that

he was in denial, that could be true. He's not exactly one of those guys who

shares his feelings, so I was always kinda left in the dark. It's funny, now

that he is more supportive, my sons (19 & 16) also seem to be a little more

supportive. I know my kids are all teenagers, not the most selfless group of

humans LOL! I have always thanked God for my family and girlfriends, who have

pitched in to help me thru this, from just listening to bringing my family a

meal (heaven forbid anyone else COOK in the house!) to taking my kids to the

orthodontist when I am unable to move or drive.

I'm sorry others are going thru this nasty disease, but I must admit, there

is comfort here......to confirm I'm not crazy, no matter what the medical

community thinks. You are all in my prayers.

Thanks again,

Jane

Theresa Schroeder wrote: Hi--

My symptoms worsened after a UT infection and then bronchitis.

My late husband also only really believed the illness was real after

listening to Dr. Cheney. I think he was in denial. That may have been the

case with your husband and your sons. My son is 32 and doesn't remember when

I had a lot of energy. So I understand the sadness that brings. Still, at

Thanksgiving, he said to me " Mother, you were never the world's best cook.

But you made lots of my favorite foods and I always knew they were made with

a mother's love. " I laughed anc cried at the same time. That was our

" Hallmark moment " :>) He also told me how much it meant to him just to have

me " hanging around " --he didn't care about " quality time " and doing lots of

things...just knew I was there. So...

Things do get better...Thanks for sharing.

Theresa

[Guest guest]

Hi, JeanetteI

I like your sense of humor! There have been so many ideas about what might

cause this condition...and still no answers. I think most cases start with

some virus--but there are cases which begin after a trauma, such as an auto

accident, without any evidence of virus.

My own feeling (intuitive) is that in most cases there is a kind of " stealth

virus " that reactivates...over time, it could cause brain/neurological

damage.

I'm always amazed at how many PWCs can understand all the medical

terminology. I have no medical background...and even when I do finally

understand something--I forget it :>)

Thanks for your note.

Theresa

[Guest guest]

Hi Theresa,

yeah, I agree that it will most likely be a virus of some kind. Thanks about the

humor, gets me through the day sometimes.

When I was reading the new Chronicle, there was allot of things that were hard

to understand. I have some places marked to look up info on the web. It took me

almost 2 weeks to get through it. Had to read a bit, then rest and try to think

about what I had just read.

Thanks

Jeanette French

Re: Theresa-New Evidence On Chronic Fatigue Causation

Hi, Jeanette

I like your sense of humor! There have been so many ideas about what might

cause this condition...and still no answers. I think most cases start with

some virus--but there are cases which begin after a trauma, such as an auto

accident, without any evidence of virus.

My own feeling (intuitive) is that in most cases there is a kind of " stealth

virus " that reactivates...over time, it could cause brain/neurological

damage.

[Guest guest]

Yes-

I believe those trauma's put a physical stressor on the body and trigger off

whatever the culprit may be!

My FM took off after a horse riding accident when I was 17. I was told that I

had RA in my right shoulder and had to live with it- so I did- until it got to

everything else!

I have a hard time remembering things and feel totally stupid at times.

I have to write everything down. I can be in the middle of a sentence and

totally forget what I was saying- many old friends just don't understand.

Wanda

[Guest guest]

Hi, Jeanette--

I'm able to read " light " material, but I often don't remember what I've

read. I used to have a great memory. But it's better than it was for a

while--during the worst episodes of CFS I'd find myself reading the same

paragraph over and over again and not understanding it. I rarely attempt

anythng " technical " ..

You've got a lot of grit to take two weeks to read the Chronicle. I could

read it faster, but not remember a durn thing! If the material is important

to me, I take notes and, like you, repeat over the info to myself. That does

help.

Thank you!

Theresa

Re: Theresa-New Evidence On Chronic Fatigue Causation

> Hi Theresa,

> yeah, I agree that it will most likely be a virus of some kind. Thanks

> about the humor, gets me through the day sometimes.

> When I was reading the new Chronicle, there was allot of things that were

> hard to understand. I have some places marked to look up info on the web.

> It took me almost 2 weeks to get through it. Had to read a bit, then rest

> and try to think about what I had just read.

> Thanks

> Jeanette French

[Guest guest]

Wanda,

I also forget things mid-sentence. It's worse on " bad " days, when I'm

especially tired or having a relapse.

I also talk to much at times...part of the racing thoughts, maybe. I get off

on tangents and it is annoying to other me and to me. I've tried to become

more consious of it, but I still tend to talk too much--saying all sorts of

things that just aren't necessary. Of course, if I'm too tired, I can't talk

at all!

Does anyone else have the " talkativity " issue?

Theresa

[Guest guest]

Hi Theresa:

Yeah, I wanted to read it really badly cause I want to know the latest research,

and to add more hope to my little hope chest. Like you, I have to reread some

things, in fact sometimes I know I read something, but when I read it again, I

am like, I don't remember that.

I read novels, mostly to try and keep my mind off my situation. And to try to

keep my brain chugging along, cause my body is such a mess.

Have you ever heard of the book ALGERNON. I read it a long time ago. It was

about a person who got really smart because of an experiment, and the mice in

the experiment did the same. Then the mice started not being able to get through

the maze, and the person knew they would loose their intellect also. It was such

a good book, and that is what I feel like., that mouse. I got 4.0 in college in

my 30's, and now I feel like a fool sometimes. I used to be so smart, and really

knew allot, (no I am not bragging), but it is so hard to see it all go away. It

was so important to me, cause I wasn't really very successful in life, but I

felt like at least I was smart.

If you ever saw the movie " A Beautiful Mind " , at the part where all his

colleagues lay the pens on the table next to Mr. Nash, I could hardly keep from

crying, in fact I usually did. I have the movie and watch it now and then. He

was such a smart man, and it is an awesome movie. Very moving.

Oh well, thanks,

Jeanette French

Re: Theresa-New Evidence On Chronic Fatigue Causation

Hi, Jeanette--

I'm able to read " light " material, but I often don't remember what I've

read. I used to have a great memory. But it's better than it was for a

while--during the worst episodes of CFS I'd find myself reading the same

paragraph over and over again and not understanding it. I rarely attempt

anythng " technical " ..

[Guest guest]

Hi Wanda:

I tend to shy away from talkative people, like its brain overload. I need to

have much piece and quite. And yes, I forget the midsentence things....pre

senior moments.

I don't Have to much I have to deal with here, but my Mom loves to watch the

news and fight with the TV and rage about that latest news story. I can't take

it, I want out of the room, cause I don't care about it, and it is to noisy in

there. Anyway,....it makes me feel bad cause I know she wants to talk, but not

about how awful the world is. etc...

Thanks

Jeanette French

Re: Theresa-New Evidence On Chronic Fatigue Causation

Wanda,

I also forget things mid-sentence. It's worse on " bad " days, when I'm

especially tired or having a relapse.

I also talk to much at times...part of the racing thoughts, maybe.

[Guest guest]

OMIGOSH - Yes! Just babbling about....it drives my husband crazy. He'll bring

up a question or subject and 15minutes later, I continue that conversation

without reintroducing the subject.......hee hee...........he looks at me like

I've got 2 heads. Most the time, I have to laugh..........what's the

alternative? More the look on his face than anything!

Theresa Schroeder wrote: Wanda,

I also forget things mid-sentence. It's worse on " bad " days, when I'm

especially tired or having a relapse.

I also talk to much at times...part of the racing thoughts, maybe. I get off

on tangents and it is annoying to other me and to me.

[Guest guest]

Hi, Jeanette,

I've never read Algernon but it sounds good. I feel like I'm lucky in a way,

because, like you, I had a good mind and memory. So except on my worst days,

most people don't notice that I'm not so bright now :>) I also did very well

in school and my career was going very well...I had ambition then and now I

hardly know what the word means!

I wanted to see A Beautiful Mind but didn't get to the theater. We don't

have any good video stores nearby to rent flicks.

Some days I feel very sad about what I've lost...other days I realize that

I've learned that life is so much more than the usual idea of " success " .

Maybe I'm rationalizing..I still want to be able to do things again--and

help other people as well as myself. I read the obituaries and wonder what

mine will say...Ikeep trying to remember the things I can still do instead

of the things I can't..but it doesn't always help.

One of my favorite quotations is " There's No Place Like Hope " --I have it on

the fridge. I live there (in hope, not oin the fridge:>) most of the time...

Theresa

Re: Theresa-New Evidence On Chronic Fatigue Causation

> Hi Theresa:

> Yeah, I wanted to read it really badly cause I want to know the latest

> research, and to add more hope to my little hope chest. Like you, I have

> to reread some things, in fact sometimes I know I read something, but when

> I read it again, I am like, I don't remember that.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Wanda--it really helps to know that I'm not the only one!! I try to

explain it's neurological, but not everyone accepts that :>) I'm glad both

you and your husband have a sense of humor. I wonder if I'll ever find a

man who'll put up with it--along with everything else..

Theresa

Re: Theresa-New Evidence On Chronic Fatigue Causation

> OMIGOSH - Yes! Just babbling about....it drives my husband crazy. He'll

> bring up a question or subject and 15minutes later, I continue that

> conversation without reintroducing the subject.......hee hee...........he

> looks at me like I've got 2 heads. Most the time, I have to

> laugh..........what's the alternative? More the look on his face than

> anything!

[Guest guest]

Hi-

I was an Empire State College student (SUNY) and had to drop out because I

could not retain the material I was studying in the amount of time it took.

Prior to this illness I was a great multitasker and a great reader.

I can read a part of a book and by the next day I won't have a clue if I read

it!

Wanda

Jeanette French wrote:

Hi Theresa:

Yeah, I wanted to read it really badly cause I want to know the latest research,

and to add more hope to my little hope chest. Like you, I have to reread some

things, in fact sometimes I know I read something, but when I read it again, I

am like, I don't remember that.

[Guest guest]

I believe a sense of humor goes a long way, especially with this disease~!

Theresa Schroeder wrote: Thanks, Wanda--it really helps to know

that I'm not the only one!! I try to

explain it's neurological, but not everyone accepts that :>) I'm glad both

you and your husband have a sense of humor. I wonder if I'll ever find a

man who'll put up with it--along with everything else..

Theresa

[Guest guest]

Wanda,

When I was a kid my mother used to tell me that education and reading were

so wonderful because no one could take away what was in your own head! I'm

glad she didn't know about this illness...

My rentention is better now...but I still often get a book out of the

library and realize afterwards that I'd read it. Even when I read part of it

before bringing it home. In one way, it's a good thing--I sometimes finish a

book before I realize I only read it a few months ago. Our local library is

small, so it's like doubling the number of books available:>)

Theresa

Re: Theresa-New Evidence On Chronic Fatigue Causation

> Hi-

> I was an Empire State College student (SUNY) and had to drop out because

> I could not retain the material I was studying in the amount of time it

> took.

> Prior to this illness I was a great multitasker and a great reader.

>

> I can read a part of a book and by the next day I won't have a clue if I

> read it!

> Wanda

[Guest guest]

I find TV very tiring so I prefer to read, especially when I am

tired, which is a lot. But though I seem to have a fair number of paperbacks

as well as hard backs, these are ones I have had for several years. But it is

good in one way that I keep forgetting them as I can read them multi times and

not have to buy new ones (which I couldn't afford anyhow). So it is like M.E.

takes away with one hand - my short term memory; but give back with the other

as I don't have to buy more books.

Blessings

Shan

> Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2006 00:22:42 -0500

>

> Subject: Re: Theresa-New Evidence On Chronic Fatigue Causation

>

> Wanda,

>

> When I was a kid my mother used to tell me that education and reading were

> so wonderful because no one could take away what was in your own head! I'm

> glad she didn't know about this illness...

>

> My rentention is better now...but I still often get a book out of the

> library and realize afterwards that I'd read it. Even when I read part of it

>

> before bringing it home. In one way, it's a good thing--I sometimes finish a

>

> book before I realize I only read it a few months ago. Our local library is

> small, so it's like doubling the number of books available:>)