Making Your Own Strides with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is utterly devastating to those of us afflicted with it. It sends out arms, legs and tangents to reach almost every part of our lives. Often, doctors don't know anything about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or don't want to be bothered because it can't be cured. Even the experts seem to have gaps in their knowledge as vast as the Grand Canyon.

Finding A Doctor

Well that's a mouthful right there. When I first became afflicted with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome more than six years ago, I got really sick. I was sicker than I had ever been in my life and I was scared. I had no idea what was wrong with me. Was it fatal? Disabling? I had no idea.

I went to several doctors while I was in this state. I was so sick that it was almost too much effort to speak. Going to a doctor's appointment would consume my energy for days to come. It was awful.

But, I would go. And I would always be hopeful. This doctor will understand, this doctor will do some extra ordinary blood tests, this doctor see that I do not have enough energy to support my own body weight. This visit will be different. But it wasn't. Almost every doctor that I went to for the first several years of my illness didn't believe me. Except for one. I will always be grateful to him. He tried many things, but really couldn't do much for me. But he listened and he understood. That alone was priceless.

Toady, I think it is a little bit different. There are many more doctors and specialists who at least understand that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is real. Some may be able to help you and some nay not. Use all of their resources that you can.

Shop Around

If you have health insurance, use it! Use it to its fullest. If you see a doctor who does not meet your needs, see what you will have to do to see another. It is quite amazing that you can not even speak to a new doctor before you must make him or her your preferred physician through your health insurance.

I would call the doctor's offices before making appointments and ask if they treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Often, I would not get any answer. I would have to use up my entitled visits from my health insurance just to see if a potentially new primary care physician even believed in the disease that I have.

I also found specialists. For about a year, I was under the care of a doctor who specializes in the treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. He ran an enormous battery of tests, which was great. He actually found a few deficiencies that we treated and probably helped me make small improvements. He said that I needed to try thyroid medication, as my thyroid was in the acceptable ranges, but it did not seem to be functioning as he would like. This was great.

But even with this new doctor who was up on all the latest, I had to be the one who asked about many treatments. There were several supplements and treatments which I brought up to the expert and was told, "Oh, what a good idea." Or something like, "Yes, I wrote a paper on just that subject." I am not sure why he hadn't brought up these treatments months earlier.

Educate Yourself

And this leads me to the reason that I am writing this article. No matter what, keep control of as much of your own health care as you can. If I hadn't brought up some of the things that have been successful in alleviating some symptoms of my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, the experts wouldn't have either.

Request copies of any and all tests you have undergone. The labs will not give you the copies directly; you will have to get them from your doctor. Most offices are happy to oblige. The reason for this is twofold. First, if you go see a new doctor or specialist, you will not have to have them call several different doctors offices and request copies of your labs. You will be able to walk in and give them photocopies on the spot.

The second reason to request all copies of test results is also important. Many doctors will look at lab results and only look to see if the lab has reported anything which is out of the normal ranges. Normal range, however, can encompass both men and women from 16 to 90. That's a huge range.

I highly recommend that you look over these results yourself. Now, much of it will be gibberish and you will have no idea what it means. What I recommend it this: look for any results which fall at either the high or low end of the normal range. If, for example, your thyroid levels are at the low end of normal, ask your doctor about it. Ask him if it is common practice to treat thyroids which may be borderline low. See what he or she says.

But I wouldn't stop there. I would do some additional research on the internet and see if what your doctor has told you seems to be common practice. In the thyroid example, some doctors will treat a borderline low thyroid and some will not.

Decide for Yourself

I am not recommending that you don't listen to your doctor or heed his or her advice. By all means, you should. What I am saying is that you should not blindly accept the doctor's words as gospel or the end of the subject. What I am recommending is double checking and deciding for your self. With the tremendous resources available on the internet, it's worth a look. You must remember, however, that anyone can post a blog just about anywhere on the internet these days, so you must consider the source or your information. Does it seem reliable? Should I bring this information to my doctor's attention? Additionally, if you have found information about treatments and your doctor has not mentioned them, by all means bring them up! You might just find out that you have a good idea.