 |
|||
|
|
You Are Here:
Home > Frequently
Asked Questions About ME/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia
ABOUT Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome, ME - Myaglic Encephalopathy And EncephalomyelitisFrequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Dealing With:
Please choose a category: :: General FAQ
:: CFS/ME (PVFS)
:: Diet & Supplements
Click on a question:General FAQ
CFS/ME (PVFS)
Diet & Supplements
Feeling Low and Depressed
Money WorriesAbout Sleepydust
Answers To FAQ...General FAQQ. Do you have any free information I can have?A. Yes, we do. In addition to the wealth of free information on this web site: - There's a free ME/CFS online video you can use to help educate your friends and family here... - And there's also the free popular Sleepydust Emagazine which you can subscribe to here...
Q. How can I keep up to date with ME/CFS & FM related news?A. Sleepydust has a news site called The Sleepydust Newspaper, which brings you CFS/ME- and FMS-related news, as well as updates to the Sleepydust site, forum, my online diary, and much more. There are two ways by which you can be notified when a new item is added to the Sleepydust Newspaper:
RSS Got an RSS Reader? Stay up to date by adding our site feed to your RSS reader: http://www.sleepydust.info/feed/ Email Notifications
There's also the free popular Sleepydust Emagazine which you can subscribe to here...
Q. What supplements & other items have helped you?There's a whole section of reviews that you can read - all about my favourite items and supplements for ME/CFS and FMS. More recently, I've added reviews by other ME/CFS and FMS sufferers too. Remember - what works for one person, may not work for another. But hopefully these reviews will help you find supplements and items that can help. You can read reviews of helpful items for ME/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia here...
Q. Which books do you recommend on ME/CFS, FMS & related subjects?You can find reviews of a selection of the top-rated ME/CFS and FMS books here… I’ve found that there are quite a few bad books out there on these conditions, so I’ve only included what I think are the ‘best’ ones in the Sleepydust Book Review Section. Whenever I’ve felt a book is so good that I'd put it on my 'favourites' list, I’ve selected it as a ‘Sleepydust Pick’...
I can only recommend those books that I’ve actually read, so even if a book hasn’t got a ‘Sleepydust Picks’ logo beside it, it doesn’t mean it’s not as good as the others - it may be that I just haven’t read it yet, that’s all.
Here are a few links to some of the book review sections:
Q. How can I meet other CFS/ME & FMS sufferers?A. You can meet many CFS/ME and Fibromyalgia sufferers, from all over the world, at Sleepydust's community area over at MySpace. It's a great place to meet new friends, to chat with other sufferers, and to ask for friendly advice. Find out more about how to join our ME/CFS & FMS community at MySpace here...
CFS/ME (PVFS)Q. What are M.E., CFS, PVFS, and CFIDS?A. Good question! And one that isn't easily answered... Sure you can get the clinical and medical definitions - but that
doesn't really help much if you want to know what it's really
like. So here are a few pages that might help you get to grips with what this illness (or group of illnesses) is really about:
Those are just a few pages from the large ME/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome section. To check out the main CFS/ME section, click here!
Q. What's the difference between M.E., CFS, PVFS, and CFIDS? Why so many names?A. Another couple of good questions! Unfortunately, they cannot
be answered in a sentence or two. So instead I'm going to point
you to the following sub-sections, which will hopefully 'shed some
light' on all this confusion:
Q. Is there a cure for CFS/ME?A. As of yet, no universal cure has been found for CFS/ME. But there are medicines, supplements and therapies that seem to have helped some CFS/ME sufferers. Interestingly though, what works for one sufferer may not necessarily work for another. So the key is to read up on what’s available and to consult with your doctor before spending lots of cash on something that may or may not be suitable for you. You can also check out the following sections:
Q. Will I get better? Will I get worse?A. Hmmm. The million dollar question. Unfortunately no-one really can answer that one for you. But there are things that you can do which can help to prevent you from getting worse. What's more, recovery from CFS/ME is possible, so there is hope! It is possible to recover from ME/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. If you do change your lifestyle and rest in the early stages of your illness, research suggests that you are more likely to recover (within perhaps 2-4 years). Unfortunately though, research generally shows that the longer this chronic condition continues, the less likely you are to recover. But CFS/ME is unpredictable and there is still much to be learned about it. So giving a 'generic time-frame of recovery' isn’t really of much use for most people because each case is so different. Some people recover. Some people don’t. Some people recover a partial amount of their former health. Some people recover a significant amount, or even recover fully. Some people take a couple of years to get better. Some people are still sick 20 years later. Some sufferers manage to get out a little. Some sufferers are sadly bedridden.
Q. What can I do to help myself recover?A. You can do certain things to help yourself get better, so don’t give up hope! In fact, if you want to recover, there are things you should AVOID at all costs too! Sadly, many sufferers mis-manage their illness
and get a lot worse - but only because they just don’t
know any better. I should know; when I first developed Post
Viral Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) I made loads of mistakes and got
lots worse before I learned what NOT to do! CFS/ME sufferers tend to have good and bad periods - the state of their health seems to fluctuate unpredictably. So sometimes you might feel a little ‘better’, but at other times you might feel a lot worse. You might also find these sections interesting:
Q. Is CFS/ME all in the mind? Or is it real?A. No it's not all in your mind! There's a whole sub-section dedicated to this, and to the medical scepticism that CFS/ME sufferers are often faced with. I hope you'll find these pages useful:
Diet & SupplementsQ. Are there foods I should and shouldn't eat?A. Yes! What you eat has EVERYTHING to do with how you feel. And certain foods can make you feel a whole lot better. Let's face it: when you have CFS/ME or Fibromyalgia you are already likely to feel very ill, exhausted and weak right? So try not to go making it worse by eating the wrong food! If I was to tell you that… …it takes more energy to digest junk food than it
does to do any other activity (apart
from having sex… ooh-er Let me repeat that: It takes more
energy to digest junk food I’ve repeated it because it’s important. If all your energy is going into digesting your food (which can take hours it it’s red meat for example), then think of how much more vibrant and full of energy you would feel if… …you ate the right food that… …took the least amount of energy to digest but… …put the most amount of energy-giving nutrients in! Much better I reckon! There are also certain foods that you should try to avoid if you have CFS/ME or Fibromyalgia because they just make your condition a whole lot worse. There's also a whole sub-section dedicated to diet and supplements here... And you can check out the book review of Christine Craggs Hinton’s ‘Chronic Fatigue Healing Diet’ here...
Q. What medicines and supplements should I take?A. Ah well you'd think you could just look them up in a book and go ahead and take them right? Wrong! Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. The thing is that everyone is bio-chemically different. And especially with CFS/ME; it seems that no one sufferer is the same as the next, and that is true when it comes to your individual nutritional deficiencies too. So before you go out and waste your money on all sorts of supplements and medicines that you may not need, take a look at these pages here:
Please also bear in mind though that there is no universal cure for CFS/ME or FMS. And whichever medicines or supplements you do choose to take, it is recommended that you consult with your doctor before taking them.
Q. Is there anything I can do to feel more energised and less exhausted?A. Yes there is, but what works for one sufferer may not work for another. Often, it’s a case of ‘trying things out’ and working together with your doctor to find what’s right for you. As a long-time CFS/ME sufferer myself, I have tried quite a few remedies, items, diets, therapies, supplements, and medicines. Although there is no ‘miracle cure’, I have noticed that there are some things that do make me feel relatively ‘better’, especially when I’m feeling extremely weak and exhausted and can’t get out of bed for days. They include:
So there you go - a few things that I have found helpful over the years. But remember, what works/worked for me, might not necessarily work for you. You might also want to take a look at:
Q. How careful should I be about the type, amount, and mix of supplements I take?A. Very! As CFS/ME or FMS sufferers, we can be very sensitive to what we put into our bodies. And that includes which supplements we take, how much we take of them, and in what combination. Even the brands of your supplements can have a bearing on your well-being.
Feeling Low and DepressedQ. Is ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome different to Depression as a condition?A. It most certainly is. Although CFS/ME and Depression do share some similar symptoms, they are completely different conditions. For one, Depression is a psychiatric condition, whereas CFS/ME is a neurological one. Depression is a very serious condition in it’s own right. And in fact, Depression can actually be a symptom of CFS/ME. Confused? To read more about why Depression is different to ME/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, click here... You can learn more about the ME/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome symptoms here... And you can read about the symptoms of Depression here… To find out more about the World Health Organisation classification of ME and Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome as neurological conditions, click here... To find out more about CFS/ME being a real, organic illness, click here...
Q. What can I do to stop feeling so down or depressed?A. This depends on the severity of your depression (if indeed you are depressed). But whether you feel mildly or severely depressed, you should talk to your doctor about it and let them know how you're feeling. They are there to help. This is especially important if you are severely depressed. Depression can be a symptom of CFS/ME and FMS. Not every sufferer experiences it, but if you do you mustn’t ignore it... It’s practically impossible to recover from CFS/ME or FMS when you suffer from severe depression. This is because, as with any chronic illness, positive thinking plays an important role in your recovery. It really helps to have a positive mental attitude towards yourself and your life, and the hope that you will - you WILL get better. So getting to grips with depression (if you suffer from it) is a must. Because of that, there’s a whole section dedicated to depression, which you can find here... You might also want to check these pages out:
If you’re feeling misunderstood or alone, try talking to other sufferers about how you feel. It can make the world of difference. Click here to visit Sleepydust's community at MySpace... As a CFS/ME sufferer myself (Sleepydust Editor), I have also found comfort in reading other CFS/ME & FMS sufferers' insights and thoughts on dealing and living with the condition. You really realise that other people are going through the same thing too... You realise that you're not on your own. You can read about other people's experiences and share your own experiences of living with ME/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome here... And always remember... you are not alone!
Money WorriesQ. Are there state benefits I can apply for?A. We are currently undertaking research for a new section all about the state benefits you may be eligible for as a CFS/ME or FMS sufferer. If you'd like to be notified about when this section is online, please feel free to sign up to the free Sleepydust Emagazine here...
About SleepydustQ. How are you funded? How can I help?A. Sleepydust doesn't receive any outside funding from other organisations or from charity comissions etc. and solely depend on the financial support from our visitors to maintain and grow the site. There are many ways in which you can help support our work and we'd be very grateful for any little help you can give us. Click here to find out how YOU can help...
Q. I'm a bit lost - there's so much information! Where's a good place to start?A. A good place to start is the Sleepydust Ezine. In each issue you'll be able to check out some of the interesting pages we have here on this site. You'll also get the latest news in the ME/CFS & Fibromyalgia communities, some cool fun stuff, and cool freebies too. Click here to get your free copy of the Sleepydust Ezine... If you want to explore the site, just take a look at the various colored menus on the side of your screen. And if you want to search Sleepydust for something specific, just scroll down towards the end of the page, and search the site using the search box.
Q. How can I find out more about Sleepydust?A. Want to know who's behind Sleepydust? Or maybe you want to know what our philosophy or mantra is? Click here to find out more about Sleepydust...
Category: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ ) about Fibromyalgia, Myalgic Encephalopathy / Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome Back to top of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ ) about Fibromyalgia, Myalgic Encephalopathy / Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome
|
|
|
|
|||
... just look for this logo! 
If
you do ever decide to buy a book that has been reviewed
on this web site, we'd be very grateful if you could buy the book
from amazon, by clicking through on our links provided. That way
we will receive a small contribution, which will go towards helping
to run this web site. Every little helps. Thank you. 
),
would it make you think twice about what you eat?