New girlie around!=)

[Guest guest]

Hello to all!

I'm Elisabeth from the north of England and I'm your newest member.=) Here

are my answers to the intro questionnaire. Hope at least *some* of it makes

sense!!=)

Age range: I'm 30 years young - a real baby!!

Male/female: Girlie

What are the symptoms? Do you have 24 hours to spare??? OK, I started with

a v minor flu-like illness picked up on a long-distance bus to Germany when

I was under a lot of stress. It turned to labyrinthitis and went away

fairly soon. BUT, I never really recovered my UMPH!! Over the next year

and frequent infections I got more and more " run down " and, following a bout

of tonsilitis in April of this year, I started all the typical ME symptoms,

(ME is the non-US term for CFS/CFIDS but has more criteria to satisfy for

diagnosis than CFS. Sort of CFS and some), fatigue, weak, hot, tired and

uncomfortable muscles, sometimes twitching, dizziness, flu-like malaise,

pain in ears, extreme sinus problems, (MAN those headaches that nothing

shifts), itchy eyes, balance and co-ordination diffuculties, cognitive

symptoms too irritating to mention and a few more things besides. As I said

to my dear hubby a few months ago, " I feel like I'm disappearing " . I've

given up work and had to back track on my post-grad degree.

Has you illness been diagnosed? Not formally, but my GP has referred me to

the local ME specialist and I see him on Wednesday 4th. Watch this

space...... From her experience with a friend who has ME, the GP thinks I

have it, so you could say diagnosis so far....!!!

How long did you suffer before you got help? I first went to the GP

thinking I was suffering stress, anxiety and psychosomatics in about Feb of

this year, so 10 months on.

Is there a time that you can remember when it started? April 2001

Some of us have found lack of exercise we are overweight. Have you found

this to be a problem also? No, I'm very small, but then I eat a high raw,

vegan diet which tends to keep weight down. I actually lost several pounds

shortly after onset.

Are you on disability? Not as yet, but I intend to apply!!

If you are any pointers for others trying to get on disability? No, but if

anyone has any useful, RECENT experience with getting DLA in the UK, I would

be MOST interested. Basically, I want a disabled parking permit, (and the

money that goes with wouldn't hurt...), a perch stool and a home help.

What have you found that helps ease the pain, warm baths, medications etc.?

I don't have too much pain thankfully. I had a mild Epsom salts bath the

other day and my arm discomfort was much better the next day. However, this

was a one off and I've yet to trial it a second time. I was detoxing really

as I firmly believe that to be key in 99% of illnesses.

Do you have sleep problems? How do you deal with it? Yup, a bit of insomnia

and waking early. Also the sinus headache kept me awake last night. I jsut

sleep when I can, even if during the day. I don't believe that you should

only try to sleep at night. If your body's trying to heal, it will tell

when it wants sleep. It knows what it's talking about, so I listen! I use

lavendar oil and last night I enjoyed listening to an own hooting at 4am!=)

I sleep well about 70& of nights.

Do you have family that understands your illness? Yup, my mum and hubby are

great.=)

Some have found certain foods causes problems with CFS or Fibro, have you?

Not as yet, but I'm trialling wheat free and will post the results in time.

What type of Doctor have you found that has helped you the most? My GP was

fine about the idea of ME as she has a friend with it. I also see an

aromatherapist for massage and she has interesting tales of other clients'

experiences etc.

I do hope that wasn't too long, but I wanted to answer as fully as possible,

within reason!

You'll forgive my sticking to " ME " rather than CFS I hope as I'm more used

to it and, frankly, ME actually *sounds* like a disease rather than a

lifestyle problem!!!

Love, hugs and ripe, fresh fruit to all!

Elisabeth.