13 years and no help

I suffer from chronic fatigue I can sleep 20 hours out of 24 I have all over joint pain and suffer from fugue states and have a constent head ache in the crown of my head raidating down the back of my head i have suffered from this sincemy return from dessert storm about 18 years I go to the va and they have me on carbamesapine and provigil any help would be appreciated

[Christopher R Newey, DO]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to obtain a history from you and examine you, I can not comment on a formal diagnosis or treatment plan for your symptoms. However, I will try to provide you with some information regarding this matter.

When I read your question, there was a condition that came to my mind called fibromyalgia. Fibromyalagia is a medical condition that leads to whole body pains. Its cause is unknown, but it is characterized by diffuse aches, sometimes GI symptoms similar to irritable bowel, sleep abnormalities, low pain threshold, and other features. It is best treated with medications such as lyrica and neurontin, exercise, and physical therapy.  Fibromyalgia occurs frequently in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. If no cause of the condition is identified, it is best to look for other contributing factors such as anxiety or depression. It seems that the provigil you are taking is for the chronic fatigue. If you have never had a sleep study, it may be worthwhile to evaluate for other treatable conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea, which can cause excessive daytime sleepiness.

Thank you for using the forum, I hope you find this information useful, good luck.