Fatigue for 13 years unexplained

[mamapete3]

I am 50, never smoked or had a weight problem, not yet menopausal, & thank God don't have to work!  I seem to be having a relapse of a symptom I suffered from for 7+ years. It started 13 years ago.  It is a period of my life I'd rather not revisit, however still hope to find a diagnosis or resolution one day.  One spring I had a lengthy upper respiratory infection that I never seemed to recover from.   Symptoms included: flulike fatigue (debilitating at times- seemed to cycle), frequent mouth sores (thought for awhile they were sore throats, but believe it was a frequent mouth sore in my throat), a couple episodes of bad diarrhea early on, developed essential tremor during the first year.  Ironically during the years of the extreme fatigue, I never had a full blown virus of any kind.  Saw several specialists along with my internist: infectious diseases, endocrinologist, ENT, rheumatologist (called it Fibromyalgia, based on the "tender points," but that never made sense to me since I never had pain), even a bone marrow biopsy (only a little anemia- thank God!).   The allergist (Dr. Walter Ward) I saw a few times was the turning point. (No significant allergies were found, but do know I am sensitive to gluten, since it's obvious this triggered the migraines I used to have) He placed me on a diet & supplements to rid me of yeast overgrowth & parasites.  There was much improvement, but the fatigue eventually returned.  Around this time I discovered your site & felt almost normal again after following a PWFD.  But after a couple of months, my extreme fatigued returned.  While having results I could tolerate the diet, but just added to my depression depriving myself of other foods & feeling lousy anyway. During these 7 years, although I had times when the fatigue was too extreme to carry on, I always felt I was gradually improving & it seemed to be running it's course or wearing off.  Early on I started on an anti-depressant & Propanolol for the tremor (this beta blocker has helped make my headaches almost non-existant, too, & the tremors tolerable).  For the past 6 years I have felt almost normal.  Just a couple of tolerable scars- tremor, mild depression, trouble finding words sometimes.  I will get about 2 colds a year & although I seem to eventually recover completely, the mild fatigue (flu-like, slightly feverish) component seems to drag on for a month or so.  Current health issues: developed high triglycerides a few years ago, but have this pretty much under control with diet.  Although thyroid function is normal, I do have nodules.  The largest one has been biopsied & drained twice in the past year.  What has caused me to revisit those horrible years I had hoped were behind me is because I had a cold in Jan. & all the symptoms subsided except once again the fatigue- but worse this time.  On Feb. 13 I submitted my first BB post in years ("Upper Respiratory Virus Drag On!") About 3 weeks ago, I started taking 1200 mg daily N-Acetyl-Cystein along with 1500 mg Vitamin C.  I have been on an almost  PWFD.  I am not feeling any better, so far.  Am I supposed to feel worse before getting better??  Does all this sound like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?  Could my thyroid be causing all these symptoms?  

[ReyLaNess]

Its spiritual vibration ...you will be fine.

[FurballsMom]

How extensive are tremors with CFS/FMS?  I've had tremors off and on for years now, but they seem to be really prominent in my hands right now.  The shrink noticed the tremors.  Today, they seem to be really bad, too.  I used to think that it had something to do with blood sugar, but my fasting blood sugar has been stabilized since I changed my diet to try to help my IBS.  I'm no longer pre-diabetic, so obviously the tremors don't have anything to do with my blood sugar.

The neuropathy I experience seems to be a lot more intense and a lot more often, too.  I have to take the Neurontin several times a day.

Do you know if the tremors and the neuropathy have anything to do with each other?

[VaBreeze]

You're quite welcome.  The periods would become irregular (slower/longer flow; skipping a few days/month), but that would actually happen towards the 'end phase' of peri-menopause.  I can recall all of my doctors a few years back saying "you're too young"...however peri-menopause can begin at any time and last a decade or more (they fail to tell us this).  At 50 it would be a wondeful idea to have that testing done to see if this may be causing a problem.  

Hope all goes well for you.

[mamapete3]

Thanks for the response!  I do see a Neurologist for my Essential Tremor.  It is hereditary, I think.  My Dad had it.  Yes, Lyme disease was covered in the extensive amount of bloodwork the doctor ran.   If I was perimenopausal, wouldn't my periods be irregular?   Someone suggested a saliva test to measure adrenal and other hormones through canaryclub.org.

[VaBreeze]

Have you seen a neurologist?  You didn't mention having an MRI done.  Tremors are typically a sign of something neurological taking place within the brain.  Did your infectious disease run a test for Lyme Disease (with the Western Blot)?  The fatigue could certainly be related to CFS, but it is hard to say because there are so many other features you present with.  

Also, while you may not be menopausal at 50, women do experience a period called 'peri-menopause' for years before becoming meno.  That may be playing into the picture as well.

I hope you can find someone who will be able to help you with your fatigue.  Take care of yourself.