I was diagnosed in the second grade after being sick with flu like symptoms and severe fatigue for a long period of time. In the years since I have continued to deal with bouts of extreme fatigue that usually results in severe nausea and debilitating fatigue along with other symptoms such as headaches, memory problems, leg pain, sore throat etc. I am 29 now and in times of stress or if I "overdo it" I end up vomiting and I am incapacitated for several days- sometimes so ill I have to get iv fluids. I wish that I didn't have to deal with this alone- I don't currently see a dr. that knows anything about the illness.

On 4/4/90, I became ill at work. My heart felt like it was beating sideways, and irregularly. I was dizzy and had loss of balance. My back hurt. My glands were swollen a little and sore. I was experiencing a shock-like feeling going from head to toe. In general, I felt "weird" and unwell. I left work early and went straight to my doctor. I had EKG changes, a low-grade fever, could not stand with feet together and arms at my side without falling, and the dizziness was worsening. I also had a bad headache, which I had never had before. I was not a "headache" type of person. I was admitted to the hospital and all tests were negative. I was in there 10 days. On day 8, I was put on a tread mill to test my heart and I could only last 8 seconds. On the first night, I had myoclonus in my right foot, which progressed into full blown tonic colonic- like seizures by the 3rd day, but did not show up on a standard EEG. A month later I had a second one which was read as my having myoclonus. When asked to hyperventilate, it caused the "seizures" as well as the photic stimulation. However, with all this going on, I was still diagnosed for 11 years as having "depression," a conversion disorder, or some other kind of psychiatric disorder. Even with the EKG changes and low-grade fevers. Oh, I also have tinnitus since the first week and muscle weekness. Other symptoms developed as time went on. 11 years later I was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis which I do believe is different from CFS but some insist it is the same thing.

In short, there is no cause, no specific disease, no cure, no nothing. What a worthless article. Could have been summed up this way: We know nothing about this thing, so we gave it a name and having given it a name we are obligated to blather a bit about that which we no nothing, so reader, stop reading now.

I have suffered from fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, depression, anxiety; sometimes I have problems swallowing feels like the muscle in my throat just stops working and feel like I am going to choke. Had all the normal blood tests done all normal apart from raised cholesterol. Doctor keeps saying its depression and stress. I have days when I can't get out of bed because my body just won't let me, I have concentration and memory problems.

My 14 year old was just diagnosed with CFS she had Mono 2 years ago she has been sick ever since headaches body aches sick to her stomach and she just wants to sleep. She does not make it to school too much it just seems to get worse. I don't know what to do for her. The doctor is sending her to physical therapy she is on a mild anti-depressant under the care of a therapist but nothing is working.

I've had CFS symptoms for over 20 years. Diagnosis wasn't until 1998 and it was a relief to have a name to what was wrong with me. I have had. There were three good years between 1991 first onset until today 1995, 2004 and 2006 and part of 2007 otherwise I have been ill all that time. Tests showed I had had several viruses and one doctor suggested these caused the illness. Quality of life has not been high and my husband says I am too hard on myself trying to perform tasks, but it's frustrating trying to keep a house clean and have some quality of life. In July last year after being bed ridden for more than a year, once again, I said to my husband that I can't live like this anymore. So from that day onwards I attempted to lead a normal life and just paid the price after. Before that I had been avoiding doing things and was miserable, now I am a lot happier and don't mind spending a few days in bed because I have been to the mall and bought a blouse, or visited the grandchildren, or had a meal out. Life is way better for us both.