Author’s Note: The first time I approached my doctor about this was 2006 and the ‘symptoms’ I exhibited since had only worsened. I was legitimately concerned, especially after having researched it online various times and finding out that the condition could present at varying degrees of severity but that it was incredibly hard to diagnose.

What are the general symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)? The Better Health website presents the following description as being the “symptoms for which ME/CFS is best known”:

The symptoms for which ME/CFS is best known are persistent weakness and exhaustion. The distinguishing feature of the condition is a type of exhaustion known as post-exertional malaise or ‘payback’. this includes abnormal exhaustion after any form of exertion and a worsening of other symptoms. The response may be delayed, perhaps beginning after 24 hours.

It can take an unusually long time to recover from this type of exhaustion. Activities that were once taken for granted now take an enormous toll on a person’s health. for example, your normal walk, which caused no fatigue before, is followed by unusual tiredness that takes longer than usual to go away.

Other symptoms include:

Symptoms may vary even over a short time.

Let’s see – persistent weakness and exhaustion? Yep, especially after exertion (post-exertional malaise). nowhere near the extent to which they describe the “toll” being, but it would often see me taken out for a good few days, coupled with unexplainable pain.

From the list: Cognitive difficulties (memory); disrupted sleep; pain; drop in blood pressure (causes dizziness?); muscle twitching and tingling.

So I don’t present with many of the commonly associated symptoms, but I didn’t feel that the lack of these was enough to substantiate a non-diagnosis, especially if it was only presenting in a minor way.

It’s well known that those who have had Glandular, Scarlet or Ross River Fever are more likely than others to contract ME/CFS in the decade following their illness.

Still, despite having had scarlet fever in 2004 and presenting persistent symptomology for four years with an increase in intensity, it turned out that it was all caused by my weight gain and stress.

Go figure, right? Years upon years of built up stress coupled with my weight gain had started to just shut me down.  The exhaustion and pain were things that had to be fought with action, not inaction.

So, we started eating a little better and we both joined a gym close to home in an effort to increase our fitness, energy levels and lose a few kilos as well.

Eventually, my energy levels increased slightly and the intermittent pain and exhaustion dropped to levels that were manageable and quite infrequent. my sleeping still hasn’t improved, but that might never improve. Broken sleep since I was fourteen isn’t likely to be something that could be fixed that quickly…

So, the doctor put me onto a psychologist. he worked from the same clinic so it was mostly convenient. I was initially reluctant, but I really wanted to work through all the crap that I must’ve still been carrying around with me from the years gone by.

After warming to him and giving him a very brief version of the ten years prior to this blog’s journey, plus a summary of this blog (before I even had the idea for it), we started working on my current-most stress: work.

It’s a primary contributor to the general stress-network in my life. my mother was another, but removing her from my life had a profound effect on my stress levels. The idea now is to find better work for myself, a healthier workplace and colleagues and job that I actually enjoy doing.

At least, that was the result of the first few sessions with Wes. It was nice talking to a neutral party that had no involvement in my situation and had no personal motivations for the advice they were providing. It was oddly comforting. Guess I’m susceptible to psychology after all *lol*