In 1966, at age 18 I came home from the first year of college very tired. No amount of sleep made me feel rested. Everyone, including me, thought I had mononucleosis. I tested negative for mono and my family doctor said I had a virus that imitated mono, get some rest and it should go away.
In 1980 when CFS hit the news as "yuppie flu", the initial description was 'a virus that imitated mono.' My family doctor got it right 14 years earlier.
It is difficult to be diagnosed with CFS because you have to eliminate every other cause of tiredness first -- MS, cancer, etc. One doctor told me that tiredness was a symptom of every disease in the book. I never had unlimited funds at my disposal, so I never pursued eliminating all other causes. Eventually I concluded that if it had been serious I'd have died already. My last doctor finally put on my chart 'he is chronically tired and we don't know why" or words to that effect.
As for my experience with it, it has been lousy. Why wouldn't you be depressed if you can't go where you want (or your spouse wants), can't work full time, live poorly as a result, etc. Eventually you learn to live within your limitations and don't push yourself too hard - because you will pay for it later.
My advice is kind of glib: don't let it get you down. I have a belief system that has helped me tremendously in dealing with it and a spouse that has reconciled herself to not going out to eat very often (never, since the pandemic), not socializing greatly (she is introverted anyway), and not taking long vacations - this she misses. Find yourself both - a belief system that supports you (I don't want to take the discussion in that direction) and family and associates that understand.
And they haven't found a cure. When they find a real one, you will hear about it. So don't waste your time and money on snake oil. If it works for you, do it. Less coffee and sweets works for me, at least it helps matters.
And thanks for asking. I'm not a coder by any means so I usually just lurk here. But I've wanted to put this in words for a while.
Thank you for sharing. I was addicted to work and pushed myself too hard. I have since learned to regulate my work level.
This, by no means, is comparable to CFS, but I do appreciate hearing about how others react to stress and the overall impacts tiredness have on one's life.
In 1980 when CFS hit the news as "yuppie flu", the initial description was 'a virus that imitated mono.' My family doctor got it right 14 years earlier.
It is difficult to be diagnosed with CFS because you have to eliminate every other cause of tiredness first -- MS, cancer, etc. One doctor told me that tiredness was a symptom of every disease in the book. I never had unlimited funds at my disposal, so I never pursued eliminating all other causes. Eventually I concluded that if it had been serious I'd have died already. My last doctor finally put on my chart 'he is chronically tired and we don't know why" or words to that effect.
As for my experience with it, it has been lousy. Why wouldn't you be depressed if you can't go where you want (or your spouse wants), can't work full time, live poorly as a result, etc. Eventually you learn to live within your limitations and don't push yourself too hard - because you will pay for it later.
My advice is kind of glib: don't let it get you down. I have a belief system that has helped me tremendously in dealing with it and a spouse that has reconciled herself to not going out to eat very often (never, since the pandemic), not socializing greatly (she is introverted anyway), and not taking long vacations - this she misses. Find yourself both - a belief system that supports you (I don't want to take the discussion in that direction) and family and associates that understand.
And they haven't found a cure. When they find a real one, you will hear about it. So don't waste your time and money on snake oil. If it works for you, do it. Less coffee and sweets works for me, at least it helps matters.
And thanks for asking. I'm not a coder by any means so I usually just lurk here. But I've wanted to put this in words for a while.