The doc and specialist have diagnosed me with something similar, but have termed it post-viral fatigue. The symptoms are pretty much the same as Jim has, though I think mine is not as bad. Mine's not helped by thyroid problems , and it might also be made worse by my nose , which is having an operation on it shortly..Hell Razor5543 wrote:I hope this is not a silly question, Jim, but do you feel ill, or just really tired?
Anyway, ill, or just tired? How about so tired it makes you feel ill? My main problem is the pain I get after any sort of exertion. It's in my joints, not pulled or tired muscles, though muscle pain is something else I get. I usually get joint pain in knees, ankles, toes (!), fingers, and my shoulders. The pain in my hands was so severe that I was sent to have scans of both as the doc thought it was arthritis ( I have private care through my employer) but there's little wrong with my hands. The pain can drive me crazy though, which is why I don't like to work on the cars so much these days. Brain Fog - awful. Just like a fog, and it can descend at any time. I can feel it coming on these days, and to me, it now means "sleep immediately", because if I don't, things go downhill from then on. I can't stand bright lights, whether it be artificial or sunlight (on holiday in Cornwall this week, not seen much sun, that's for sure). I quite often have swollen glands seemingly for no reason. I sometimes get palpitations or irregular heartbeat, but the beta-blockers I take seem to have stopped this, so it can be put down to adrenal fatigue I believe. Getting good sleep often seems impossible because of the "illness".
Now, to look at me, you'd think I was a normal(ish) healthy, 39 year old chap. I have tests at the doc regularly because of my thyroid problems and get a health-check at work every year. I AM healthy - could do to lose a couple of stone, but I'm essentially fit. Why then, if I overdo it slightly do I feel in so much pain, and , well, it's hard to describe just how utterly wasted you feel - like you, I did security years ago, and worked many weird hours. I worked 12 hour night shifts for years and had interrupted sleep for a couple of years back in 06/07 and was tired then. It doesn't come close to what I feel when this hits. I feel like I have a small electric current coursing through me, my ears buzz a little, and my whole body is just useless. You remember that feeling you get in your skin, almost like a burning when you have been playing in the snow without gloves and a parent made you put your hands in front of the fire - like a weird heat? I get that in my arms, like they are on fire, and I just give up and have to sleep, my joints ache.. so I drug myself up with Lyrica and go to sleep. I've often got a permanent cold.
Here's the weird thing about the condition though.... sometimes I go to the gym at work, and I'll do 30 mins on the cross-trainer on a high level, get my heart rate up to , and keep it at 155 for 30 mins, 10 mins on the rower, then 3 sets of 15 on the chest press with 40kgs on, 3 sets shoulder press, 40kgs on, lateral pull downs with 60kgs on.. a couple of things with the kettlebells and free weights, then finish off with 10 mins on the bike and a cool down slow jog on the treadmill.
It doesn't hurt. I feel great. I'm not unfit. When the fatigue kicks in though, I feel like I'm 90 and about to shuffle off this mortal coil. It's a very, very strange condition.
Sorry for hijacking Jim, I just thought I'd say how fatigue makes me feel..