whats the best way to treat CFS, how long does it take to feel better?

Hi Larowe

You have my sympathy. If you had anxiety problems before, having CFS can only make that worse.

It can be a scary thing, there is so much contradictory information out there on the subject. And much of that information suggests that people can't recover from CFS. That is a depressing thought.

It is possible to get better though.

I was sick for a very long time and feared that I would never recover. But once I found treatment that worked for me, I did begin to improve.

It took some months before I felt much better but the point is, over time I did improve.

Each of us has different symptoms. What you deal with may not be the same as what I've dealt with. But we have some things in common.

Rest is very important. If possible, take rest breaks through your day, as often as you can. Lying down in a quiet place, with eyes closed is best, especially sleeping. Sleep as much as you can. Your body has a better chance of healing itself during these rest breaks.

If sleep is difficult there are some non-drug treatments that are safe to try.

Melatonin helps some people. Also, Valerian. These can be found in many grocery stores and drug stores.

Rescue Remedy in drops or ointment help some people. This is all-natural, and helped both me and my husband with sleep and panic attacks.

You can find out more about these products doing a web search.

You may have food allergies or sensitivities. Try avoiding different foods, see if it makes a difference. Grains, dairy, eggs, potatoes, corn, are common culprits. I have sensitivities to all of them, and if I don't eat them it helps me.

Staying away from sugar can also help. We are all taught that fruit is healthy but for some of us it's not.

Omega 3 oil is good. It helps your central nervous messaging system, and can help with joint and muscle problems.

Vitamin D makes a difference for many of us. It has made a huge difference for me.

Your adrenals may be overtaxed and some adrenal support might help. Being female you might find Ashwaghanda useful, or licorice. You can get licorice tea. It's VERY sweet but doesn't taste bad. :-)

That's enough for a start. :-)

I hope you are able to write us again.

Jody

Larowe,

First of all, I'm so glad you found EmpowHer. It's an honor to have you here. Thank you for your question.

I want to introduce you to one of EmpowHer's HER writers, Jody Smith. She has CFS and has been dealing with it for 17 years. However, in the last two years, she found treatment that worked for her, and she writes about all aspects of CFS in her blogs for us.

Here is her profile:

https://www.empowher.com/users/jody-smith

and on that page, right underneath her bio are links to the blogs she has written for us. She is wonderfully frank and honest in her writing about CFS, and I think you'll find a lot in her writing that resonates with you.

She also has her own website:

http://www.ncubator.ca/

Let's get back to you, Larowe. How old are you, and were you just recently diagnosed?

What kind of doctor do you see? Are you on meds?

What are your worst, primary symptoms?

Do you feel like you are making even small amounts of progress? (Baby steps are important!)

Here is the Mayo Clinic's page on CFS. Notice down the left side that there are links to pages that show treatments and home/lifestyle remedies:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/DS00395

And here is the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)'s page on CFS, which also has some discussion of treatment:

http://www.cdc.gov/CFS/

Because CFS is different for every individual, and because doctors work with an individual patient's symptoms and needs, it's impossible for me to be able to tell you what's the "best" treatment for you. Our writer, Jody, above, found help through a naturopath -- a doctor trained to see all aspects of the human body in harmony.

Here's a link to a book on CFS treatment on Amazon.com that has very high reviews from those who've ordered it. It's called "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment: A Treatment Guide" and it's by Erica F. Verrillo. Reviewers have given it 4 1/2 out of 5 stars overall. Here's one review:

"I am going to recommend this book to every new patient I see. It is well balanced and complete. It is the best book I have read on this topic in years." --Dr. David Bell, CFS specialist, Lyndonville, New York and author of The Doctor's Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

http://www.amazon.com/Chronic-Fatigue-Syndrome-Treatment-Quality/dp/0312180667

Do any of those things help? Is there something more specific I could research for you?