Brainfog
since a picture says a thousand words.....
I have alluded to the fact I have "health problems" and so want to take just one post to help make others aware of the lack of accurate knowledge about one of those problems..Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Vertigo
Not to be confused with "chronic fatigue", being fatigued, "burnt out" or any of the myriad other stress induced or illness induced "normal" fatigue states many might find themselves in, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a disabling disease or collection of symptoms that as of today has no effective treatment, including no medication to treat it, no cure and no end. It is as disabling as MS, RA, much more disabling than many other diseases and in fact in studies it has been found the only illnesses that cause more of a negative impact on one's life are terminal cancer and a major stroke. While fatigue is certainly not the only symptom, the fatigue is so great with CFS it can make it impossible to do anything but breath..not chew, not walk to the restroom, not move an arm or leg, not shower or dress,just lay in bed and hope your heart keeps pumping and your lungs keep expanding...Some researchers feel it is mitrochondrial dysfunction with secondary cardiomyopathy, some feel it is neurological but no one really knows. Many people have some kind of infection( I had a case of bronchitis) and simply never are healthy again. I got bronchitis, developed a rash and hives, a month later pain and neurological type symptoms( ie couldn't move my legs or they would drag if i could, weakness, double vision,profound weakness, ie couldn't hold a cup of soup and my jaw muscles were to weak to chew anything, bladder control problems, sore throat, headaches, swollen glands, the list goes on and on) within a matter of weeks I was bedridden, that lasted for 6 months, I slowly improved for the next 5 yrs till i regained about 50% of my pre illness energy, then relapsed and was back to square one. That continued for 10 yrs then i had another bad relapse and since have had only about 2 hrs of energy a day ( on a normal day) for the past 10 yrs. Some days are a little better and those are the days I take photos but usually spend the next few days to tired to do anything but lay on the couch.
Pain
I have had this illness for 20+ yrs ( as well as 2 other chronic illnesses) and have yet to find a Dr. that has any really knowledge of it. I have been insulted, dismissed and condesended to by more doctors than many probably see in a lifetime, in part i am sure by the lack of interest in the govenmental health agencies interest in this illness except to exploit or mock it.( Millions of tax dollars ear marked for CFS research were misappropriated by those agencies as public records show)
The only way I can pursue any interest I have in photography is due to my husband's help( he drives me around, I take shots from the car or close to the car when possible, if we walk anywhere he carries all my equipment).
I am not posting this to gain pity, just to make people aware there is a terrible disease known as CFS that is being ignored and what little information the CDC/NIH puts out is slanted toward it being a "psychological illness" even thought literally thousands of studies have been published that prove it is a physical illness..If you want to find out more about that read the book "Osler's Web"
So next time you read about CFS and the slant is "lazy crazy people who want a free ride" I hope you reconsider and help us help others understand that is not the case so maybe someday there will be some kind of health care that really helps people like me have their life back.
Thanks for listening and next post will be back on topic, I promise
More information about can be found at
http://www.co-cure.org/
http://www.cfids.org/about-cfids/symptoms.asp
