Humans of ME/CFS
I had some red flags in my twenties: deep pain in my shins that got worse when I walked, migraines, and fatigue. When I turned 28, I had first child and an emergency C-section. My mother died suddenly when I was 30 and I sunk into a deep depression. I decided to try and have another child to heal my heart. My pregnancy with her was quite painful. I seemed to have contractions the entire third trimester. After having my daughter in the fall, I remember that winter getting terrible diarrhea. It did not go away for nine months. My doctor tested me for all sorts of things including parasites. He concluded that I had IBS.
Almost a year later, I developed a respiratory illness that gave me swollen glands, flu-like symptoms, and burning sensations in my arms. It felt like hot lava was running through my veins. My coworker mentioned being ill and testing positive for mono. From there my symptoms got bizarre and scary. I got headaches that felt like my brain and neck were going to explode. I got episodes of vertigo and my arms, legs, or head would sometimes jerk or tremble. My speech was incoherent; I was unable to write and even forgot how to spell. If I got infection, my heart would race and I would sweat like I was going to die. Doctors made me feel like I was a hypochondriac. I left in tears or I would yell at them for not figuring out what was wrong. I spent nearly two years searching for answers. Sometimes I would be so sick that I would be in the bed for ten days at a time. When I went the Mayo Clinic, they finally told me what I had: Central Sensitization Syndrome-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Occipital Neuralgia. I do not have a cure, but at least I know I am not alone.