Reflections of an Ex-Chronic Fatigue Sufferer
Howard had suffered with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for many years. He tried every imaginable medical and dietary treatment available, but nothing helped. Finally release came through the healing power of prayer, when God touched Howard and set him free from his chronic pain.Howard's true story is one of our many featured testimonies from you, the members and visitors of this site. Each story reveals a life transformed by Christian faith. If your relationship with God has made a significant difference in your life, we would like to hear about it. Submit your testimony by filling out this Submission Form.
Howard's Healing - From Fatigue to Freedom
I begin my story sharing the triggers that I believe set off my battle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). At Easter time 1995, I came down with a viral illness which put me in bed for about 8 days. A full series of blood tests could only tell me what I did not have! My energy and stamina levels never fully recovered after that illness. Initially, I thought I was just getting old - at 29 years of age. Slowly, my lack of energy became frustratingly worse.In July 1997, chicken pox put me in bed for about 10 days. My digestive system never completely recovered, with irritable bowel syndrome setting in. At the time I was on holiday, but chose to resign from work, mainly due to my health. I struggled to do some part time work for 3 months, but had to give it up in April 1998. I wasn't coping.
During this time, several very stressful events took place in my life, including the birth of our first child in September 1995, who was eventually diagnosed with a rare, degenerative, genetic, muscle and brain disorder. Without a doubt, this long-term stressful environment was another trigger for my susceptibility to CFS.
Between May and November of 1994, I had the series of 3 hepatitis B vaccinations, due to work environment risks. Although I can't prove it, nor would most medical professionals support the idea, I have no doubt this was another trigger. In talking with other CFS sufferers, many had a vaccination or vaccinations in the months leading up to the initial onset of their condition or they had a major relapse after a vaccination.
Living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
I went to the local CFS support group. The first 3 to 4 times were very informative and encouraging. It was good to discover I wasn't the only person struggling to find an understanding doctor. It was also good to find a comprehensive lending library of very informative books, tapes and videos. Though many of the discoveries I made were depressing, I still felt a real liberation in understanding exactly what I was dealing with.Taking away the fear of the unknown in the early visits to the support group lifted off a huge emotional burden for me. It gave me more resources to cope with the strange symptoms I was struggling with - - fatigue and weakness, difficultly breathing, dizziness, muscle pain (fibromyalgia), fairly constant headaches, joint pain, especially in the ankles, wrists and fingers, inability to experience refreshing sleep, night sweats, sore throat and ears, churning painful stomach, diarrhea, hot flushed face, itchy gritty eyes, sweaty feeling around the eyes, cold, sore feet, "brain fog," confusion, poor short-term memory, etc.!
For a long time, I felt if I strictly followed a very healthy diet I would beat this condition. Dietary changes initially helped, but the improvement was not sustained, and I became emotionally obsessive about what I did or didn't put in my mouth, which was counter productive. While very important, diet was not the source of my healing. I also tried many different, often expensive, vitamins, minerals, supplements, natural remedies, etc, with no significant improvements.
As the weeks rolled into months and then years, I found going to the support group frustrating and depressing. Sharing with others, all struggling with similar aches and pains, and never finding any real solutions, was not helping me. I needed to become part of a support group with people who had recovered from the condition. These people seemed few and far between, which was depressing, and a reflection of the nature of the condition. Generally, people who had recovered, were out living life, and wanted to put space between themselves and CFS.
