When I was sixteen I started having serious problems with fatigue and chronic fevers. At first no one was noticing but me. Initially I experienced growing depression. Once I convinced my parents that I was ill, the long long saga began. I went first to a physicians assistant, but with no success.

     By this time I was missing quite a bit of school. After a few days, my parents decided that they had no choice but to send me back to school, but for only half days. Reluctantly I went back the next day, not knowing that I would not darken the doorstep as a student again for about a year. That night I was diagnosed with mono. I was told that in a few months I would be all better.........

     Details of the ensuing year are a little foggy in my mind, as I believe I have blocked a lot of the memory, just because it was such a long nightmare. I can tell you that I went from doctor to doctor, receiving the same message. "Go home, you'll feel better soon." During this entire time I was completely secluded, and suffered from a great mental instability. I believe twice I was only a milimeter away from commiting suicide. I was completely alone.

     A year later we were referred to an infectious diseases specialist by our chiropractor. Strangely enough, on the first visit he recognized that there was something definetly wrong with me. It was a huge, huge shock to actually have a doctor listen to you and take you seriously. He soon diagnosed me with Cat Scratch Fever and Chronic Fatigue syndrome. After a months worth of antibiotics, very powerful stuff, I was well enough to go back to school for whole days. Don't get me wrong, I was in no way completely back to normal. I can't describe the amount of blood and sweat I poured into each week, with the hope that every step backward I would take two steps foward.

     Through the whole ordeal my doctor was very very supportive and helpful. I initially underwent some light antidpressant treatments to boost my immune system. I missed a year of school, and physically it took me several years of excrutiating work to get back what I lost, but it's a ton better then sitting around feeling sorry for myself.

     If you want someone to talk to about your chronic fatigue, then feel free to email me.