Expert: Candy - 5/21/2009

Question
I appreciate that you volunteer to answer questions on here since this is the place of last resort.  I dont know if you are in the UK but I am in the USA. And I don't have health insurance so it's hard to afford going to the doctor for tests.  Anyhow, I am tired most of the time. I never feel rested when I wake up in the morning. Now this is regardless of how much slepp I get.  Right now I am 24 and this has been going on since I was 14.  When I had health insurance I saw the doctor 5 times over the course of four years about this. They did blood tests and so forth which turned up normal.  Overall, my doctor didnt seem to take me seriously since I am a young man and appear healthy in every other way.  They told me the usual, it could be stress, get enough sleep, eat healthy, try to do so relaxation techniques, etc.  I have tried all that. I keep to a strict bedtime routine most all the time, I gave up all junk food 5 years back, eat fruits vegetables, etc. I am not depressed, not overweight, have tried everything but am still so tired. Often my muscles ache too. I have a headache almost everyday and then just have general tiredness and its hard to get up and move once Ive sat down.  It's affecting my life because now I just cannot be involved in going out much or doing anything besides going to work coming home and resting. Thats because its such a battle and I suffer so much after I try to go out with friends or take a vacation. I feel extra tired for days after doing anything extra.  Anyhow, Im sorry for such a long message. I no longer can see a doctor so I hope that you could give me your opinion on whether I have a fatigue problem or what you think of my situation?

Answer
I'm not a doctor...just a CFIDS sufferer...so I cannot say one way or the other.  You would need a doctor to run an Epstein Barr Virus test on you to find out.  I am in California and here if you don't have insurance you can go to a county hospital to get medical attention through their free clinics.  I suggest you see if there is anything like that where you are and get the test.  Sorry I couldn't be of more help.  I wish you the best of luck.