Expert: Suzan Jackson - 4/21/2007

Question
I am not sure if I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome but maybe you can help me.
Due to a very rough upbringing I have chronic depression, anxiety attacks and even obssesive compulsive disorder. I feel exhausted ALL of the time. I wake up exhausted, I take multiple naps through out the day or else my muscles will store to get sore.. I have severe memory problems (I did quite a bit of drugs a while back, I have been completely clean for 4 years though). Due to my severe memory problems I have trouble sorting reality from other.. Sometimes I'll contemplate what may or may not have just happend (little things, like a car driving by) and wonder whether it was all in my head or it was a dream or just a thought or actual reality.
My doctor put me on effexor XR for the depression, anxiety and OCD. I am currently taking 300mgs. But now more then ever I am exhausted. I feel like I can never get enough sleep.
I've lost out on jobs in the past because of this... Where I'll have a job that I was excited about starting, I'll get hired and then the day will come for me to start and I wont be able to pull myself out of bed nomater what!
Now although I am only 23 I am filing for disability. I have a severe Vascular condition called Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber. I have a fused knee and one leg is significantly short then the other. One of my pelvis' is 1/2 the size of the other. This causes me significant back problems and I think it may have to do with my constantly being exhausted. I would like you opinion though.. Does it sound like I have CFS?
Someone suggested that I might have borderline personality disorder. I seam to fit that pretty well but my doctor hasnt mentioned it. My land lord said she has CFS and says it sounds like what i've got but I've told my doctor all of my symptoms and he doesn't seam to be bothered by them.  

Answer
Dear Laura -

I'm sorry to hear you've been suffering so much.  I wish I could help you, but I don't know anything about the conditions you've been diagnosed with.  It is possible that you have CFS, but it's just as likely that your fatigue is caused by one or more of your diagnosed conditions or by one of your medications.  

The best resource for information on CFS is the CFIDS Association of America.  Here is the link to their self-test on whether you might have CFS:

http://www.cfids.org/about-cfids/do-i-have-cfids.asp

You should also check on side effects or possible interactions among your medications.  There are many, many medications that can cause severe fatigue.  Here is an excellent resource for getting complete information on medications.  You can look up each of your medications on their database and read about its potential side effects.  You can also click on "check interactions" to find out if some of your medications have unintended effects when taken together.  Just enter the names of all of your medications and the database will tell you if any of them interact with each other.  Here's the site:

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/Home

Most of all, anyone with serious health problems needs an understanding and compassionate doctor who can help to manage the multiple problems and treatments.  If your current doctor is dismissing serious symptoms, then you need to find someone who will listen and take you seriously.  Believe me, I know how difficult it is to find the energy to search for a new doctor when you're so debilitated, but I can tell you from experience that it makes a world of difference.  Ask friends and family for recommendations, check local "best doctor" surveys, or ask any doctor or specialist that you've liked for his or her recommendation.  You may need to see several specialists, but it really helps to have a good primary care physician to help coordinate and manage your overall care.

Best of luck to you.  I hope that you find a good doctor and finally get some relief.

Sue Jackson