Training & Nutrition - Chronic Fatigue Sufferers

I have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. I've had it for about 7 months now and have gone from riding at least 90 minutes every second day to not being able to ride at all. Even very low intensity riding causes me several days' worth of virtually incapacitating fatigue. I've tried the usual supplements such as magnesium, vitamins, co-enzyme Q10 and anti-depressants and nothing seems to offer much relief. Has anyone here had any experience with chronic fatigue and can suggest any remedies/diets/training regimes that they've had success with?

good luck.......

http://www.edgarcayce.org/health/medical_overviews/chronic_fatigue_syndrome.asp

I take medications (immunosuppressants) which fatigue me terribly, especially when riding... the only remedy I've found is to shovel brocolli and pasta into my mouth the day before a ride, then take a day off, eat like a horse, ride the following day.. it doesn't cure it, but since my body feels like it's using double what a normal rider would due to the fatigue, I make sure I'm eating the proper carbs and staying away from all unhealthy sugars and fats... this includes popping probably twice the gel packs that someone else would during a long ride.

Nutrition, as flawless as you can make it, will help, in my opinion. I bonk hard if I don't eat right... last wed I bonked after 15 miles (usually do about 40 miles, 3-4x a week)... bonked so hard that I had to leave work that night because I was ready to pass out (didn't eat much for a couple days prior to riding - not smart)... I ate nothing buy veggies and pasta for 2 days and then on sat did 55 miles without tiring one bit... didn't even stop.. kept a 19mph pace too.

I know this may not be specific to chronic fatigue syndrome, but due to the meds I'm on, you can basically say I've got self induced fatigue :)... necessary for me though unfortunately.

Good luck finding a way to treat it... eat some brocolli and pasta :D... and of course, consult a doctor or maybe a nutritionist to get you on a proper diet.... also, as with any illness, keeping your body as clean as possible is key... drink TONS of fluids - water is the best... and I mean TONS OF IT... I find that apples are excellent in cleansing the digestive tract too... the old saying, an apple a day yada yada has a lot of truth to it. Keeping the digestive tract moving and clean helps to prevent toxins from building up and getting into the blood stream, which is obviously very important.

-Steve

Interesting that you've mentioned magnesium. I've come to the realisation that I've been seriously magnesium defficient for years and that this is connected with most if not all of my health issues. So don't give up on magnesium supplimentation. I suggest that you need to be taking enough to get to the point that you bowels become a little loose but not too much. You need to keep adjusting your dose and I've read that supplimenting with potassium is needed if your taking a lot of magnesium. Naturaly rich magnesium foods are home made bone stock and green vegetables. I find that fresh celery juice is a very good source and I make my own bone stock.

http://www.mgwater.com/

http://curezone.com/art/read.asp?ID=33&db=8&C0=16

Regards, Anthony

I've had unexplainable fatigue since January. If my adrenal bloodwork in August is as normal as everything else I'll probably get the dreaded CF label (I'm mostly scared ****less because I want to finish grad school and don't know how much this will hurt me).

I was on doxycycline (antibiotic) for 3 weeks to rule out tick diseases. The first almost week I felt like pure crap, switched brands (Ivax to Watson), and after a week of the new brand felt Great! AS soon as I quit taking it I came crashing down. Since there can be an immune component it can't hurt to try antibiotic therapy. It acts as a mild immunosupressant without as many of the nasty side effects.

I wish you well. I've been really depressed the last few days after I got off the doxy and I'm back to not being able to do anything.

What does your physician say, and have you consulted with a specialist? It doesn't sound like a simple dietary thing to me.

How much rest do you get? And when do you eat in relation to rest and sleep? Plenty of vitamins and minerals from fresh food each day? Try to maintain some exercise each day, even if its just ten minutes. And get a second opinion from a professional. Read about it as much as you can, but don't put all your faith in just one website or article. Like ericqu said, its probably not a simple dietary issue. And don't stress about it, turning it into a lifestyle!

Usually once you are labelled as "chronic fatigue" the docs quit looking for a cause. However, if you are suspecting a mineral/vitamin deficency you might want to try an elimination diet, since food allergies can cause this. fish or chicken and rice or sweet potatoes, then add foods one by one (more details on the internet). I've been lazy and haven't done this. Instead I'd OD on a suspect food and see what happened. Ate a stack of pancakes when I suspected the gluten allergy: good thing my roommate wasn't home (my only symptom was gas, not something most people would think was a food allergy). Ate a whole block of tofu and slept through much of the next day. Ate 1/2 a pineapple and not good either. I'm considering doing an elimination diet when I get home though. Chicken and rice.

I've seen a few doctors, a general physician, and a psychaitrist and every one of those people tell me that there's nothing physically wrong with me that they can find. All blood tests have been normal, and tests for fatigue causing diseases/viruses have been negative.

I don't think it's a dietary thing, i was only taking the vitamins/supplements because i've heard some people say that it helps them. I eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, get at least 8 hours sleep every night, and try to excercise (within limits) every day.