just in case there is any info that can be gleaned from this...here is an article on CFS from Dr Weil's newsletter today

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/ART00702

This is long winded but please read it all! (or skip to the bottom 2 paragraphs)

My wife has suffered with depression, fatigue, on and off anaemia, memory problems from as early as 8 years old. Many visits to the doctors over the years with parents worried about a multitude of things ( incl possible drug abuse ).

During her second pregnancy she started to suffer from neurological symptoms and was referred to Neurology department, a CT scan was inconclusive, she was "reassured" and promptly forgotten ( or discarded ).

After the birth of our son, she had a real turn for the worse, her symptoms escalated to chronic fatigue, numbness in face arm and leg to right hand side of her body, a drop off in her vision to right eye, anxiety and manic behaviour, panic attacks and hallucinations.

She was eventually referred back to the Neurologist who after an MRI scan diagnosed MS. This was 2001 - she got strong pain killers and anti depressants prescribed which helped but her symptoms progressively worsened. At follow up checks at the hospital she was told her MS was benign and no treatment was available.She became incontinent and was told to tink herself lucky when compared to other MS sufferers!

In 2006 we changed doctors, he talked at length about her symptoms and decided to send her blood off for a specific B12 test. It came back at level 175 (200 being classed as too low). She started B12 injections 1000mcg per day and her symptoms improved dramatically. The fatigue she was plagued with lifted almost immediately, within 2 weeks she was able to stop her medication because the muscle pains and depression had lifted. She's going to need lifelong treatment but is recovering slowly, her quality of life has improved so much we are looking forward positively now and not fearing our future anymore.

HERE'S THE SHOCKING BIT In the UK Vit B12 levels are not routinely checked, it is believed if iron levels are okay and there are no signs of macrocytosis that B12 doesn't need to be checked. Even with the severe symptoms and all the neurological manifestation my wife did not get a B12 test until she was lucky enough to come across our new family doctor.

So please, Carter 1144, being resident in the UK means you might have to fight with your GP to get a B12 test - if they agree to test it might come back in the normal range - that's because B12 should be looked at with MMA Take one a day for 3 months at least and keep a diary of how your symptoms change. Remember these FACTS - vit b12 is the only vitamin required by every living cell in the body and it is the only vitamin that the body will easily extract if it has too much, therefore you can't take too much, it's safe.

Good luck, I hope you get this message and it makes a difference.Please keep in touch via this forum, I'd like to know how things go for you.
PS you can't get the B12 patch in UK they don't ship to us - we've tried.

I'm glad to see Matty emphasizing the underdiagnosis of B12 deficiency. Unfortunately, that is the case in many other countries as well, including the US.

Since the vitamin is safe, one can cover the possibility without wasting time fighting for testing. Even appropriate testing is not 100%.

rose

I am leaning toward a thyroid issue. I have over my life experienced all that you have discribed. I am 60. Fatique and lack of concentration, etc. I finally was diagnosed with Graves disease after a year of extreme stress.......illness and death in the family. I feel there is ebb and flow to life. I have taken all the B12 sublinqual and royal jelly's and anything I could, in the past to raise my energy levels. Music does as much as aformentioned to help with momentum. I must add here that I am a caregiver to a 31 year old son who requires much. If I have a good day and accomplish many tasks the next 2 or 3 I am exhausted and find myself pushing myself to do things. I just takes all the joy out of living. Good luck!