Our ME/CFS Story.
Sun, May 11, 2008
About five years ago our son who was 17 at the time, came down with mononucleosis, an illness common in his age group and one that his doctor
assured us would be gone in 4 to 6 weeks. He was graduating from high school and looking forward to starting university in the fall. An honours student, top in his class in mathematics and an elite soccer player, he had everything going for him.
When he didn’t recover from the mono he had all the usual blood tests and was told he was normal - ‘just needed a little more time’. After 5 years, 4 failed attempts to start university, a parade of tests, supplements, IVs, and specialists he is now a shell of his former self. His world is devoid of social contact and confined to two rooms in our house where he spends his whole time. He is unable to go outside, can barely walk and has basically resigned himself to the fact that he will not get better.
However our personal story does not end there. Two years later, but at the same age, our daughter also succumbed to the same disease. A top student at her school with numerous awards in science, mathematics, art and sports, she was stricken soon after graduation. Her passion was ice hockey and she was an elite player. She had a top scholarship to Queens University and, like our son, had a promising future. Her college time at Queens lasted 2 weeks before she was too exhausted to continue.
As with our son she took all the tests that traditional medicine had to offer but with no treatment or hope provided.
We have tried many different treatments. The traditional medical system has nothing to offer and the myriad of naturopathic and alternative treatments they have tried have all failed to have any effect. They have essentially given up hope of ever getting any better. Here are two young people who are severely disabled, isolated and without hope. As parents, we continue to research and look for something that can help our children, but fear for what the future holds for them.
Tags: chronic fatigue, Personal Stories
August 14th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Hello,
thank you for sharing your story about your son and daughter. I too became ill with FM at the age of 19 after a flu-like illness. I was able to go to university part time but had to drop out as I could not commit to full time studies due to my health.
The last 19 years have been a struggle but I have been immensely helped by Dr. Beverly Tompkins at the Burke Institute. Through her diet, sleep and lifestyle planning with me I am able to work part time in a challenging job am now married and looking forward to starting a family. Although I do not have the energy of my peers I have a very full life. Please look into sending your son and daughter to her clinic in Calgary Alberta. Your GP would have to refer them to her.
Take care.