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<hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>Anonymous</b></i>
Hello,
I've been reading these forums for some time now and just had to respond to your post because it hits so close to home. I can relate to exactly everything you wrote! I am a 27 year old female with CF and I am always tired no matter what - and I mean that literally. My CF is fairly well, but I do have my share of lung infections, I work full time, I'm married and have a 5 year old son, so my dr. has pretty much always passed my fatigue off as " that's just life." (Yeah, that's frustrating when you try to tell your dr. that you think something is wrong and he passes it off as something else) Anyway, I've been checked for diabetes, I've had my thyroid checked, my vitamin levels checked - it seems like I've had everything checked and everything is normal. It is SO frustrating to me and I'm sure for my family as well when all I want and need to do is sleep, no matter how much sleep I've already had. It does interfere with my job too. I have a full time job, but I technically don't work full time as I'm always leaving early, coming in late or calling out sick. I'm sometimes amazed that I still have a job. Anyway, I do have a point to my story. This last Friday, I had a CF appointment and once again gave my dr. the run down of how tired I am, etc.. he asked me if I may be depressed and to make a long story short - I think that is where my problem lies. I'm wondering if it's some sort of chemical unbalance as I have some pretty dramatic mood swings and my emotions are up and done. There is not really a reason for these to be happening as I have a good life and I'm in fairly good health, so that is why I'm wondering if it's a chemical unbalance? Right now, I don't know - but I will be going to talk to my primary dr. soon and hopefully find some questions. I believe I'm one step closer now.
Good Luck to you, I hope you can find some answers! Take Care.
SW
27/F/wCF<hr></blockquote>
Wow, I've found someone who I can tell though your writing knows what I'm going through. I've had this same fatigue for years, when I was your age as well. I too have had thyroid and vitamin checks, iron checks, everything came out fine. I don't have diabetes either. I was also tested for sleep apnea and that came out fine as well. I too at one time was working a full time job and ended up always leaving early or calling in sick alot as well. It was so frustrating, so now working part-time works better to balance my life, but puts a big strain on my financial situation. As far as the depression their checking you for, I also was directed in that area to try and relieve the fatigue. I never seen myself as depressed, as I'm a pretty happy persons with high hopes and always have tried to make the best of what I have. I always tried hard to succeed at what I do, especially in my jobs, I took pride in working hard and going the extra mile. I also don't suffer from much mood swings or anything, but I thought I'd give it a try, I was thinking like you maybe it's a chemical imbalance. So the docs tried me on 5 diffdrent anti-depressants. One actually made me think negative thoughts more often and felt depressed and blue. I also experieced too many side affects from these drugs to continue taking them. The longest I tried them was for 1 month and that's all I could handle. But even in that 1 month I didn't feel any great surge of energy, but maybe I wasn't on it long enough. I hope that works for you because I know how frustrating it is. It is beyond normal fatigue/tiredness. Maybe if you can tolerate these anti-depressants, that may be your answer.
I wish you luck as well and thank you so much for sharing your story with me.