Hi, I'm 16 and finding coping with PVF difficult

[lizziethecat]

Hello, I have searched a lot about the illness and came across this forum and thought I would join as it's reassuring to know i'm not on my own with this!
I've just started my A-levels but about 3-4 months ago I had a really nasty cold/flu-like illness, this carried on for about three weeks- to a month (usually I shake off a cold after about 1 week). Since then I have been feeling almost constantly ill. I started having panic attacks about a month ago, whilst shopping- my mother took me straight to A&E as we didn't know what was going on and had never suffered from this before. I've had about 10 panic attacks since then ranging from 10 minutes to 5 hours. I was wondering if anyone else had experienced panic attacks as a result of Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome? I have also seemed to developed a phobia of choking on my food, have consequently been eating less and less, leaving me feeling faint and ill a lot of the time. Having this is really affecting my studies and social life, almost to a point where I'm serious worried about how i am going to pass my exams (usually I am a good student).

I would really appreciate any support or advice anyone could give me, particularly from a younger person as I have not come across anyone of my age suffering with this.
Thanks <img src="images/smilies/smile.gif" border=0 />

[Andy89]

Hey there,

You should check out www.ayme.org.uk. It's a charity aimed at supporting young people with PVFS/CFS/ME. There's a forum on the site with lots of useful info, though registering can take a while as they send you stuff through the mail. You should definitely check it out!

Andy.

[S!mon20]

Hi there.

Sorry to hear you're not well! How long have you been ill?

I've been ill since November 2010 now and the dizziness is definitely my main worry and occasionally I feel faint also!
The past couple of days I've been off my appetite a bit too which really isn't me! And I go through spells of feeling sick every morning and then other weeks it's fine.

Luckily for me I'd finished my A-Levels and was comfortable in a job for about a 2 years I think, but when I feel ill, after about 8 months we came to an agreement that I could no longer work there I tried two days just when it all first started and I felt so faint by the end of each shift it was unbelivable! I was pretty gutted but feels like a huge wait off my shoulder until I get my health back!

Like you, I'd never even heard of this before I fell ill - mine all started with viral pericarditis which is an infection around the heart.

Unfortunately, it sounds like it's normally a slow process to get better but it's helped me to just accept the fact I'm ill and will get better, it's just going to take time, rest and a bit of graded exercise can help, but I'm not too sure about that for me - it seems to make me feel worse.

If you're feeling completely drained, like I was most days, I began to see an extremely good homeopath who advised me to take Vitamin D3 each day, now it's winter - it's more difficult to take in, Co-enzyme Q10, and have you tried Berocca each morning? It all seems to be helping me fatigue wise - but not the dizziness, chest pains, breathing problems and all of that!

I only seem to get really panicky when I have to go to the doctors, which was pretty much every week towards the start of it all, I don't know why though - yet I was fine when I had to go to A&E twice and all the other hospital tests I've had - tilt table test, ENT specialist, heart scan and also saw a cardiologist for about 4 months. As well, sometimes I can get panicky if I go out anywhere and worry if I'm going to be OK or not - but I can't walk very far at all!

Hope this helps!

Simon


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Si

[lizziethecat]

( The above post from guest was from me, i forgot to log on haha )

[S!mon20]

Boots sell Berocca and most good pharmacies I think.


Happy Christmas <img src="images/smilies/smile.gif" border=0 />


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Si

[Pinkvintagerose]

Hi I'm new to the forum and I suffer the same symptoms. The dizziness being the worse along with blurred vision and I panic I will pass out. I had cbt but didn't find it helped especially as I used to panic about going to the appointments on my own!! I did find the dizziness disappeared once back in October when I went to Florida (perhaps it just took my mind off it) it's so good to know I'm not alone with these horrible symptoms but unfortunately can't help you with how to fix the panic attacks! Just try to remember you won't faint and nothing awful will happen to you <img src="images/smilies/smile.gif" border=0 /> keep positive!!