Immufix Nutritional Supplement

After my GCSE’s we went to Italy and Austria on holiday. Half way through the holiday I had about a five day spell where I was very tired and just slept.

Consulted my GP who did a blood test for anaemia. I was told that I was borderline and so to watch what I ate and take a multi vitamin.

I started the sixth form and was able to study full time for 3 A levels as well as work on a Saturday. The bouts of fatigue continued. I would have 7-10 days where I would feel very very tired and have to sleep for at least 12 hours daily.

Due to the bouts of fatigue I reduced the number of hours I worked on a Saturday to just 4.

I consulted my GP again as the bouts of fatigue had worsened and were interrupting my school work. I had several blood tests and a chest X-ray. I was told that it was CFS, but was referred to a consultant physician for a second opinion.

Fatigue suddenly worsened and I began to suffer severe abdominal pains. I was unable to attend school on a regular basis.

The fatigue continued to worsen. I was now weak, had abdominal pains, back ache and was suffering with dizziness. I consulted my GP who referred me for an ultrasound (unfortunately there was a months wait).

I collapsed at home and was taken by ambulance to hospital. I was now suffering from vertigo, had a lot of abdominal pains and back ache and a temperature. I was admitted due to suspected appendicitis. I was so weak and tired that I was unable to walk and so was in a wheelchair. I was kept in until 14^th December. I had a pelvic ultrasound which was normal as well as several blood tests.

Saw the consultant physician privately. His diagnosis was CFS, but he arranged for me have a pelvic CT scan as I still had abdominal pains. I was unable to walk due to the dizziness and was suffering with vertigo. I was told that I was suffering with postural hypertension which is a symptom of ME and as it was so severe it was the reason why when ever I stood up my legs gave way and was therefore unable to walk. I had several blood tests, all of which were normal. My lymph count was slightly high which is also a symptom of ME.

I was unable to walk more than a few steps, was very weak and tired. I was also still suffering with vertigo as well as abdominal pain. I was however slightly improving. I was prescribed 8mg Betahistine tablets for the vertigo and ibuprofen for the pain.

I had a very bad night. I was very dizzy, shivering, the abdominal pain had got worse and I was very weak to the point of being bed bound.

GP visited. I was in a lot of pain and felt very spaced out and weak. I had also developed light sensitivity and was wearing sunglasses. I was becoming weaker and the fatigue, pain and dizziness were worsening. The GP could not find anything apparent when I was examined and said that there was no point admitting me until Monday.

Had an appointment with Consultant, but was too ill too attend myself. My parents went along and the Consultant admitted me for further tests as the symptoms presented were similar to meningitis.

The symptoms continued to worsen, a bed was available and I was admitted by ambulance to hospital. I had several blood tests, a chest X-ray and a lumbar puncture. All were normal and the diagnosis was CFS and that I had had two bad viral infections. I was kept in hospital until 8^th January 1999. Whilst in hospital I had physiotherapy to help me walk. I was much better and was able to walk but not far.

I began to make progress. I was given co-codamol as I had a bad headache and back pain from the lumbar puncture. Once the headache had gone I was much better. I spent most of the day resting.

I started to attend physiotherapy once a week. I went in the hydrotherapy pool where we did some stretches and gentle swimming. I was now able to walk for 5 minutes.

My improvement continued. I withdrew my UCAS application. I was still spending most of the day resting, but for the first time since November was able to go into town shopping. I could only manage one shop and didn’t have any energy to try things on, and was worn out for the rest of the day!

I returned to school I was only able to attend two lessons a week an hour long. One on a Tuesday and one on a Thursday. I had chosen to take my German A level and take my Maths and Economics in summer 2000.

I continued to make slow progress and was able to walk for 10 minutes. My first German exam was 20^th April – earlier than I had expected. I was finding that I could only manage to go to school for the two lessons and didn’t have the energy to do any work in-between the lessons. I had a German tutor for my exams and so that was instead of my doing any revision on my own. My memory and concentration were appalling and if I did try to do any revision after 20 minutes I was shattered.

I continued to attend two lessons a week and on occasions had even been able to do a ½ hours homework in-between time. I was still attending physio and was now going swimming on a Saturday. I was doing more around the house. I could manage to make myself lunch, but was not able to make myself tea, unless it was a microwave meal. I had even managed to go out for a meal on an evening. My normal bedtime was about 8-8.30pm and I found that if I was out later I suffered for the next week.

I was now on study leave. I was able to do about 1 hour revision a week max. This was broken down into 10 – 15 minute sessions and the majority of it was done with my tutor. I was still spending the majority of the day resting.

I did my German written exam. I was in a separate room as it was too tiring for me to sit in the room with all the other candidates. The exam was 3 hours long and there was not way that I was well enough to manage that length of time. I managed 1 ½ hours of the exam, but had to put my head down on the table and sleep for 20 minutes half way through. I was very tired for the week afterwards.

My German listening exam. This was 1 ½ hours long with a break in the middle. I had to take this exam in the room with the other candidates. Not only was this very tiring but also quite off putting as I seemed to work much slower that everyone else. I was prescribed 40mg propranolol to help calm my nerves. Unfortunately this affected my blood pressure and when I stood up at the end of the exam I fainted.

I had continued to make progress. I was able to go to the Lake District on holiday for a week. I found the journey so tiring that I was not able to do much while I was there. I was now able to walk 10 minutes, but still rested for the majority of the day. When I went into town I was now able to manage about 20-30 minutes and was able to go to the supermarket to help with part of the shopping.

A level results day. I got a C in my German exam. Unfortunately I was in bed ill with a virus. My ME relapsed and I was back to how I was mid January 1999.

I started to make progress. As well as ME I was suffering depression and panic attacks.

Started taking Zispin initially 15mg then 30mg. I was beginning to make progress, but it was slow. I had decided not to return to school to complete my A levels, but to have a year off to focus on getting better.

I started going to physiotherapy again. Although I was slowly getting better. Every morning I would wake up with a sore throat, swollen glands and feel hung-over. It was like I just could not get myself going.

I started taking Immufix®. I seemed to feel better and as a result more confident.

I went to Spain for a week. My energy levels were improving dramatically. When I returned from Spain I started driving again and going to the gym for a minimal programme lasting 15 minutes. My social life also improved. I could stay out until 9.30pm and was able to go to bed later.

I started making plans for returning to college September 2000. I was now driving myself around town, going shopping on my own and was able to manage to help to do the full supermarket shop.