I'm in the Georgetown CFS Study!

I'm in the Georgetown CFS Study, and so is my husband Kenny (he's a healthy control subject)! The study is called "Proteomics of Cerebrospinal Fluid in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome."

I got verbal confirmation last week of our actual study dates (i.e., when they want us to be at the hospital), but I wanted to wait until I received written confirmation before I shouted about it on my blog. The confirmation came in late this afternoon. We'll be flying to Washington, DC in November!

I've been hoping to get into this study since August 1 (see my August 1, August 18, September 10, September 22, and September 27 posts for background).

This post is relatively short because I'm exhausted and brain fog is closing in, but I just had to post this update.

If you're keeping up with my flu shot update, you'll be happy to know that I still haven't had any sort of major crash. I'm exhausted, but still ok.

Today's Activities: work. Today's Most Annoying Symptoms: exhaustion, muscle fatigue, sore right and left lymph nodes in neck, low-grade fever 99.3.

Mood (10 is best): 8
Energy (10 is best): 2
Physical Discomfort (10 is worst): 4

P.S. If you know any healthy people who live near DC or are willing to travel there, please tell them about this research. The research coordinators are in need of more healthy volunteers. Volunteers will be compensated $400. Click on the study's name above for the official research description and contact info.

So Far, No Crash

I'm still feeling pretty awful from my flu shot yesterday, but so far I haven't had a big crash. Of course, I'm trying to take it easy so as not to upset the delicate balance that is my immune system. I still feel achy all over, and the lymph node under my right armpit is starting to hurt; but on the upside, my low-grade fever is slightly lower at 99.0.

Have I mentioned that I rarely take any headache or fever medications?

Even though I get headaches and run low-grade fevers often, I almost never take medications to alleviate the symptoms (I can't even remember the last time I took anything). I think part of the reason is because I have taken so many prescription and over-the-counter medications for so many years, that I'm trying not to add anything else foreign to my body. Maybe it's my form of rebellion.

The exception to my no-medication mantra is when I feel a migraine coming on (which has been a rare occurrence this year). Anyone who has had a migraine will understand!

I'm hoping that this no-major-crash thing sticks around. If I make it to the weekend without a major crash, that means this year's flu shot was a good one for me. I'm feeling hopeful.

Today's Activities: work. Today's Most Annoying Symptoms: exhaustion, muscle fatigue, headache, 99.0 low-grade fever, nausea, mild vertigo, full body aches, painful injection site, mild itching. Update (later evening): diarrhea.

Mood (10 is best): 7
Energy (10 is best): 3
Physical Discomfort (10 is worst): 6

Got the Regular Flu Shot Today

Ugh. I got the regular flu shot today, and my body is not enjoying it. I ache all over, have a low-grade fever, and just had a nasty bout of diarrhea (which I doubt has anything to do with the shot, but it certainly adds to the discomfort). Basically, this is what the beginning of a crash feels like.

I know there is some debate about whether people with CFIDS should get the shot, but both my regular PCP (who treats a lot of patients with CFIDS) and my allergist have always recommend it for me...especially because I have asthma.

I now make it a priority to get the flu shot every year because the two years I decided not to get the shot (ages 23 and 24...or was it 22 and 23?), I caught the full blown flu with 101-104 degree fevers to boot. Having the flu with asthma is awful and scary. With the flu shot, I've managed to avoid any major cases of influenza.

I'm hoping that I don't have a big crash as a result of this injection. Sometimes I bounce back to "normal" quite quickly after the flu shot, sometimes I don't. Only time will tell.

Today's Activities: home (1/2 day), work (1/2 day). Today's Most Annoying Symptoms: exhaustion, muscle fatigue, headache, 99.2 low-grade fever, nausea, full body aches, painful injection site, diarrhea, mild itching.

Mood (10 is best): 7
Energy (10 is best): 3
Physical Discomfort (10 is worst): 7