Mental Health Support And Me/cfs
ME/CFS is not a psychological disorder. However, living with a chronic illness is challenging, especially one that involves missing out on normal life activities, and this may lead to mental health problems like anxiety or depression.
Speaking with a qualified mental health professional who understands the challenges of living with ME/CFS can be very helpful. They can help with things such as coping with changes to schooling, employment or social activities, and symptoms such as difficulty with sleep or pain. With the availability of Medicare rebates for telehealth, many mental health practitioners now offer remote consultations which makes healthcare more accessible for those who are housebound or bedbound with ME/CFS.
Is Long Covid Just Another Form Of Chronic Fatigue
It is estimated that 85% of patients with long COVID experience debilitating fatigue.Gretchen Cuda Kroen
CLEVELAND, OhioAs scientists struggle to unpack the mysteryof long COVID, its hard to ignore that the majority of those who suffer from it share a commonsymptom – debilitating fatigue.
Researchers estimate that as many as 85% of those with long COVID experience a crippling fatigue that renders them unable to work or manage even simple daily tasks. Even showering, report some patients, is simply too taxing.
What many people may not realize, is that long before COVID, some patients reported the same symptoms of persistent, debilitating fatigue, brain fog, muscle pain and intolerance to exercise, following a variety of illnesses, injuries, or infections. Those conditions are collectively referred to asinfection-associated chronic diseases and include myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.But until recently, they had largely been dismissed by the medical community, which devoted few resources to understanding their cause.
Then came COVID, and science began paying more attention.
While the development of long COVID is sometimes framed as novel or mysterious, it is actually a well-recognized phenomenon, Proal said.
Most Common Chronic Fatigue Symptoms
How do you know when to seek a doctors diagnosis? Review the official list of nine chronic fatigue symptoms, including the one forwhich the condition is named:
1. Fatigue: extreme exhaustion after physical activity or mental exertion.2. Loss of memory or concentration, or brain fog, as some call it.3. Sore throat, one that seems to linger.4. Tender, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or armpits.5. Muscle pain, especially if its pain you cant explain.6. Joint pain affecting several joints, and that moves from one joint to another without redness or some swelling.7. Headaches of a new type, pattern, or severity, ones that seem different from those youve experienced in the past.8. Sleep issuesinsomnia and or other disorders that prevent you from feeling refreshed in the morning.9. Extreme exhaustion that lasts more than 24 hours after physical exercise or mental concentration.
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Eating And Drinking Habits
Diet can affect how tired or energetic a person feels. Maintaining a moderate and well-balanced diet can lead to better health and better sleep.
Here are some tips to try:
- Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day.
- Eat snacks that are low in sugar.
- Avoid highly processed food and follow a healthful diet.
- Consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid consuming caffeine in the afternoon and evening.
There are many foods that help beat fatigue.
Will I Still Be Able To Work With Me/cfs
Research shows that about half of people with ME/CFS work part-time or full-time jobs. For some people with ME/CFS, the ability to work is possible thanks to a supportive employer and certain workplace accommodations, including a flexible schedule, a quiet comfortable place to rest, and memory aids.
But, if you can’t work because of ME/CFS, you may be eligible for Social Security benefits. Learn more about applying for disability through the Social Security Administration.
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When To See A Healthcare Provider
You should see your healthcare provider if your fatigue:
- Has come on suddenly and is not the result of normal short-term physical or mental stress
- Is not relieved with rest, sleep, or removal of stressors
- Has become severe or chronic
- Is accompanied by other unexplained symptoms
- Irregular or fast heart rate
Find A Local Cervical Chiropractor For Improved Cfs Management
There is no cure for CFS, but there are relief options that can help manage the symptoms of people living with CFS. A big percentage of relief typically focuses on symptom relief and may include medications, cognitive behavioral therapy, and even lifestyle changes such as stress management and exercise. People with CFS also find complementary and alternative therapies helpful in managing their symptoms. But one technique CFS patients have also explored in the past is upper cervical chiropractic care.
This gentle, natural, and non-invasive technique involves correcting the upper cervical spine misalignment that may be linked to the onset of chronic fatigue syndrome. This type of chiropractic care is safe and effective for people of all ages. Studies have also shown its potential to relieve chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms.
An upper cervical chiropractor focuses on realigning the upper cervical spine and restoring normal function to the nervous system with the help of gentle adjustments. If you or someone you know suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome, you can easily find a reputable upper cervical chiropractor near you using our doctors directory. Getting your upper cervical spine balance and alignment checked regularly helps improve your quality of life. So dont wait any further call a chiropractic doctor today!
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Diagnosis And Treatment For Me/cfs
Currently, there is no single test to diagnose ME/CFS. Doctors make a diagnosis by excluding all other illnesses that might be causing symptoms and following accepted diagnostic criteria. The persons results from routine medical tests will often be normal, but additional tests may show abnormalities.
Children Young People And Me/cfs
ME/CFS can affect people of all ages, including the very young. Young people with ME/CFS, especially children under the age of ten, might have trouble knowing or articulating that something is wrong. They may not realise that their loss of stamina, or other symptoms they are experiencing, are not normal. Alternatively, they may not have the words to describe what they are feeling.
For both younger children and teenagers, schooling can be affected but ME/CFS is not school refusal. While school refusal can often be accompanied by physical complaints , and these complaints may tend to disappear when the young person stays home, the pattern is different with ME/CFS. In a young person with ME/CFS, some symptoms never ease and symptom exacerbation is triggered by activity. In ME/CFS, symptoms are likely to be worse after school attendance, and can reduce with pacing and rest, which includes time away from school or during holidays.
Some young people with ME/CFS can continue to attend school, and others may be too unwell for regular classroom attendance. Parents, healthcare providers, schools and the child or teenager need to work together to come up with a plan for the young persons continued education. This plan needs to take into account the energy limits of ME/CFS. Being creative and flexible is key and might include things like fewer subjects or school from home.
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Treatment Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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Cognitive-behavioral therapy
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Graded exercise
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Drugs for depression, sleep, or pain if indicated
In most cases, symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome lessen over time. However, it often takes years for symptoms to subside, and not all symptoms disappear. People may recover more fully if they focus more on what function they can recover than on how much function they have lost.
Specific symptoms such as pain, depression, and poor sleep are treated. Cognitive behavioral therapy and gradual graded exercise, which have helped some people, may be worth trying.
New Virus Same Disease
For most of its history ME/CFS lacked a clear definition and diagnostic criteria. There simply wasnt a unified theory of what was happening. The result was a lack of buy-in by the medical and scientific communities, which financially tied the hands of researchers and left patients strugglingto validate theirsymptoms.
But the emergence of long COVID has begun to change all that. The waves of people suddenly reporting identical symptoms, and the enormous scope of the problem, has quickly brought the urgency for a solution into sharper focus and pushed the U.S. government to devote billions of dollars to understanding the disease and developing potential therapies.
The many parallels between long COVID and ME/CFS have caused some to ask whether long COVID is simply another form of post-infectious fatigue, but with a clear cause and millions of potential research subjects.
For those who have devoted their lives to unraveling the mystery of ME/CFS this is an enormous boon for research and an opportunity to finally reveal the biological underpinnings of a disorder that have thus far eluded them.
The most constructive thing that could come from long COVID is that the very large investment in research will teach lessons that will apply well beyond long COVID to ME/CFS, other post-infectious and post-injury syndromes, and maybe even beyond, saidlongCOVID researcher Anthony Komaroff, of Harvard Medical School.
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Caring For Someone With Me/cfs
Having a supportive community of family, friends, school, work, employers and health workers, who understand the potential seriousness of ME/CFS, can also help improve the quality of life of people living with ME/CFS.
Everyone involved in supporting someone with ME/CFS needs to understand Post Exertional Malaise, which is an abnormal, biological response to exercise or activity. This means the patient will not be able to do all of the activities they used to be able to do, and will benefit from practical and emotional support. People with ME/CFS will each have different needs and preferences, so it is important to talk with them about how best to provide support. This may include help with daily routines, family life, accessing healthcare and other personal priorities.
How Is Cfs Treated
Theres currently no specific cure for CFS.
Each person has different symptoms and therefore may require different types of treatment to manage the disorder and relieve their symptoms.
Work with your team of healthcare providers to create the best treatment plan for you. They can go over the possible benefits and side effects of the therapies with you.
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Defined
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a debilitating condition that brings feelings of extreme fatigue to a person. Most often than not, this condition cannot be explained by any underlying medical condition. People living with CFS primarily complain about feeling exhausted the majority of the time, even after sleeping for long hours. The fatigue a person with CFS feels can be so severe that it begins to interfere with their life. CFS can affect a persons ability to work, study, or fulfill everyday responsibilities. This condition can potentially reduce a persons quality of life.
The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
People with CFS have different symptoms and the duration of these symptoms varies from person to person. The symptoms ranges from mild, moderate or severe and thus affecting the quality of life destructively.
One person may present with two or more symptoms at a time and some symptoms changes over time. Most reviews documented these as common symptoms of CFS
- Overtiredness constantly both mentally and physically. Feeling devastated at all ties. sleep disturbance, un-refreshing sleep
- Severe to abnormal exhaustion after a physical workout.
- Feebleness of muscle and joints accompanied by pain.
- Low attention span, forgetfulness, persistent sore throat, headaches, and flu-like signs.
- Nausea and sickly feeling.
- Being bloated, stomach ache, diarrhoea and constipation and other Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
- Abnormal allergies and sensitivity to alcohol, caffeine, some foods or medications.
- anxiety, low mood and depression
Due to the lack of appropriate diagnostic equipment to test for chronic fatigue syndrome, there is generally poor understanding of the condition. More studies need to be conducted until an appropriate diagnostic tool is found as this will change the lives of affected patients.
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Can Nootropics Help With Chronic Fatigue
Nootropics are supplements that have been shown to help with a variety of cognitive functions, including energy levels. Some nootropics that may be helpful for chronic fatigue include caffeine, piracetam, and Rhodiola rosea.
Caffeine is a stimulant that can help to increase energy levels and improve focus, while piracetam is a cognitive enhancer that can help to reduce brain fog and improve cognitive performance. Rhodiola rosea is an adaptogen herb that has been shown to help improve energy levels and reduce stress levels.
Another good supplement to consider for the best energy supplements for chronic fatigue includes CBD. CBD is also known for its energizing properties. CBD is a non-psychotropic compound found in cannabis that does not produce the “high” associated with marijuana. CBD has been shown to help improve energy levels, reduce anxiety and stress, and improve sleep quality.
The Importance Of Feeling Understood
I managed to hold it together while in my lawyers office, but once outside I immediately broke down into tears.
Despite the fact that Im used to responses such as I get tired too and I wish I could nap all the time like you do, it still hurts when I hear them.
Its incredibly frustrating to have a debilitating condition thats frequently brushed off as being just tired or as something that could be fixed by lying down for a few minutes.
Dealing with chronic illness and disability is already a lonely and isolating experience, and being misunderstood only increases those feelings. Beyond that, when medical providers or others who have key roles in our health and wellness dont understand us, it can impact the quality of care we receive.
It seemed vitally important to me to find creative ways to describe my struggles with CFS so other people could better understand what I was going through.
But how do you describe something when the other person has no frame of reference for it?
You find the parallels with your condition to things people understand and have direct experience with. Here are three ways I describe living with CFS that Ive found particularly useful.
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How Is Me/cfs Diagnosed
Because many symptoms of ME/CFS are also symptoms of other illnesses or side effects of medicine, your doctor will need to do physical exams and tests to help determine if you have ME/CFS. There are no standard lab tests to diagnose ME/CFS.
If you think you may have ME/CFS, see your doctor. Your doctor may:
- Ask you about your physical and mental health.
- Do a physical exam.
- Order lab tests based on your symptoms, such as urine and blood tests, which will tell your doctor if something other than ME/CFS might be causing your symptoms.
- Order tests that check for problems found in people with ME/CFS.
- Classify you as having ME/CFS if:
- You have the main symptoms of ME/CFS, including extreme fatigue or exhaustion that does not go away and that prevents you from doing the things you want and need to do for you and your family exhaustion that comes after mental or physical exercise sleep problems and pain AND
- You have had the extreme fatigue and other symptoms for 6 months or longer AND
- You and your doctor cannot find another explanation for your symptoms.
The process to make a final diagnosis of ME/CFS can take a long time, so try to be patient. It is usually best to develop a relationship and follow up often with one doctor so that he or she can get to know you and see how you respond to treatment over time.
Living With Your Mother
The other day a friend asked me if I wanted to join her in canvassing the neighborhood selling chocolate almonds. The answer was an easy, No. Ill be entertaining my mother-in-law tonight. Living with this less-than-desirable house guest doesnt come with many up-sides, so I figure using it as a excuse now and then is fair.
post-exertional malaise . Simply put, this is the all-kinds-of-terrible you feel 24 to 48 hours after participating in rigorous physical activity. So while your mother-in-law may appear to be enjoying her time on the BMX track, make no mistake, she will make you pay later. There will be no telling what injuries she may acquire and how long you will have to hear about them.
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Causes And Risk Factors
There is no known exact cause of CFS to date. But this condition is believed to result from viral infections, psychological stress, and hormonal imbalances. Some experts also believe that CFS may be related to immune dysfunction triggered by an infection.
Several case studies also note a few CFS risk factors in an effort to help patients manage their flare-ups and work around routines or practices that leave them susceptible to the condition. These risk factors include the following:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome In Children
Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome have a very negative consequence on children, it affects their schooling experience. These some of the impact of CFS in young children
- infrequent school attendance
- inability to carry out classroom tasks ar even palying outside classrooms.
- Difficulty in making friends as the child does not have enough energy to play with others.
- Relationships with peers
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Can Complementary Or Alternative Medicine Help Manage The Symptoms Of Me/cfs
Some people say that complementary or alternative medicine has helped their ME/CFS symptoms. Keep in mind that many alternative treatments, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies claim to cure ME/CFS, but some might do more harm than good. Talk to your doctor before trying alternative therapies to be sure they’re safe.
Too Much Or Too Little Activity
A person with fatigue may not feel able to exercise, and a lack of exercise can cause further fatigue. A lack of exercise may eventually cause , making it harder and more tiring to perform a physical task.
Fatigue can also affect healthy individuals after prolonged, intense mental or physical activity.
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