The Other Care Providers
There are other people that might be able to help you other care providers like chiropractors, physical therapists and even massage therapists. There are good chances that you would be going to one of them and you could ask them if they could recommend a good doctor that will help in your treatment of CFS.
How Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Is Treated
There is no standard treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, clinically known as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome . However, there are many options for managing symptoms and improving quality of life, including lifestyle changes, stress management, therapy, and medications. With the help of your healthcare provider and other caregivers, these can be tailored to your specific symptoms.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Give The Healthcare Providers A Check
Once you’ve compiled a list of healthcare providers in your area, you can verify their credentials at the American Medical Association’s DoctorFinder website. Also, see which ones are covered by your insurance plan and who accepts Medicare/Medicaid .
Next, you can call the offices of healthcare providers still on your list and talk to the office managers. Tell them you have chronic fatigue syndrome and ask what kind of experience the practitioner has diagnosing and treating it. You may also want to ask how long it will take to get an appointment, and whether you’ll be able to speak to the healthcare provider when you call with problems or questions.
You’ll also want to find out whether the healthcare provider is accepting new patients, if the office will accept your insurance , and whether payment or co-pays are due at the time of your appointment.
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Treating Cfs By Strengthening The Immune System
Image: Lingzhi mushroom on Wikipedia
Among Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients certain parts of the immune system tend to be weak. Strengthening these weak parts might be of benefit. An important test for immune system weakness is called Natural Killer Cell Function. NK Cell functional testing is a difficult test to do. For selected patients we send out this test. However, whether or not NK cell functional activity is low, strengthening the CFS immune system could likely be useful. One powerful immune stimulant, AHCC, a form of Shitake mushroom, has been shown to suppress HHV-6 virus levels in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Reishi mushroom might have similar good effects. Thus AHCC and Reishi mushroom might be considered as natural additional treatments for Epstein Barr or HHV-6 viruses.
Does A Rheumatologist Treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Doctors that specialise in treating CFS include rheumatologists, immunologists and endocrinologists. So yes, you can consult with me about your chronic fatigue symptoms and undergo a set of diagnostic tests that will help uncover the cause of your symptoms.
The main aim of getting a proper diagnosis and the right treatment for CFS is to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life effectively. Many people with CFS can work hold down a job that allows some flexibility.
However, it is essential to manage your symptoms with the best combination of medications, therapy, diet and lifestyle practices to make sure you can live your very best life. This is why it makes sense to work with my team and me to ensure you get the very best support.
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Stress Anxiety And Mental Health
People with ME/CFS are more likely than the general population to have mood disorders, including anxiety and depression.
Researchers are still investigating whether there is a biological mechanism at play, or whether the day-to-day challenges of living with ME/CFS and being unable to do normal activities lead to the increased risk for depression.
Treatment for mental health conditions related to ME/CFS includes mindfulness and relaxation therapies, as well as medication to treat depression or anxiety.
What Causes Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
The underlying cause of ME/CFS is still not well understood. Prior to a ME/CFS diagnosis, patients are mostly healthy, fully functional and have a good quality of life.
- Approximately 50-80% of people with ME/CFS start suddenly with a flu-like illness.
- ME/CFS is often found after infection by a virus, bacterium, or parasite, suggesting an immunological dysfunction, accompanied by a strong genetic predisposition, as shown in twin analysis.
- Viral involvement is a well-supported theory due to the high index of an infectious onset in at least half of the patients.
- Life stressors can cause a negative impact on the neuroendocrine circuits of stress, leading to other complications besides immunological impairment.
- In addition to immune and viral aetiology, the attenuation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis is documented in adult and adolescent ME/CFS patients, with marked evidence of systemic hypocortisolism, which can influence immunological and neuronal homeostasis.
- Studies have reported enhanced sympathetic nervous activity, as well as increased levels of catecholamines in ME/CFS, providing some evidence for a neuroactive pattern in the pathophysiology of ME/CFS.
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Living With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Although experts have not yet found a cure for CFS/ME, many people who have the illness are able to make lifestyle changes and find treatments that allow them to reduce or manage their symptoms. Improvement is possible by living within your limits and working with a doctor to find treatments that help you. There are also many CFS/ME support groups both online and in-person. Meeting with such a group might prove to be helpful.
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Identify Treatments Youve Tried
In addition to tracking the symptoms you have experienced, keep a list of treatments you have tried. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a medications and supplements list you can use to track your medications, their dosage, how well they help, and if you experienced side effects. Write a separate list of other treatments you have tried beyond medications and supplements, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, exercise, acupuncture, or meditation.
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Nutrition And Supplemental Therapy
As with hormones, Dr. Borenstein will perform a series of tests to determine your vitamin and nutrient levels. Then hell prescribe a supplement plan/diet to address your deficiencies and their related symptoms which present differently in, and are delivered differently to every patient.
To maintain your normal health and optimal energy levels, he may also prescribe a diet that will flush out your specific irritants. If your tests show you have candida, for example, he will determine the strongest candida killer for your age and body type. If it turns out youre deficient in magnesium, acetyl L-carnitine, glutathione, vitamins B-12, A, B, C or D he will prescribe the optimal supplementation in the most efficient form.
As research shows that only about 30% of oral vitamins are absorbed and available to the body, Dr. Borenstein prefers to use IV infusion to deliver these treatments:
Myers Cocktail
This powerful treatment combines vitamin C, several B vitamins, and magnesium to provide a patient’s metabolism with optimal cellular and immune function.
The cocktail is usually given 1-2 times per week, and beneficial effects are usually felt by the fourth visit. Many patients with chronic conditions choose to continue the infusions every 1-4 weeks or when they feel their energy slipping.
How To Boost Energy Faster
It is important to know that the human body is mostly made up of water. So if you can bump up your water intake and match it up with some easy-to-do home-based exercises, you can count on a positive change in a shorter time frame
Dehydration in your body can drop your blood sugar levels rather quickly, thus pushing the body to work harder into supplying oxygen and nutrients to all cells. This would court more expense of energy and would make you exhausted even faster.
Drinking enough water every day would also boost your metabolism rate with amazing results and help you feel more energetic at times. It may also help you get rid of health issues like mental fog, poor concentration, dizziness, and short-term memory.
Here are some of the best tricks you can try to boost your energy and vitality.
1. Aromatherapy
Grab some dried rosemary and crush it up in your hand. You can hold this under your nose, or boil it into a rosemary tea and let the steam from the tea rise gently over your face. The smell of this herb will help stimulate your mind and give you energy.
2. Cover Your Face with a Cold Washcloth
Soak a washcloth in icy water, wring it out, and then place the cold cloth over your face. The cool temperature will stimulate your facial muscles and your mind, giving you renewed energy. You may do this multiple times in a day to feel rejuvenated.
3. Get some sunlight
4. Go for a brisk walk
5. Drink green tea
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How We Do It
The CPFRC provides educational opportunities for patients and health care providers through this Website, participation in research studies, presentations at scientific and patient conferences, studies and articles published in peer-reviewed scientific and patient-advocacy journals.
Internally, we continue to educate ourselves by attending lectures given by faculty and researchers from our team, other U-M divisions and invited external speakers. In addition, we encourage junior faculty from U-M and elsewhere to become involved in this field.
Shortness Of Breath And Tiredness
You should be worried if you have been feeling tired, exhausted, or breathless, for longer durations of time. It could surely spell trouble for you if you have been experiencing these symptoms for over six months now, especially when there are no medical reasons for them to occur. A few medical tests could ascertain the underlying cause.
It may also come from ingesting toxins or after Hepatitis or Jaundice and can leave you hollowed out from within. Whatever be the underlying causes, we recommend going for the requisite pulmonary function tests to determine if your total lung capacity has reduced, and if so, what corrective measures can you take to set it right faster.
Note: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as an ailment is easy to detect but takes time to go away, and may signify some serious health conditions related to the liver and heart. The sooner you get it diagnosed, the better it is.
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Home Remedies And Lifestyle Changes
Making some lifestyle changes may help reduce your symptoms.
Limiting or eliminating your caffeine intake can help you sleep better and ease your insomnia. You should limit or avoid nicotine and alcohol too.
Try to avoid napping during the day if its hurting your ability to sleep at night.
Create a sleep routine. Go to bed at the same time every night and aim to wake up around the same time every day.
The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Also Presents Problems In Definition And Measurement Is Associated With Even More Morbidity Than Chronic Fatigue Itself And Is Often
For years, many professionals within the medical community did not recognize cfs as a true condition, nor was there agreement on its prevalence. Describes the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of nephrotic syndrome in children for parents and a physical exam may help diagnose childhood nephrotic syndrome. For the clinical picture of chronic pancreatitis , the following main syndromes are characteristic: Progressive synosteosis in aperts syndrome , with a description of roentgenographic. There are different theories about what causes chronic fatigue syndrome and few certainties. in almost all cases, the etiology is unknown different kinds of leukemia are believed to have different. The first step is to see if there is any other explainable cause for your fatigue. Acute hf develops within a few hours and requires immediate hospitalization in the hospital. Causes abnormalities of chromosomes have been found in. The role of schauerte e. Diagnostic criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome6. Fatigue can be defined as a pervasive sense of tiredness b: The exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is unknown, but it is believed that a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors.
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Should I See A Rheumatologist For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
If you go to see your GP and they suspect that you have CFS, they will usually refer you to see a specialist, such as a neurologist or a rheumatologist, to check for other health conditions that may be a cause for your symptoms.
A specialist rheumatologist such as myself can run a series of tests to help find the cause. You may have other health conditions and still have chronic fatigue syndrome.
Chronic Fatigue Cause No : Undiagnosed Urinary Tract Infection
Although most women associate a urinary tract infection with symptoms such as burning or urgency, sometimes fatigue is the only clue.
In most instances, a UTI is caused by bacteria in the urinary tract, often the result of improper bathroom hygiene . Sexual intercourse can increase the risk because it can push bacteria from the vagina into the urethra.
If your doctor suspects that you have a UTI, your urine will be tested. Treatment is quick and easy, and usually involves an oral antibiotic medication. You can expect the fatigue to lift within a week or less if the antibiotic works effectively.
If your symptoms return, get tested again. Some women have chronic UTIs, which are very difficult to resolve. If this is your case, ask your doctor about preventive care, which may include low dose antibiotics.
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What Is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is persistent and crippling fatigue lasting 6 months or longer. People living with ME/CFS often experience other symptoms, like unrefreshing sleep and muscle aches. The condition is also sometimes called chronic fatigue syndrome.
Doctors do not know what causes ME/CFS, and there is no cure. You may be able to manage symptoms with cognitive-behavioral therapy, exercise, and medications, like antidepressants and sleep aids. The goal of treatment is to make symptoms as manageable as possible to increase your quality of life.
How Do Doctors Treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Doctors treat your symptoms, including pain, depression, and not being able to sleep. They also try:
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Therapy to help you focus on positive thoughts and getting better
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A graded exercise program, in which you slowly add activities to your daily routine, such as walking, swimming, cycling, or jogging
Usually the symptoms get better over time, but it may take years or they may not go away completely.
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Keep Track Of Your Symptoms And Their Onset
Tracking the frequency, timing, and severity of your symptoms might help your doctor better understand what youre experiencing. Tracking your activity level and symptoms can also help you draw connections and learn your limits so that you can reduce flare-ups.
When tracking your symptoms, remember to write down everything ailing you, not just fatigue. People with CFS/ME often also have issues with pain, cognition, such as memory and concentration, and sleep. You might also consider keeping a sleep diary, so your doctor can see how well youre sleeping and determine if sleep might play a role in your symptoms.
Home Remedies And Lifestyle
Making lifestyle changes may greatly impact how you feel, and the specific changes you need can depend on the severity of your illness and whether certain activities exacerbate your symptoms. While some people may see the tremendous benefit just from making changes to the way they eat, for example, others may find that more sweeping changessuch as a job changemay be necessary.
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Frequently Asked Questions :
3. Acupuncture.
4. What Is The Most Common Cause Of Chronic Fatigue?
The most common cause of chronic fatigue is psychological stress something that affects all of us if you think about it. So, if you have been under a lot of stress recently, then you need to check whether you are always exhausted and whether this has anything to do with chronic fatigue syndrome or not!
Why Is This Important
The new research finds many CFS/ME patients feel unsupported by health professionals, which can make the illness all the more distressing. Patients want to be listened to, have their symptoms believed and be given realistic support that takes their life circumstances into account. They also want their beliefs about CFS/ME to be acknowledged, even if they are different to current medical theories. However, the study also found that views about the condition are highly polarised. This means it is challenging for professionals to provide the kind of care people want for CFS/ME.
The researchers suggest healthcare professionals should give personalised, empathetic care to their CFS/ME patients, and suggest treatments that minimise the impact on daily life. They say health professionals should provide a sense of safety. This way, patients may feel more able to work through complex issues, such as the mental health implications of CFS/ME, without feeling defensive or dismissed.
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Guidelines For Diagnosing Me/cfs
Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence say doctors should consider diagnosing ME/CFS if a patient has extreme tiredness that cannot be explained by other causes and the tiredness:
- started recently, has lasted a long time, or keeps coming back
- means you cannot do the things you used to do
- gets worse after activity or gentle exercise, such as a short walk
You must also have some of these symptoms:
- problems sleeping, such as insomnia
- muscle or joint pain
- fast or irregular heartbeats
- doing exercise or concentrating makes your symptoms worse
The GP should consult a specialist if theyre unsure about the diagnosis or if you have severe symptoms.
If a child or young person under 18 has symptoms of possible ME/CFS, they may be referred to a paediatrician.
As the symptoms of ME/CFS are similar to those of many common illnesses that usually get better on their own, a diagnosis of ME/CFS may be considered if you do not get better as quickly as expected.
The diagnosis should be confirmed by a doctor after other conditions have been ruled out, and if your symptoms have lasted at least 3 months.
Page last reviewed: 29 October 2021 Next review due: 29 October 2024
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