How Do You Treat Chronic Fatigue

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms

While the term chronic fatigue is fairly descriptive of this crippling illness, it doesnt tell the entire story. Chronic fatigue often starts suddenly, with flu-like symptoms. But unlike the flu, it can last a lifetime.

In addition to the profound fatigue experienced, other serious symptoms often accompany CFS, such as:

• joint pain that moves from one spot to another
• digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome .

Sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome also experience significant alterations in levels of irritability, mood swings, panic attacks, anxiety and depression. According to a study published in Family Practice, 36 percent of individuals with CFS were clinically depressed and 22 percent had seriously considered suicide in the past year.

Simply, the emotional and mental side effects of CFS cannot be overlooked, and treatment must include the mind, body and spirit.

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.

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How To Treat Chronic Fatigue And Fibromyalgia

Having had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and fibromyalgia , with the medical system having no idea how to help, I understand what you are going through. I also know you can get well!

I came down with what I call the “Drop Dead Flu” in 1975 while in medical school, which triggered my CFS/FMS. As I was working to pay my own way through school, the illness left me homeless and sleeping in parks in Oklahoma. It is exciting, though, to see how life magically brings us what we need. I met many natural health practitioners while homeless, each of whom taught me bits and pieces of what I needed to learn to get well. And I did!

After returning to medical school, I have spent the last 30+ years researching and treating chronic fatigue and chronic pain . Our published research shows 91 percent improve using our “SHINE Protocol,” and hundreds of thousands have been helped. You can be one of them! Let’s do it now.

Ready to Get Well?

What Is Causing These Syndromes?

CFS/FMS acts as a “circuit breaker,” with the hypothalamus decreasing its function to protect the individual in the face of what is perceived to be an overwhelming stress . This center controls sleep, hormones, temperature, blood flow, blood pressure and sweating. In addition, if your muscles do not have enough energy, they will get stuck in the shortened position and you’ll be in pain . This “energy crisis” can be caused by any of a number of infections, stresses or injuries.

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Signs And Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia

Body wide tenderness and widespread chronic pain are the notable features of fibromyalgia. This pain affects several areas of the body, significantly affecting the tendons, joints, and muscles.

Stiffness is common in the joint, as well. Although the pain generally affects the areas below and above the waist, localized regions such as the neck, lower back, or shoulders may be affected. People with fibromyalgia often feel flu-like symptoms, as though they hurt all over.

It is common for some sufferers to experience flare-ups situations where the chronic pain and other symptoms last for prolonged periods of time.

Another symptom of fibromyalgia is fatigue. It especially manifests upon waking up in the morning, but it may also be noticeable mid-afternoon. It is common for people to be awakened with a light feeling, even after sleeping all night. This feeling may be combined with multiple disturbances during the night, with difficulty getting back to sleep.

Although body wide pain, sleeping difficulty, and fatigue are hallmarks of fibromyalgia, the illness is also associated with other symptoms such as disordered thinking. Patients have reported cognitive disturbances, brain fog and difficulty with enough focus to complete set tasks.

Other symptoms may include headaches, abdominal pain, pelvic pain, heart palpitations, diarrhea, dry eyes and mouth, tingling and numbness in extremities, nausea, and weight gain.

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Joint Pain: Youre Not Alone

In a recent national survey, nearly one out of every three adults in the US reported having joint pain within the last 30 days. In this survey, deep pain was the most common complaint, followed by shoulder and hip pain

Joints connect your bones together, providing your body with support as you move. Joint pain can impact just about any part of your body, including the ankles, feet and hands. While joint pain can occur at any age, it becomes increasingly common as a person ages.

Damage to your joints caused by injury or disease cannot only interfere with movement, but can also be a common cause of pain. Some of the most common conditions leading to painful joints include rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, osteoarthritis, gout, strains, sprains and other injuries, such as in sports.

As with back pain, joint pain can vary greatly in terms of severity in the amount of time that it lasts. For example, joint pain that resolves within a few weeks is referred to as acute. However, many people suffer from chronic joint pain, or pain that lingers for weeks or months at a time.

Other common causes of joint pain include:

• Autoimmune diseases, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
• Seasonal allergies

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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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Youll Need Professional Help Sorting Through Potential Underlying Causes

What Must Be Gotten Rid of to Unleash Vital Energy?

Uncover and remove irritants, toxins, allergens, and infections.

Are There Unmet Needs Stalling Energy Production?

Uncover and treat nutritional deficiencies, hormone deficiencies, non-restorative sleep, and lack of movement.

Get Started Now:

• Remove excesses of stress, irritants, distractions, and negative energy from your environment.
• Create a positive mindset about recovery.
• Keep in mind that even those things youll likely need professional help with are part of your domain of control. Knowledge is power. Read through the following carefully and bring this information to your care providers.

What Questions Might A Healthcare Provider Ask To Help Diagnose An Autoimmune Disease

When your healthcare provider interviews you, they might ask you one or more of the following questions:

• What medications are you taking?
• What are your symptoms?
• How severe are your symptoms?
• Have you had to go to the emergency department because of your symptoms?
• How long have you had these symptoms?
• In what ways are your symptoms affecting your quality of life?
• Is there anything that triggers your symptoms? Anything that makes them worse?
• Is there a history of autoimmune diseases in your family?
• Which autoimmune diseases run in your family?
• What over-the-counter or alternative medicines have you tried, if any?

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Heavy Metal And Chemical Exposure

Heavy metal and chemical exposure can be a major contributor to chronic fatigue. Workplace exposure is the most likely culprit and unfortunately some people working in these industries get exposed to levels that lead then to chronic fatigue syndrome. There are a number of different tests for heavy metals and chemicals, with varying levels of efficacy. Treatments for heavy metal and chemical exposure illness include binders, minerals, detoxification, elimination and liver support. It is imperative that these therapies are guided by an experienced practitioner as moving too quickly can lead to worsening of symptoms.

Support Your Immune System

Chronic infections may be an underlying cause of chronic fatigue, but they are widely undiagnosed.

What to do: In addition to getting tested for underlying infections, consider blends of Siberian ginseng, samento, sarsaparilla, guaiacum, astragalus, resveratrol, and cat’s claw for their immune-strengthening properties.

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How Is Cfs Diagnosed

CFS is a very challenging condition to diagnose.

According to the Institute of Medicine, as of 2015, CFS occurs in about 836,000 to 2.5 million Americans. Its estimated, however, that 84 to 91 percent have yet to receive a diagnosis.

There are no medical tests to screen for CFS. Its symptoms are similar to many other conditions. Many people with CFS dont look sick, so doctors may not recognize that they indeed have a health condition.

In order to receive a CFS diagnosis, your doctor will rule out other potential causes and review your medical history with you.

Theyll confirm that you at least have the core symptoms previously mentioned. Theyll also ask about the duration and severity of your unexplained fatigue.

Ruling out other potential causes of your fatigue is a key part of the diagnosis process. Some conditions with symptoms that resemble those of CFS include:

• sleep disorders

The side effects of certain drugs, such as antihistamines and alcohol, can mimic symptoms of CFS as well.

Because of the similarities between symptoms of CFS and many other conditions, its important to not self-diagnose. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms. They can work with you to get relief.

Eliminate Food Sensitivities And Allergens

More and more research is pointing to a link between food allergies and sensitivities and chronic fatigue syndrome. Allergies to certain foods, pollen, metals and other environmental chemicals may be causing the rising number of individuals with CFS.

According to a study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, IBS, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue are linked, and researchers were surprised. In a study of 84 patients that had been referred for unexplained digestive problems, nearly all patients qualified for a diagnosis of IBS, 85 percent had chronic fatigue syndrome and 71 percent had fibromyalgia. The common denominator, researchers in this study believe, is poor digestion and food sensitivities.

Gluten & Other Common Intolerances

For example, one of todays most common food sensitivities is agluten sensitivity. Lactose intolerance, a casein allergy and an intolerance of other common allergens also may be at the root of chronic fatigue. Other common allergens include tree nuts, peanuts, dairy, soy, shellfish and yeast.

I suggestion is to consider taking an IgG test to help you determine the foods that you are sensitive to then you can eliminate them from your diet. By getting rid of your personal known allergens, symptoms of IBS, ADHD, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic fatigue can potentially be relieved.

Candida Imbalance

Casein

H. Pylori

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What Else Could It Be

The symptoms of ME/CFS are similar to those of other conditions.

If you think you may have ME/CFS itâs important to see a GP to make sure you get a correct diagnosis. A GP should also be able to refer you to a ME/CFS specialist if they think it would help you.

Page last reviewed: 29 October 2021 Next review due: 29 October 2024

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How Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treated

Treatment is determined by your healthcare provider and based on:

• Your overall health and medical history
• Extent of the condition
• Your tolerance for specific medicines, procedures, or therapies
• Expectations for the course of the condition
• Your opinion or preference

• Medicine, including corticosteroids, antidepressants, and others
• Light-intensity aerobic exercise
• Dietary supplements and herbal preparations
• Psychotherapy and supportive counseling

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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.

Talking With Your Doctor About Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

If you are experiencing fatigue on an ongoing basis despite getting adequate sleep, talk to your doctor. While you could be facing chronic fatigue syndrome, many illnesses ranging from obstructive sleep apnea to iron-deficiency anemia can cause fatigue. Your doctor will need to ask questions and order tests to determine what is causing fatigue in your personal situation. Preparing for your appointment can help it go more smoothly.

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What Complications Are Associated With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic Fatigue Syndrome

For some people, the fatigue associated with ME/CFS makes activities of daily living very difficult or even impossible. Research shows that only half of all people diagnosed with ME/CFS work full-time or part-time jobs.

ME/CFS causes significant depression in many people living with the condition. If you experience depression, talk with your doctor â effective treatments are available.

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Postexertional Malaise And Immune Function

CFS/ME patients report a changeable pattern to their symptoms and physical and cognitive capabilities, often with severe symptom exacerbation following physical exercise . This is termed PEM, with approximately 95% of CFS/ME patients experiencing PEM . As regards the cause of PEM, it has been suggested that exercise may exhibit the ability to amplify preexisting immune abnormalities, in addition to oxidative and nitrosative stress . Immunological abnormalities have been reported following exercise in CFS/ME. For example, observations in CFS/ME symptom flare after moderate intensity exercise have been reported to be directly linked to the levels of interleukin-1 , IL-12, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-13, 8 hours after exercise . Additionally, sustained increase in plasma TNF- in CFS/ME patients and not in healthy controls has been observed after exercise . Moderate intensity exercise has also been reported to induce a larger 48-hour postexercise area under the curve for IL-10 .

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Eliminate Sugar And Processed Or Packaged Foods

Eat a candy bar and your energy will usually plummet soon after. Sugar and other refined carbohydrates give you a little shot of energy, but at a huge expense: Those blood sugar spikes nosedive quickly, leaving you feeling drained. If eliminating sugar completely is too challenging, gradually trade it for lower-sugar foods, like berries, to transition off sugar. Eat nuts instead of chips or cookies.

Find Ways To Relax And Reset Your Mind

For some people, taking 20 minutes during the afternoon to meditate can be enough to recharge. Maybe yoga or deep breathing is your thing. Whatever you do, find time to relax and reset your mind.

Chronic fatigue can impair your health and happiness, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. A chiropractor may help address any interference in your spine that may contribute to fatigue, as well as help manage the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. While it may take some time, and some behavior changes, you can get your energy back and reclaim your health and wellbeing.

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What Must Be Gotten Rid Of To Unleash Vital Energy

This question leads us to consider the large array of potential irritants, toxins, allergens, or infectious agents that can lead to BTAM energy operating system dysfunction and symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Some of these are robust and virulent and can, by themselves, cause severe fatigue and complex illness. Others are less damaging by themselves but when combined can lead to severe energy impairment.

Common Examples Of Roadblocks To Energy Production That Must Be Gotten Rid Of:

Irritants:

trauma, inflammation, food irritants, excessive mast cell activity, excesses of stress, unresolved emotional challenges, distractions

Toxins:

pesticides, industrial pollutants, plastics, mold toxins, heavy metals, cleaning chemicals, endotoxins from gut flora imbalances

Allergens:

food allergens, environmental allergens, drugs, chemicals, metals

Infections:

viruses, fungi, bacteria, parasites, tick-born illness , gut flora imbalances

Consideration should be given to all potential irritants, toxins, allergens, and infections suggested by the history and constellation of symptomsthere may be more than one.

Appropriate selection of testing can help confirm the causes that need to be treated. Work with an experienced Functional Medicine physician to help you sort this out.

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Chronic Fatigue: How To Treat It

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a chronic illness with debilitating symptoms which can make it difficult for sufferers to function on a day to day basis. Chronic fatigue is also known as ME, which stands for myalgic encephalomyelitis. ME and CFS are very similar conditions but they do differ. ME implies that there is immune system involvement and high levels of inflammation that is causing their profound fatigue.

Chronic fatigue syndrome can affect different people in different ways. Some people have mild symptoms and others have very severe symptoms that can prevent them from completing even the most basic physical or mental activity. CFS is a complex illness and there is unfortunately no cure. However, there are therapies that can help you to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.