Investigate Your Viral Levels
Before you think fatigue is all in your head, request a viral panel from your doctor to make sure your immune system isnt bogged down by a virus. Everyone has viruses living inside their body, but its often hard to tell if they causing active problems or not.
Once you have a virus in your body, it never goes away. In healthy individuals the virus or viruses often stay dormant, but when health falls below par or you have prolonged stress, antibiotic overuse, vaccinations, toxic lifestyle, and/or surgeries, a virus can be reactivated. A classic example of this is when you or someone you know gets a cold sore when theyre under a lot of stress, as cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Another example of this is when someone who had the chickenpox in childhood gets shingles later in life, its just a reactivation of the chickenpox virus.
A virus works by invading healthy normal cells and take advantage of them, using them to multiply. By living inside your cells, they are protected from typical medicines that swim around in your bloodstream, making them hard to treat.
The most common viral signs are fatigue, night sweats, fever, and painful joints. If these symptoms are familiar, its time to consider checking in with a doctor or naturopath that can get you tested. Here are just a few things to consider testing for, although your doctor should know exactly what you need:
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Comparison With Existing Literature
The authors are not aware of other literature concerning the role of blood-test ordering for patients with unexplained complaints in general practice. Earlier research from the present group has already shown that watchful waiting in patients with unexplained complaints is feasible, does not cause additional anxiety or dissatisfaction in patients, and is cheaper than immediate test ordering.
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Tests
While dealing with chronic fatigue syndrome is a difficult thing to do under any circumstances, it can be even more difficult before you have a diagnosis. Unfortunately, diagnosing chronic fatiguesyndrome is difficult on its own. There are no tests that can pinpoint a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome rather, a combination of tests that rule out other conditions, tests that find possible markers of chronic fatigue, and an interview to learn about the symptoms youve been experiencing are used to make a diagnosis.
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What Is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Myalgic encephalomyelitis , commonly referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome , is a complex disorder characterized by unexplained and persistent fatigue. Generally, it is not the result of ongoing exertion and rest does not improve symptoms. The condition usually results in a substantial reduction of previous levels of occupational, educational, social or personal activities.
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Here Are The Top 5 Labs Tests I Would Consider When Youre Fatigued:
1) TSH TSH is a measurement of a brain hormone that stimulates the production of thyroid hormone, which contributes to metabolism, energy, muscle repair, etc. There is definitely a better range than the standard on the lab sheet. I prefer to see the result under 2.5. If it is higher than this, it is worth diving into further thyroid hormone testing to explore if the thyroid hormones ratios are good and if youre producing any autoimmune thyroid antibodies.
2) Cortisol Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands that greatly contributes to your feeling of energy and stamina throughout the day. We have our highest levels in the morning when we wake, although this can be different for people who have night shifts. If you have a regular schedule , you would test your cortisol in the morning, as close to waking as possible. This can be tested through blood or saliva. Ideally, your morning cortisol should be towards the top of the expected curve. If its low or towards the lower end, then you can count adrenal fatigue as a contributor to your fatigue.
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Conditions That Exclude A Diagnosis Of Cfs
Alcohol or other substance abuse, occurring within 2 years of the onset of chronic fatigue and any time afterwards. Severe obesity as defined by a body mass index equal to or greater than 45. Note: BMI values vary considerably among different age groups and populations. No normal or average range of values can be suggested in a fashion that is meaningful. The range of 45 or greater was selected because it clearly falls within the range of severe obesity. Any active medical condition that may explain the presence of chronic fatigue, such as untreated hypothyroidism, sleep apnea and narcolepsy, and iatrogenic conditions such as side effects of medication.
Any active medical condition that may explain the presence of chronic fatigue, such as untreated hypothyroidism, sleep apnea and narcolepsy, and iatrogenic conditions such as side effects of medication.
Any past or current diagnosis of a major depressive disorder with psychotic or melancholic features bipolar affective disorders schizophrenia of any subtype delusional disorders of any subtype dementia of any subtype anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.
Any unexplained abnormality detected on examination or other testing that strongly suggests an exclusionary condition must be resolved before attempting further classification.
Graded Exercise Therapy And Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Recommended treatment for CFS may also include graded exercise therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy .
Graded exercise therapy is a doctor-controlled exercise program that starts with very gentle exercises such as 5 minutes of stretching per day and is increased gradually over time as a person gains strength.
Combining a graded exercise program with CBT is recommended because it can help a person become more aware of their bodys capabilities and limits. This is important because overexertion can exacerbate symptoms of chronic fatigue.
More research is needed to prove the effectiveness of these two methods for treating CFS.
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Intravenous Magnesium For The Treatment Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Furthermore, an UpToDate review on Treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome states that Other modalities that have been tried but have not been successful include amantadine, cimetidine, interferon, magnesium, ranitidine, vitamin B12, bovine or porcine liver extract, dialyzable leukocyte extract, essential fatty acids, evening primrose oil, Biobran MGN-3 , exclusion diets, and removal of dental fillings.
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.
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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.
Configuration And Microfabrication Of Assay
The nanoelectronic assay structure consists of two conductive layers with an insulating layer in between. There are two additional protective oxide layers above and underneath the sensors . The nanometer-sized sensing region of the sensor consists of a 30-nm-thin oxide layer sandwiched between two 100-nm-thin gold layers. The top protective oxide layer is intended to prevent the exposure of the top conductive electrodes to the solutions. There is a thermally grown oxide layer underneath the bottom electrodes to electrically insulate the sensors from the substrate. Each sensors width is 3 m to 5 m. A scanning electron microscopy image of a single sensor is shown in . The sensors are designed in 3D format to improve the molecules-to-sensors hit rate and to help diffusion occur in multiple directions. The sensors were fabricated on 4-in silicon wafers following several optical photolithography, deposition, and etching procedures.
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How Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Is Diagnosed
The path to a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome can be frustrating. The condition is characterized by its symptoms and there is no single test that can confirm it. Complicating the issue even further is the fact that many CFS symptoms mirror those of other illnesses, including heart, lung, thyroid, and even psychiatric disorders.
As a disease, chronic fatigue syndrome is diagnosed when other possible explanations for how you are feeling have been explored and excluded.
The condition is also called myalgic encephalomyelitis or systemic exertion intolerance disease .
Check Your Calcium And Potassium Levels With Hair Analysis
High calcium can be a true driver of fatigue, as it slows down your body. The average American today gets far too much calcium relative to potassium. Typically, this isn’t because one is in too much calcium from food sources per say , but instead from calcium supplements, calcium fortified food, and/or increased calcium absorption from taking high dose vitamin D3. Part of vitamin Ds job is to tell your body to absorb more calcium from your food, pushing calcium levels even higher in the body, and pushing potassium levels lower. Pair that with a chronically low intake of potassium from fruits and vegetables, and you have yourself some powerful nutritional forces messing with your thyroid hormone’s ability to do its job. This often manifests with symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, low body temperature, blood sugar issues , and sluggish digestion.
Luckily, you can find out what your calcium and potassium levels are with hair analysis. By assessing the ratio of your calcium to potassium levels, you can see how well your thyroid hormones are doing their job. Then, if needed, make supplemental and dietary adjustments to bring the ratio into better balance, supporting healthy thyroid function naturally.
If youre curious if vitamin D supplementation has your thyroid function in hot water by way of high calcium levels, you may want to consider getting a hair analysis, to see how it’s affecting your mineral levels. You can learn more about hair analysis or get started here.
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Probiotics For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Roman and associates noted that evidence suggested that the gut microbiota might play an important role in fibromyalgia syndrome and CFS. These investigators reviewed the reported effect of probiotic treatments in patients diagnosed with FMS or CFS. They performed a systematic review using 14 databases in February 2016 to search for RCTs and pilot studies of CFS or FMS patient, published in the past 10 years . The Jadad scale was used to evaluate the quality of the clinical trials considered 2 studies met the inclusion criteria, which were performed in CFS patients and both studies were considered as a high range of quality score. The administration of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota in CFS patients, over the course of 8 weeks, reduced anxiety scores. Likewise, this probiotic changed the fecal composition following 8 weeks of treatment. Additionally, the treatment with Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 in CFS patients, during the same period, reduced inflammatory biomarkers. The authors concluded that the evidence on the usefulness of probiotics in CFS and FMS patients remains limited. The studied strains of probiotics have demonstrated a significant effect on modulating the anxiety and inflammatory processes in CFS patients. However, these researchers stated that more experimental research, focusing mainly on the symptoms of the pathologies studied, is needed.
How Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosed
CFS can be difficult to diagnose. There is no specific test for CFS, and other illnesses can cause similar symptoms. Your health care provider has to rule out other diseases before making a diagnosis of CFS. He or she will do a thorough medical exam, including:
- Asking about your medical history and your familys medical history
- Asking about your current illness, including your symptoms. Your doctor will want to know how often you have symptoms, how bad they are, how long they have lasted, and how they affect your life.
- A thorough physical and mental status exam
- Blood, urine, or other tests
Recommended treatment for CFS may also include graded exercise therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy .
Graded exercise therapy is a doctor-controlled exercise program that starts with very gentle exercises such as 5 minutes of stretching per day and is increased gradually over time as a person gains strength.
Combining a graded exercise program with CBT is recommended because it can help a person become more aware of their bodys capabilities and limits. This is important because overexertion can exacerbate symptoms of chronic fatigue.
More research is needed to prove the effectiveness of these two methods for treating CFS.
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: New Test In Sight
Scientists have developed a test for chronic fatigue syndrome that detects the reaction of the immune cells and blood plasma to stress. The findings may also help screen effective drugs for the condition.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis, or chronic fatigue syndrome , is a serious condition that may affect up to
Symptoms include extreme tiredness, difficulty sleeping, trouble with thinking and remembering things, muscle pain and aches, a recurring sore throat, and tender lymph nodes.
Currently, physicians can only diagnose ME/CFS by examining a persons symptoms and medical history, and by excluding other possible illnesses.
This can make the diagnosis process difficult, lengthy, and inaccurate.
However, the results of a new study may soon change this. Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine in California have discovered a biomarker for ME/CFS and developed a test that could soon diagnose the condition accurately.
Ron Davis, Ph.D. a professor of biochemistry and of genetics at Stanford University School of Medicine devised the test together with his team, which includes first study author Rahim Esfandyarpour.
Safedin Sajo Beqaj Phd Hcld Cc
Dr. Sajo Beqaj is board certified in molecular pathology and genetics and licensed as a Bioanalyst and High Complexity Laboratory Director. He has been practicing as a laboratory director since 2005.
Dr. Beqaj served as a technical director and was part of the initial management team for several well-known laboratories in the clinical lab industry including PathGroup, Nashville, TN DCL Medical Laboratories, Indianapolis, IN, and Pathology, Inc, Torrance, CA. He is currently serving as off-side CLIA laboratory director for BioCorp Clinical Laboratory, Whittier, CA and Health360 Labs, Garden Grove, CA.
Dr. Beqaj received his Ph.D. in Pathology from Wayne State University Medical School, Detroit, Michigan. He performed his post-doctoral fellowship at Abbott Laboratories from 2001-2003 and with Childrens Hospital and Northwestern University from 2003-2005.
Dr. Beqaj has taught in several academic institutions and has published numerous medical textbook chapters and journal articles. He has served as a principal investigator in clinical trials for several well-known pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies such as Roche HPV Athena, Merck HPV vaccine, BD vaginitis panel, Roche CINtec® Histology clinical trials, and has presented various scientific clinical abstracts and presentations.
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Key Points About Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by profound tiredness.
- Symptoms often worsen with physical or mental activity.
- In addition to severe fatigue, symptoms include light sensitivity, headache, muscle and joint pain, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, and depression.
- Treatments may include medicines, exercise, supplements, and counseling.
Conditions That Do Not Exclude A Diagnosis Of Cfs
Any condition defined primarily by symptoms that cannot be confirmed by diagnostic laboratory tests, including fibromyalgia, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, non-psychotic or melancholic depression, neurasthenia, and multiple chemical sensitivity disorder.
Any condition under specific treatment sufficient to alleviate all symptoms related to that condition and for which the adequacy of treatment has been documented. Such conditions include hypothyroidism for which the adequacy of replacement hormone has been verified by normal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels, or asthma in which the adequacy of treatment as been determined by pulmonary function and other testing.
Any condition, such as Lyme disease or syphilis that was treated with definitive therapy before development of chronic symptoms.
Any isolated and unexplained physical examination finding, or laboratory or imaging test abnormality that is insufficient to strongly suggest the existence of an exclusionary condition. Such conditions include an elevated anti-nuclear antibody titer that is inadequate, without additional laboratory or clinical evidence, to strongly support a diagnosis of a discrete connective tissue disorder.
Note on the use of laboratory tests in the diagnosis of CFS:
The use of test to diagnose CFS should be done only in the setting of protocol-based research. The fact that such tests are investigational and do not aid in diagnosis or management should be explained to the individual.
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What Should I Expect From My Adrenal Test
Adrenal tests begin by drawing a sample of blood from a patient in order for it to be analyzed by a medical laboratory. Patients are commonly asked to avoid strenuous physical activity prior to taking the test, and may even be asked to lie down 30 minutes before their blood is taken. There are also a number of medications which could affect the results of the test, such as steroids, so its important to speak with your physician about what medications you are currently taking preceding your test. Though there is a reference range for results common among Adrenal tests, some labs may have different ranges for you and your physician. Speak to your doctor regarding your results to get more information on how your results concern to you and your health specifically.
Questions regarding online blood testing or how to order a lab test?
