Symptoms Of Cfs Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

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

Other Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms:

Because ME/CFS is a multi-system illness, it can actually create a truly astounding set of symptoms. So whilst some regard the above list to be the core Chronic Fatigue Syndrome symptoms, there are actually many other symptoms. These include but are not limited to:

• Pain including muscle aches, migraines and headaches
• Gastrointestinal disturbance including diarrhoea, constipation and other difficulties
• Low grade fever
• Dry or sore eyes, sometimes described as pain behind or inside the eyes
• Need to urinate, often along with unquenchable thirst
• Muscle twitching described by some people as jolts or flashes
• Chills and cold hands or feet
• Strange smell sensations often described as ammonium
• Allodynia which is when your skin hurts to be touched
• Paresthesia which are sensations such as itching, numbness, tingling, burning or a feeling that something is crawling on you
• Profuse sweating
• Painful or swollen lymph nodes
• Temperature or weather sensitivity
• Canker sores and infections in the mouth

Dietary Modification For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Although diet alone cannot cure chronic fatigue syndrome, eating certain foods are known to worsen or ease the symptoms of the condition. Patients with CFS are prone to weight problems. Due to physical inactivity caused by tiredness and muscle pain these people may gain weight

Commonly, chronic fatigue syndrome patients may feel they need to eat more in order to gain more strength to control the tiredness. Some medication can also increase peoples appetite. All these factors contribute to weight gain which is not a desired outcome as it might lead to other diseases.

However, some people may lose weight as a result of appetite loss, nauseated feeling, inability to buy or cook food. Moreover, irritable bowel symptoms like diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain can further contribute to weight loss.

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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.

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.

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Central Nervous System Abnormalities

Abnormal levels of certain chemicals in the brain system known as the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis have been proposed as a cause of CFS. This system controls important functions, including sleep, the stress response, and depression. Some people with CFS appear to have imbalances in hormones controlled by the HPA axis, such as cortisol.

Discussing Treatment Options With A Doctor

The medical community differs over the exact treatment courses for those living with CFS. Youll need to work closely with a healthcare team to determine which symptoms are impacting your quality of life the most.

You may start with treatment of these issues and progress to others in time. Many treatment options are available, ranging from over-the-counter drugs to alternative therapies.

The most effective treatment for CFS is the one thats catered to you and your specific symptoms. A doctor may suggest a variety of treatments depending on what youre experiencing and what your treatment goals are.

Also Check: Which Doctor To Consult For Fatigue

What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor

• Take along a list of all the symptoms you are experiencing in case you forget some of them during your talk with the doctor or nurse.
• Talk about how much you can do at work or school and around the house.
• Ask if there are any financial supports or services you could apply for.
• Ask for help with pain, sleep and remaining active if these are problems for you.
• Ask about what you should be eating.

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My Top Ten Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Warning Signs Of Impending Crash

In the world of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, there are crashes and there are crashes. Some lift within an hour. Some linger or deepen for days, weeks, months. Years. No telling in the beginning whether it will be hard or mild, short or long. So each downturn needs to be treated with care, like the potential plague it is.

I’ll try to describe my experience with my own personal gauntlet of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome symptoms when they begin to swarm.

1) Brain fog

• VoteSaved My Life

Though “brain fog” is the term usually employed for this, really, “fog” is not an accurate description. That sounds … quiet … restful … or at least blank. What I get isn’t foggy. It’s neither quiet nor restful. And it certainly isn’t blank. It’s a kaleidoscope of images and thought fragments jitterbugging and flickering through my head.

Can’t finish the thought I started. Can’t remember the beginning of the thought I just started …

2) Vertigo

Not just dizziness, I’ve discovered. Vertigo is a hallucination of the inner ear. The body’s messaging systems are confused. I’ve tasted many flavors of vertigo. When the room starts lurching, that’s vertigo. When I feel like my head’s going to roll off, that’s vertigo too. When I can’t tell if I’m going to bump into the wall, and have to plant my feet to keep from swaying, I am havin’ some vertigo.

3) Vibrating

4) Breathing problems

5) Orthostatic intolerance

6) Tinnitis

7) Swollen glands

8) Visual disturbances

9) Fine motor lack of control

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Articles On Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Tips for Living With CFS

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is more than feeling tired all the time. It comes with a lot of other symptoms that can make it hard to handle daily life. Even simple things like walking to the mailbox or writing a letter can make it worse. The fatigue and symptoms can last 6 months, or can go on for years. Sleep and rest donât make it better, either.

A doctor can help relieve your symptoms, but first you need to get diagnosed.

If you have ME/CFS, youâll have these three âcoreâ symptoms:

• Reduced ability to do usual activities for six months or more because of fatigue
• Worsening of symptoms . after usual physical or mental activity
• Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

Along with the three symptoms, you must have one of these for a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome:

• Problems with thinking and memory
• Worsening of symptoms while standing or sitting upright you might feel lightheaded, dizzy or weak, and you may have blurred vision or see spots.

A Trial Of Solriamfetol In The Treatment Of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic Fatigue Syndrome

This will be an 8-week single center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, flexible titration trial evaluating the efficacy of solriamfetol in the treatment of fatigue symptoms in adult patients with a diagnosis of ME/CFS. Subjects will be randomized to a solriamfetol group or placebo group . The investigators will utilize an intent to treat model and impute data, if statistically feasible, from dropouts utilizing a MNAR approach.

The trial involves primary, secondary, exploratory and safety/tolerability objectives.

Primary objective: Evaluate IMP efficacy in treating ME/CFS fatigue symptoms

Primary endpoint: Difference in means at week 8 between treatment and control groups as measured by the Fatigue Symptom Inventory.

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Case Presentation: Case 3

A white British male sustained a head injury when 7 years old and was diagnosed with glandular fever when 10 years old. He developed severe tonsillitis in 1996 when 14 years old. His symptoms gradually worsened and he became bedridden and unable to self-care, suffering profound fatigue, headaches, excessive day and night sleeping and light and sound sensitivity. He was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome by a hospital paediatrician in 1997. He gradually improved over the next 3 years with increased energy. By his mid-20s, he was able to work full time although with persistent tiredness and recurrent infections. He improved further by practising pacing, listening to body symptoms to control his activity and by changing jobs to one with flexible working hours, which he continues to this date. He continued to experience difficulty sleeping and recurrent colds, at least four per year, accompanied by energy dips and subsequent depression. He was diagnosed with nasal polyps, sinusitis and seasonal allergic rhinitis.

How Is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosed

Your doctor diagnoses ME/CFS by performing a mental and physical examination. Doctors will ask about your medical history and order blood and urine tests to check for infection. In many cases, doctors refer people with suspected ME/CFS to other specialists to rule out other illnesses that could be causing symptoms.

For your doctor to diagnose ME/CFS, you must have these 3 symptoms:

• Severe fatigue lasting at least 6 months that does not improve with rest or sleep
• Difficulty sleeping
• Fatigue that gets worse after mental or physical exercise

Additionally, you must have at least 1 of the following symptoms:

• Orthostatic intolerance

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Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Essentials Of Diagnosis And Management

• Alison C. BestedAffiliations
• Lily ChuCorrespondenceCorrespondence: Address to Lily Chu, MD, MSHS, Independent Consultant, 16 Lorton Ave, Unit 4, Burlingame, CA 94010.
• Nancy G. KlimasAffiliationsInstitute for Neuro Immune Medicine, Dr Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Jose G. MontoyaAffiliationsDr Jack S. Remington Laboratory for Specialty Diagnostics, Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA
• Irma R. ReyAffiliationsInstitute for Neuro Immune Medicine, Dr Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Other Treatment Options For All Patients

Ampligen , a drug therapy which is still experimental had the crowd buzzing about how effective it was. Users applauded the dramatic physical and cognitive symptoms improvements of the experimental drug. Although the drug is regarded as a miracle drug there were still few people who reported the drug did not work for them at all .

Intravenous saline, usually given to patients who crashed to help pick them up.

The antiviral or antibiotic medication the combination drugs has worked for so many patients.

Non-drug therapies Graded exercise therapy, chiropractic therapy, pacing, other physical exercises.

Recommended Reading: Causes Of Extreme Fatigue And Shortness Of Breath

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.

What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Someone with chronic fatigue syndrome can have many possible symptoms. The most common ones include:

• severe fatigue, which can make it hard to get out of bed and do normal daily activities
• sleep problems, such as trouble falling or staying asleep, or not having a refreshing sleep
• symptoms getting worse after physical or mental effort
• symptoms or dizziness that get worse after standing up or sitting upright from a lying down position
• problems with concentration and memory
• headaches and stomachaches

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The Influence Of Vata Dosha On Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Vata dosha when out of balance pulls Kapha and Pitta along with it creating various diseases when there is an imbalance among the three doshas. Vata has an indirect relationship with the endocrine system. Weakness of endocrine glands is a product of Vatas increased activity in the body which causes Vata to create an imbalance, leading to a depletion in nutrients because Agni fails to break down food into nutrients because it is weak and imbalanced. The result may be Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Who Is At Risk Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

This is a syndrome that affect both young and old people, in all continents. Reviews have shown this condition to be something with a higher prevalence and that is a worrying factor. It is estimated that 17 million people globally are suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome.

Of the worldwide stats, UK have a staggering 250 000 patients, and Scotland is sitting at about 20 000 patients according to the National Health Information Service .

These numbers are inclusive of children and adults from diverse social and ethnic groups. Women are said to be more susceptible to chronic fatigue syndrome than men. More studies might need to be done to investigate why.

Recommended Reading: How To Recover From Fatigue After Exercise

Symptoms And Signs Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Before onset of CFS, most patients are highly functioning and successful.

Onset is usually abrupt, often following a psychologically or medically stressful event. Many patients report an initial viral-like illness with swollen lymph nodes, extreme fatigue, fever, and upper respiratory symptoms. The initial syndrome resolves but seems to trigger protracted severe fatigue, which interferes with daily activities and typically worsens with exertion but is alleviated poorly or not at all by rest. Patients often also have disturbances of sleep and cognition, such as memory problems, âfoggy thinking,â hypersomnolence, and a feeling of having had unrefreshing sleep. Important general characteristics are diffuse pains and sleep problems.

The physical examination is normal, with no objective signs of muscle weakness, arthritis, neuropathy, or organomegaly. However, some patients have low-grade fever, nonexudative pharyngitis, and/or palpable or tender lymph nodes.

Because patients typically appear healthy, friends, family, and even health care practitioners sometimes express skepticism about their condition, which can worsen the frustration and/or depression patients often feel about their poorly understood disorder.

Also Check: How To Combat Severe Fatigue

How Can Parents Help

To help your child cope with the emotional symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome:

• Encourage your child to keep a daily diary to identify times when they have the most energy and help plan activities for these times.
• Help your child to recognize and express feelings, such as sadness, anger, and frustration. It’s OK to grieve the loss of energy.
• Get support from family and friends because emotional health is important when coping with a chronic health problem.
• Allow more time for your child to do things, or break down activities into smaller steps, especially activities that take concentration or physical effort.
• Work with your childs teachers and school administrators to adjust their workload so that it fits within the limits of what your child can tolerate.

Also Check: Congestive Heart Failure And Fatigue

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.

Getting Older And Me/cfs

There is very little information on getting older and ME/CFS, however people can develop ME/CFS at any age. Additionally, all of the strategies such as pacing to reduce PEM and managing symptoms still apply. As people age, other problems with their health may also arise, so discussing any new symptoms with their doctor important.

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Beating Chronic Pain With Ayurvedic Methods

Chronic pain has many causes leading it such as lack of exercise and physical activity, stress, and anxiety. It affects the normal mental and physical activities of a person who suffers from Chronic Pain Syndrome.

Although there are many chronic pains such as Cancer, Arthritis, etc., Fibromyalgia is one common kind of Chronic pain that affects women more than men. This condition can take away your energy and ability to concentrate on daily activities. In most cases, this type of pain is hardly diagnosed by doctors because it does not show any signs or symptoms other than chronic pain in different parts of the body. This makes sufferers feel misunderstood and isolated from others even though they may be physically healthy.