Symptoms Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment

Viral And Other Infections

Post-viral fatigue syndrome or post-viral syndrome describes a type of chronic fatigue syndrome that occurs following a viral infection. A recent review found Epstein-Barr virus antibody activity to be higher in patients with CFS, and that a subset of patients with CFS were likely to have increased EBV activity compared to controls. Viral infection is a significant risk factor for CFS, with one study finding 22% of people with EBV experience fatigue six months later, and 9% having strictly defined CFS. A systematic review found that fatigue severity was the main predictor of prognosis in CFS, and did not identify psychological factors linked to prognosis.

Another review found that risk factors for developing CFS after mononucleosis, dengue fever, or Q-fever included longer bed-rest during the illness, poorer pre-illness physical fitness, attributing symptoms to physical illness, belief that a long recovery time is needed, as well as pre-infection distress and fatigue. The same review found biological factors such as CD4 and CD8 activation and liver inflammation are predictors of sub-acute fatigue but not CFS. However, these findings are not generally accepted due to the use of the Oxford criteria in selecting patients. The CDC does not recognize attribution of symptoms as a risk factor.

Who Is At Risk For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Because the cause of CFS is not known, its hard to know what might put someone at risk for getting the condition. However, certain factors are seen more often in people with CFS. These factors include:

• Gender. CFS happens up to 4 times more often in women than in men.
• Age. CFS commonly affects middle-aged people, but people of any age can get it.

Long Covid/ Long Haulers

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in late 2019 in Wuhan Province, China, and its rapid spread into other parts of the world, researchers, scientists, and patients familiar with post-viral syndromes began to become concerned not only about the acute danger of this particular virus but the potential long-term sequelae. Following SARS-1, West Nile Virus, H1N1 influenza virus, and other reports claim, that up to 11% of patients who had severe infections from Epstein-Barr virus , Q fever , or Ross River virus , and others, develop ME/CFS. Other studies following SARS and MERS suggest an even higher proportion develop ME/CFS or Fibromyalgia.”

Given that some estimates suggest as much as 75% of all ME/CFS patients developed their illness following a post-viral or post-bacterial illness, there has been considerable frustration in the ME/CFS community-researchers and patients alike-that had ME/CFS patients been taken more seriously all along, then research into what causes this debilitating outcome in some patients and not in others would have been identified and potentially remedied by now.

Additionally, there is great frustration in the ME/CFS community as they watch these new cases as they are now being officially diagnosed as they pass the six-month mark required for official ME/CFS diagnosis.

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Support And Coping Skills

The young person with ME/CFS needs to learn to adapt to the reality of the illness, and integrate it into a meaningful life despite sometimes severe physical limitations. Above all, the young patient needs to develop a sense of achievement in her/his life, however, small.

All aspects of the young persons life might need to be addressed. She/he might need to deal not only with physical and cognitive limitations, but also with misunderstanding of the illness, fear, grief, anger, guilt and isolation. Sometimes having ME/CFS can result in abnormal illness behavior, such as denial of the reality of the illness.

A patients needs early in the illness might differ from her/his needs in later years, as health improvement is being achieved. Young patients should be encouraged to verbalize their fears and needs. Only the young person her/himself knows how she/he really feels. For instance, many young people fear getting behind their peers academically, never being able to catch up, and consequently losing friends. There should be opportunity to talk things through with a trusted professional who understands the illness. Although the parents can be present, the discussion should be primarily with the patient, so that she/he is also involved in decision making and feels part of the team approach. Teenagers usually need an opportunity for discussion without a parent present.

Our experience suggests that the following elements of basic supportive therapy can be helpful:

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Can This Condition Be Cured

Not everyone makes full recovery but the majority of sufferers do improve with time. Moreover, symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome fluctuate between mild to severe periodically. Reviews reports that younger people have higher and better chances of complete healing than adults. It means if treatment is done early enough, children can be cured and thus have a chance of leading a normal life.

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How Does Ayurvedic Treatment Help With Cfs

The first step towards treating this medical condition is to understand the root cause of this illness. There are many factors that can contribute towards Fibromyalgia pain, these include poor dietary habits, lack of exercise and physical activity, certain types of medication usage, etc. All these factors eventually lead to imbalances in Vata Dosha which influences all bodily functions. It then produces excessive quantities of Dosha that further suppresses vitiated Pitta Dosha that controls body temperature regulation. This leads to the production of excess amounts of toxins within the body which causes stiffness in muscles making sufferers feel very tired and weak due to weak immune systems.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment In Ayurveda

Feeling tired is a common thing for all of us. Tiredness is a way to tell that body needs some rest. But it becomes challenging when you continuously feel tired in the due course of time and your body keeps on demanding rest. The same is the condition of Chronic fatigue syndrome. I have come across many patients who kept on taking some anti-depressant pills every day and loads of multivitamins. But nothing works well with patients of CFS. When we talk about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment in Ayurveda, the main thing is a better understanding of the disease. Because it is never enough to claim that Ayurveda-Works. The main thing is how do we approach the treatment of a complicated condition like chronic fatigue syndrome.

Here, we will discuss the disease in a very comprehensive manner and besides that, we will take a call on how does Ayurveda treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome works. Because my idea of treatment is not replace-allopathy-medicines-with-Ayurvedic-Medicines. Treatment is about solving the issue and bringing up freshness in body-mind and senses. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment in Ayurveda stands on principles, therefore it helps you to achieve the goal, without leaving any dullness and disturbed mood.

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Prevalence And Clinical Features

It is difficult to establish the prevalence of CFS, since it depends on the diagnostic criteria used and the study population. Initial research suggested a prevalence between 0.002% and 0.04%. . However, latest epidemiological studies in the USA and in the United Kingdom show prevalence rates ranging from 0.007% to 2.5% of the general population. These rates increase up to 0.5-2.5% when the population assessed includes individuals seen in primary care facilities instead of the global population. In the United Kingdom, according the Oxford criteria , the prevalence in the global population has been estimated in 0.6%. In Japan the prevalence has been found to be 1.5% in the general population. Thus, the prevalence in the general population appears to be much higher than previously indicated. Even with strict criteria for CFS, it is estimated that approximately 1% of the adult population experiences this condition. Interestingly, a large part of this group remains unrecognized by the general practitioner. A striking similarity in lifestyle pattern between SF, CF and CFS calls for further research.

CFS mainly affects young adults from 20 to 40 years, although the symptoms also exist in childhood, adolescence and in the elderly . It has a 2-3 times higher prevalence in women than in men. No evidence exists showing that any socio-economic group is more affected than others .

Possible Causes And Risk Factors Involved With Cfs

Most of the people who have CFS report getting bacterial or viral infections such as the flu before developing the symptoms of CFS. Additionally, 1 in 10 people who were infected with Epstein-Barr virus, Fibromyalgia, or Coxiella burnetii have developed a set of CFS symptoms. Also, people with severe symptoms of Epstein-Barr virus, Fibromyalgia, and Coxiella burnetii are more likely to develop CFS than those with milder symptoms. However, not all individuals who have CFS reported having bacterial or viral infections before chronic fatigue.

Another potential risk factor is a weak immune system, specifically, how ones immune system responds to infectious diseases or stress. Going to the next level, CFS shares some features of autoimmune illnesses. An autoimmune illness is a condition where the immune system attacks healthy tissues in its own body, like in rheumatoid arthritis. Both extreme stress and hormonal changes are reported in people before showing CFS symptoms. A few patients with CFS have lower levels of cortisol than healthy people, but doctors havent yet concluded whether this is significant, either, as it is still within the normal range. There may also be a genetic link with some studies on twins and families indicating that genes and environment might play a role in developing CFS. However, more research needs to be done as specific genes and environmental factors are not found yet.

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome : Causes Symptoms And Treatment

This article looks at the definition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome , its risk factors and symptoms thereof. It highlights a huge gap in as far as treating CFS condition is concerned. However, until the right treatment is found, we looked at the possible symptomatic treatment methods that patient can choose from, with the help of their doctors.

There is also a section that looks at children living with Chronic fatigue syndrome as it is of interest to know the symptoms and help the parents/ guardians detect CFS early enough to treat it. Literature shows that children have a better chance of getting cured from chronic fatigue syndrome, which means early detection put these children at a higher chance of getting healed.

Moreover, there are some modified treatment and most of these are experimental. More literature must be released highlighting the safety of these drugs and also report on their efficacies.

Contents

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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Prescription Stimulants For Me/cfs

Some healthcare providers prescribe attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drugs for their patients with ME/CFS and say theyve seen positive results. There is a growing body of evidence to back this up, although more research is needed.

These drugs are classified as neurostimulators, which means that they stimulate brain activity. Theyre used for ADD/ADHD because, paradoxically, they have a calming effect on ADD/ADHD brains. Given that, it makes more sense that theyd be helpful in a condition defined by fatigue.

The most popular stimulants prescribed for chronic fatigue syndrome include:

• Ritalin and Concerta, which contain methylphenidate
• Dexedrine, which contains dextroamphetamine
• Adderall, which contains amphetamine and dextroamphetamine
• Vyvanse, which contains lisdexamfetamine

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.

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Diagnosis Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

• Laboratory tests to exclude other causes of symptoms

At least one of the following manifestations is also required:

• Difficulty thinking

• Feeling of light-headedness or dizziness when standing up that is relieved by lying down

The frequency and severity of the symptoms should be assessed by a doctor. If people do not have these symptoms at least half of the time with moderate, substantial, or severe intensity, doctors reconsider the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome .

Criteria for diagnosis are important mainly because they help doctors communicate clearly with each other when they study a problem. However, when treating a specific individual, doctors focus more on that persons symptoms rather than the criteria.

Ayurvedic Diet For Treatment Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Ayurveda also specifies certain dietary guidelines for CFS patients:

1) A diet completely devoid of spices,

2) Eating only easily digestible foods such as rice ,

3) Avoiding cold and frozen foods especially during winter months,

4) Avoiding dry and rough food items such as raw salads, fruits with the skin still attached, etc.,

5) Eliminating sour foods such as alcoholic beverages , fermented foods such as yogurt, and dried fruits such as apricots.

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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.

Treatment Plans For Me/cfs

There’s no single way of managing ME/CFS that works for everyone, but there are a number of treatment options.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says you should be offered a treatment plan tailored to your symptoms.

Your doctor should discuss all of the options with you, and explain the benefits and risks of any treatment.

They should work with you to develop a treatment plan that suits you and takes into account your circumstances and preferences.

You may need advice about making lifestyle changes, specialist treatments, or a combination of both.

If your symptoms are severe, your doctor should ask a specialist for advice.

Your treatment plan should be reviewed regularly.

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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.

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.

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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.