What Are The Symptoms Of Me/cfs
The most common symptom is ongoing, unexplained overwhelming tiredness or fatigue which worsens after exercise or mental effort. This is known as post-exertional malaise . The level of activity that triggers PEM will vary from person to person and can depend on how severe their condition is. PEM is sometimes delayed and can last for a few days. A more serious relapse can last for weeks or months.
A common misconception is that people with ME/CFS have ‘chronic fatigue and are just very tired. Persistent and profound fatigue is just one symptom of ME/CFS.
Other symptoms may include:
Some people may experience only mild symptoms, but others may develop more severe symptoms.
Who Gets Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome can affect people of all ethnicities and ages, but is most common in people in their forties or fifties. It’s very rare in kids. A few teens do get CFS, and it affects more girls than guys.
Sometimes different people in the same family get CFS. This may be because the tendency to develop CFS is genetic.
Family Doctor In The Dallas
If you think that you or someone you love might be suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome or a similar condition, contact our friendly team at Star Medical Associates here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Dr. Rani Anbarasu has many years of experience and training in how the mind and bodywork together, so she is adept at pinpointing and diagnosing issues and providing treatment that works.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Anbarasu, call our Denton office today at 382-6900 or our Frisco office at 301-2300. You can also fill out our appointment request form online now. Let us help you get a handle on your chronic fatigue syndrome and keep it under control for good!
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Why Is T3 Thyroid Hormone So Important When You Suffer From Chronic Fatigue
T3 thyroid hormone is one of the most important thyroid hormones because T3 is the active hormone produced by your thyroid as well as your liver, your gut and your brain
Its your T3 thyroid levels that determine your bodys metabolism , Its your T3 levels that can speed up or slow down your heart rate, its your T3 levels that affect affect your bodies mitochondria, and its your mitochondria that are responsible for generating energy in the cells of your body.
If your cells dont make energy or ATP you walk around feeling and thinking like a zombie. This is how low T3 and low Free T3 cause so many health problems and this is why I believe measuring both the total T3 and Free T3 are some of the most important thyroid markers that can be run for someone struggling with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Once we know a patient has low T3, or FT3 also called low T3 syndrome now what we need to do is find out what are some of the potential causes and I will talk about that in just a few minutes.
Now when we say total T3 thyroid levels- what we are saying the total amount of thyroid hormones in your blood which includes thyroid hormones that are bound to proteins and thyroid hormones that are not bound to proteins.
Like I mentioned a moment ago, identifying the Low T3 or Low Free T3 is only half of the equation and this is where most doctors mess everything up. If they are even smart enough to measure T3 or Free T3, they make the big mistake of prescribing T3 replacement.
Symptoms Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The main feature of ME/CFS is a type of exhaustion known as post-exertional malaise, crash or payback. This means having flu-like symptoms after exercise and not having enough energy for daily activities.
Research shows that people with ME/CFS have a different physiological response to activity or exercise from other people. This includes abnormal exhaustion after any form of exertion, and a worsening of other symptoms. The response may be delayed, perhaps after 24 hours. Depending on the amount and type of exercise, it may result in post-exertional malaise for a few days, or serious relapses lasting weeks, months or even years.
- problems with thinking, concentrating, memory loss, vision, clumsiness, muscle twitching or tingling
- disrupted sleep
- sore throat, tender lymph nodes and a flu-like feeling
- inability to cope with temperature changes.
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How Is Me/cfs Treated
There is no cure for ME/CFS, but there is still a lot your doctor can do to help you relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
Any commercially available product or treatment promoted as a cure for ME/CFS should be treated with caution.
Current treatments have 2 key aspects:
- Pacing and rest: pacing is a strategy designed to help people with ME/CFS live within their energy envelope this is the amount of energy they can safely use without triggering PEM. It breaks down activity into short bursts, interspersed with rest, and aims to leave some energy in the tank at the end of the day. For more information about pacing, see the Emerge Australia fact sheet.
- Stepwise symptom management: this involves ranking symptoms and exploring ways to reduce symptoms, starting with the most problematic.
Your doctor may also suggest working with other healthcare professionals such as a psychologist, occupational therapist or a physiotherapist.
You may want to talk to your doctor about how to manage work or school commitments while you are sick and when you feel you might be ready to return.
It may also help if you:
- keep a diary to see whether certain activities or levels of exercise tend to trigger PEM
- relax as much as possible
- try to go to bed at the same time each night and limit daytime napping
- avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and anything else that could affect your sleep
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.
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Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Im always tired. Is there something wrong with me?
- Do I need any tests to help determine why Im so tired all the time?
- What is the likely cause of my fatigue?
- Will alternative therapies such as yoga or acupuncture help?
- Do I need to make any diet or lifestyle changes?
- Is it safe for me to exercise? What kind of exercise should I do?
- How do I convince people that my fatigue is real?
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Gradually Figuring Out Whats Wrong
In 1983, a health professional in her 30s walked into my office and said, Ive been healthy all of my life. A year ago, I came down with some kind of virus sore throat, aching muscles, swollen lymph glands, fever. My fatigue was so bad I was in bed for nearly a week. Many of the symptoms gradually improved, but the terrible fatigue and difficulty thinking have not gotten better. Theyre so bad I cant fulfill my responsibilities at home or at work. This illness is affecting my brain, stealing my energy, and affecting my immune system. Its keeping me from realizing my dreams.
Theres a piece of advice attributed to a famous physician, William Osler, that every medical student probably has heard: Listen to your patient. The patient is telling you the diagnosis. But I wasnt sure it applied in this case.
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Me/cfs Is Not A Somatization Disorder
Somatization disorders occur when a person misidentifies psychiatric symptoms for physical ones. The high levels of mood disorders present in ME/CFS and its many symptoms have sparked efforts by psychiatrists to label the disease as a somatization disorder.
A 2019 study which assessed the effects of having a comorbid disorder such as fibromyalgia or a mood disorder on the symptoms associated with ME/CFS attempted to clear up that issue. Since mood disorders have a multiplier effect on somatization disorders the researchers determined if the presence of mood disorders (or comorbid disorders such as exacerbated the symptoms associated with ME/CFS.
Because mood disorders did not exacerbate the symptoms associated with ME/CFS but have a comorbid disease did, the researchers determined that ME/CFS is not somatization disorder and is not closely allied with mood disorder but that it is closely allied with diseases like FM and irritable bowel syndrome . The increased rate of mood disorders in ME/CFS is most likely simply the result of having a difficult, chronic illness.
Meet With The Healthcare Provider
Before making a final decision, you might want to consider a “get acquainted” appointment where you can meet the healthcare provider face to face, ask more questions and get a feel for whether this is someone you’d like to work with. Managing chronic fatigue syndrome requires teamwork between the practitioner and patient, so it’s important for you to have a positive relationship. If it’s not possible to meet this way, treat your first appointment in the same way so you can decide whether this healthcare provider is a good fit for you.
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Articles On Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Thereâs no simple blood test or X-ray to diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome â also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis . And many of the symptoms of the illness — deep tiredness, unrelieved by rest or sleep, feeling worse after physical or mental exertion, trouble concentrating, feeling worse after standing and remaining on oneâs feet and other symptoms– are also seen in other conditions, too, making the diagnosis of ME/CFS more difficult.
Are Down Syndrome Females Sterile
Affected individuals rarely reproduce. About 15-30% of females with trisomy 21 are fertile and have up to a 50% risk of having child also affected with trisomy 21. Infertility in males has been attributed to defective spermatogenesis, but ignorance of the sexual act may be one of the contributing factors.
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What Do You Recommend For Someone With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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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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Seven Steps To Finding A Doctor That Is Right For You
Step 1
Define your specific requirements.
Each of you has unique needs and circumstances that are important factors in your decision-making process. Ask yourself these questions:
1| Do I need a specialist?
Generalists, such as family doctors, are trained to know about a very broad range of topics. Your family doctor treats all of your problems, not just fibromyalgia . If you need more in-depth treatment for your FM, she can be helpful in coordinating care with a specialty doctor. Specialists have extra training in their field of expertise and may be needed to diagnose a condition or provide advanced treatment. Traditionally, the rheumatologist is the specialist who most often diagnoses and treats fibromyalgia.
2| How far can I travel?
Most patients with chronic or complex conditions would travel any distance to see a good doctor if they could. Realistically, driving is very hard on some and impossible for others. Think about what you can consistently manage.
3| Does my insurance restrict who I can see or where?
It is easier to work within your insurance guidelines than outside of the network, but consider all possible doctors at this point, regardless of insurance.
Step 2
Make a list of potential doctors.
State and county medical societies
Hospital referral services
Word of mouth
Local chapter of the Arthritis Foundation
Web sites
Step 3
Make phone calls.
1| Is the office accepting new patients?
2| What are the office hours and locations?
Step 4
Interview the doctors.
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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What Home Remedies Treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Physical activity performed at a comfortable pace is important for everyone to maintain good health, including people with chronic fatigue syndrome. People with CFS need to learn how much activity is helpful and when to stop, so they do not increase their level of fatigue.
In general, people with CFS should pace themselves carefully and avoid excessive physical or emotional stress. Remember, the goal is to avoid increasing fatigue or pain. Maintain a regular and manageable daily routine to avoid a relapse or increase of symptoms. Exercise should be supervised by a knowledgeable health-care provider or physical therapist.Total rest should also be avoided as it may make your fatigue worse. You should maintain physical activity at a comfortable pace. If you increase your level of physical activity, do so gradually.Decreased consumption of alcohol and caffeine at night may help you sleep.Try to minimize social isolation.
Always ask your doctor about any new treatment, including herbal supplements.
When Should I Call The Doctor About Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
People seek medical care when the fatigue and cognitive difficulties of chronic fatigue syndrome affect their quality of life. People who have questions about a particular treatment should contact a qualified health-care provider, local medical society, or university medical school for additional information.
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Treatment For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome In Leesburg Va
Individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome do not suffer from any sort of underlying medical condition, yet experience extreme tiredness after physical or mental activity that is not resolved with any amount of rest. This disorder is also often referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis or systemic exertion intolerance disease .
Dr. Seth Tuwiner provides comprehensive testing and treatment for chronic fatigue at his offices in Leesburg and Dulles, VA. Learn more about your treatment options and call the Virginia Center for Neuroscience today at.
What Causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Scientists have been researching chronic fatigue syndrome for many years, but they still don’t know for sure what causes it.
Many doctors believe that the way some conditions interact within the body and mind might leave some people at risk for CFS. For example, if someone has a and is under a lot of stress, the combination of these two things might make them more likely to develop CFS.
These things are believed to interact with each other in this way, putting some people at risk for CFS:
- infections. Experts have wondered if infections like measles or Epstein-Barr virus might increase the risk for CFS. The role Epstein-Barr plays in CFS is not clear because studies have not confirmed it as a cause.
- problems with the immune system or the nervous system
- hormone imbalances
- low blood pressure
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How Is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treated
There is no cure for ME/CFS. Treatment goals include managing symptoms and returning you to a higher quality of life. Some people arenât able to regain the level of health and function they had before their diagnosis.
First, your doctor works with you to determine which symptoms cause the most difficulty. Together, you will address those symptoms immediately.
Counseling is helpful for many people with ME/CFS. This type of treatment helps people better tolerate symptoms by changing thoughts and behaviors. Your doctor may prescribe medications, like antidepressants or sleep aids, if your symptoms are especially severe. These medications can relieve symptoms like unrestful sleep for some people living with ME/CFS.
Before prescribing sleep aids, however, your doctor may provide suggestions for improving sleep without drugs. For instance, he or she might suggest that you visit a sleep specialist. Other tips include:
- Develop a regular bedtime routineâgo to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
- Do not nap for more than 30 minutes total during the day.
- Use your bed and bedroom only for sleeping and sex. Take out all electronics.
- Avoid eating large meals before you go to bed also avoid alcohol and caffeine.
- Do your exercising at least 4 hours before you go to sleep.
