Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Treatments
Unfortunately, there are no specific treatments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrom. But that doesnt mean you are going to sit idle and do nothing about it while suffering silently. Since every person has their own individual problems and symptoms, not all forms of treatment are going to be applicable to everyone universally.
Moreover, you can always take steps and opt for a type of chronic fatigue syndrome treatment that can prove to be beneficial to your health. Scroll down and find out all the ways you can treat chronic fatigue syndrome in your body!
Swollen Lymph Nodes In Your Neck And Armpits *
If your lymph nodes are swollen, it is generally a significant sign of infection, disease, or injury. Your body is responding to a problem, which is usually a sign that you should see a health care professional. You will be able to feel the swollen lymph nodes with your fingers and, in some cases, see them under the skin. Other than being swollen, they may be tender and sore to touch.
The early days with CFS I suffered from swollen glands and chronically infected tonsils, not pleasant at all!
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, “foggy thinking,” 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.
Read Also: Info On Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Build Peace And Relax
CFS can be debilitating both physically and mentally. Suffering from persistent exhaustion, reduced brain cognition, chronic muscle and joint pain, stress, and even guilt takes a toll on the body, and psyche.
Long-term stress control and relaxation must be a vital portion of any protocol used to overcome chronic fatigue syndrome. While seemingly impossible, its imperative that sufferers of CFS do their best to effectively manage stress, and rest.
The Power of Rest
Rest means more than just sleep. Dedicate one day per week when you dont have any responsibilities or commitments. Truly commit to a full day of rest. This gives your body and mind a much-needed respite helping to fight stress, anxiety and exhaustion. Its also important during the week, if you are having a particularly difficult day, to not overtax yourself.
While regular exercise supports wellness and helps to diminish stress, individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome need to exercise at a controlled intensity. High-intensity workouts can leave you drained for several days.
Exercise Therapy
Exercise therapy has been shown to help with fatigue, mental clarity and depression in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. According to a study released in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation, individuals with CFS were recommended to perform aerobic activities, at the clinic twice per month, in combination with at-home exercises for roughly 5-15 minutes in duration, five days per week.
Sleep
S To Overcoming Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Naturally
Getting well requires undoing the things that contributed to your misery in the first place. Once you minimize or eliminate the root causes , amazing things happen. Cells are reenergized. Normal communication pathways become re-established. Immune system functions rebound. Adrenal and thyroid functions normalize. Nerves and neurotransmitters calm, and the brain starts functioning again.
Healing can take place, and symptoms, including fatigue, gradually resolve.
But to get well, you must want to be well more deeply than anything you have ever wanted. Ultimately, becoming well is your responsibility, and you alone must put the effort forward to make your recovery happen. This doesnt exclude having positive relationships with healthcare providers, family, and friends, which are all much to your benefit. But when you leave behind a total dependence on others to rescue you from misery, and take a stand to regain wellness that is rightfully yours to enjoy, you become a new person with a renewed purpose in life. That renewed purpose will carry you back to wellness and beyond.
Even with renewed spirit, however, youll need a plan to follow. The following guidelines provide the basic outline for the strategy I used personally to recover wellness, and that Ive since shared to successfully help thousands of others. You can follow in their footsteps.
Also Check: Is Fatigue A Symptom Of Menopause
You May Like: How To Overcome Compassion Fatigue
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.
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.
Recommended Reading: How To Reduce Fatigue In Multiple Sclerosis
What Should I Eat If I Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
You should eat food that is rich in nutrients and balanced. You should eat vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fermented dairy, seafood, legumes, beans, dark chocolate, healthy fats (avocados, olive oil, nuts, tofu, tempeh, and spices. Stay away from fast foods and anything that is processed and packaged.
Related:Healhiest fruits and vegetables you should eat
What Factors Pose A Risk
Are there really any heightened risk factors for people to constantly be more tired than others? Unfortunately, the short answer is YES! There are actually two main factors to take into consideration when looking deeper into CFS.
Unfortunately, the following two factors cant really be controlled.
Most women never stop, and thus, they are more likely to be diagnosed with this type of medical dilemma and appear more tired than men. However, it is also speculated that women tend to be better communicators and might just be reporting these symptoms more than men. Therefore, CFS patients could be pretty equal in terms of prevalence between genders.
Of course, CFS can happen at any age, but its especially common in individuals who are middle-aged. As you get older, its harder to sustain your energy as in your younger years.
Do you find that you fall into both categories and that it’s harder to feel refreshed after a good night’s sleep? These factors may be the reason why youre more susceptible to tiredness and feel like you cant escape your feelings of exhaustion.
Plus, as our bodies grow and change, there’s the heightened possibility that people will experience more fatigue as they age. However, there are some clear signs that indicate that there is more of a problem than the regular signs of aging or gender.
You May Like: Is Fatigue A Symptom Of Appendicitis
Complementary And Alternative Medicine
CFS/ME patients tend to use more alternative medicine treatments than people without . Patients often leave orthodox medical care because they feel that their condition has been unjustifiably attributed to psychological causes: they are given the message that it is all in the mind. In a twin study, 91% of twins with CFS/ME and 71% without CFS/ME used at least one alternative treatment. A large proportion of the study participants stated that alternative treatments were helpful .
Whats Making Me Tired
The cause for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome isnt really known, but there are other reasons and rationales for feeling tired for long periods of time. In fact, here are four potential triggers to watch for as you go about your daily routine.
Viral Infections
When a viral infection hits, its normal for the body to feel extremely overwhelmed and exhausted. A virus has the potential to really wipe out your immune system, and as a result, your body will need time to recover and may even need an antiviral to help it along. Some viruses are more prominent than others. So if youve been feeling ill for a while, there is more potential for this to occur.
Immune System Issues
Your immune system itself may be impaired or weakened. If this is the case, your body will need adequate time and energy to recover and get your immune function back in working order. To keep from falling ill again and give your body the boost it needs, additional sleep may work as a beneficial healing mechanism. Immune boosting supplements can also help! However, if your immune response is permanently impaired, it could be a cause for a separate disorder all its own, bringing us back to the importance of getting examined by a doctor if you have unusually prominent symptoms.
Hormonal Imbalances
Physical and Emotional Trauma
You May Like: Can Anxiety Cause Fatigue And Weakness
What May Cause Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Why chronic fatigue syndrome occurs is unclear and complex. Researchers conclude that infections, like pneumonia and bronchitis, and other immune deficiencies can be related to chronic fatigue syndrome. Depression, pain, and sleep disturbances frequently occur with chronic fatigue syndrome.
If you suspect chronic fatigue syndrome, you should find a healthcare practitioner who can take a holistic approach to your health and uncover underlying health issues and lifestyle factors that may contribute to your fatigue.
Unfortunately, patients sometimes feel frustrated that they havent been able to get answers from their doctors or by asking . They might see symptoms like chronic fatigue as in their head or they lack motivation or willpower.
What Can I Do To Manage Covid
People always want to know how long postCOVID-19 fatigue lasts. The answer is, doctors dont currently know. It can be weeks or even months.
The best thing you can do to manage COVID-19 fatigue is to practice self-care and be kind to yourself.
Here are some tips from the United Kingdoms National Health Service on how to take care of yourself while you heal.
In the interim you might want to:
You May Like: What Is The Cure For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
S To Overcome Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a chronic illness characterized by extreme fatigue that lasts for more than six months. This fatigue cannot be explained away by an underlying medical condition. In fact, one of the diseases principle challenges is that its impossible to diagnose with laboratory tests. However, some professionals believe it is closely related to adrenal fatigue or system wide inflammation of the body.
The process for diagnosis usually begins with ruling out possible underlying diseases and chronic conditions until the only choice left is chronic fatigue syndrome. Left untreated, it decreases stamina, memory and concentration.
Chronic fatigue syndrome can result in strained relationships with friends and family, especially when it remain undiagnosed and/or untreated. Guilt, anxiety and anger are all common emotional responses for those fighting chronic fatigue.
Currently, over 1 million Americans are suffering from this debilitating illness that manifests with a lack of energy and motivation, and women are 24 times more likely than men to be diagnosed.
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
Also Check: What Are The Signs Of Adrenal Fatigue
Massive Gap In Hiv Screening
Between 2009 and 2012, white males 1539 years of age made an average of 1.35 visits to physicians offices each year. But in 99% of those visits, they did not get a human immunodeficiency virus testeven though in 2012, an estimated 15% of males living with HIV had undiagnosed HIV infection. Thats worse than the findings for blacks and Hispanics, although those numbers were not much better: Only 2.7% of black men and 1.4% of Hispanic men were tested, and they were less likely to visit the doctors office.
Because there is room for improvement, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers analyzed data from the 20092012 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and U.S. Census data to identify opportunities for HIV diagnosis in young men.
The number of men visiting health care offices was up from 59% in 2010 and 63% in 2011, to 75% in 2014. But it appears that the age group of 2029 years old is getting whatever attention there is. HIV testing was lowest among males 1519 years of age and 3539 years of age.
Why is screening still so rare? The researchers suggest providers may not know about national testing recommendations, believe that their patients are not at risk, or believe that HIV testing is the responsibility of other health care professionals in other settings.
The CDC report says interventions to make HIV testing routine, such as opt-out testing, might help increase coverage among young men who might not otherwise seek it.
How Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosed
CFS diagnosis depends on two criteria:
A specific treatment for CFS has yet to be proven effective. Vitamin supplements and medicines have some benefit. Many treatments just relieve the symptoms of CFS.
You May Like: How To Fight Chemo Fatigue
Management Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
Rest and sleep in CFSRest periods in the daily routine are part of management strategies for all people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Relaxation techniques at the beginning of each rest period can be helpful. Try to balance the need for rest during the day against how you are sleeping at night. Introduce changes to your sleep pattern gradually.
Physical functioning and mobility problems in CFSStrategies to help maintain and prevent deterioration of your physical function and mobility need to be carried out in small amounts and spread out throughout the day. Strategies should include joint mobility, muscle flexibility, balance, postural and positional support, muscle function, bone health and cardiovascular health.
Care and support plans in relation to physical functioning and mobility may include bed mobility, moving from lying to sitting to standing, transferring from bed to chair, using mobility aids, walking, joint mobility, muscle stretching, muscle strength, balance, and going up and down stairs.
People with CFS may experience intolerance of changing position, such as when first standing up. This may include postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome . You may need to be refered to a specialist if your symptoms are severe or worsening, or there are concerns that another condition may be the cause.
Pain in CFSChronic pain is commonly associated with CFS. You may need referral to specialist pain services if appropriate.
Dont Miss: Does Thyroid Cancer Cause Fatigue
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.
You May Like: What Is Chronic Fatigue A Sign Of
