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.
Resistance To A Person Situation Or Even To Life Itself
Any time you think a thought , you are producing chemicals in your body that correspond with an emotion. In other words, what you think determines how you feel. Most of the time, our thinking is so automatic and so unconscious that we often dont know why we feel bad as we dont realize our negative thoughts produced the negative emotions.
When it comes to fatigue there is often a pattern of negative thinking that greatly contributes to low levels of energy. This is called mental resistance.
Mental resistance means that you are opposed to the way things are. Maybe you hate your job, you dread the fact that you didnt live up to your own expectations, you dont like how your body looks, someone disappointed you and you wished things turned out differently, or you resist the fact that you are suffering from fatigue. This internal resistance to a situation, a person, or even yourself creates a huge inner conflict that takes up tremendous amounts of energy.
Resistance is often felt very physically. It can feel like inner tension, a weight that hovers over your head or a feeling like you cant move forward.
How does resistance feel like for you?
Just close your eyes and think about something you resist and then notice what happens in your body. Maybe you even get a visual like a mountain that is in front of you or you feel like you are in a pressure cooker and its hard for you to breathe.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Signs and symptoms have been clearly documented with national guidance based on a number of symptoms. These symptoms vary depending on the severity of the condition. The major symptom is disabling fatigue, whether mild, modest or severe, which has been present for at least six months in adults. Patients can usually distinguish this kind of fatigue from others, such as too much physical activity. This fatigue can often vary over time, with good and bad days. Over-exertion, either physical or mental, can often make it worse. In addition to fatigue, there is often a pattern of sleep disturbance such as difficulty getting to sleep, waking frequently and waking unrefreshed, even after a long sleep.
Other common symptoms include:
- inner ear infection with dizziness and vertigo
- sensitivity to noise and light.
Muscle and joint pain can be very severe and be diagnosed as fibromyalgia. The difference between this and chronic fatigue syndrome usually depends on the main symptom pain or fatigue, respectively.
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Severity Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
Symptoms vary widely in severity and people may have some symptoms more severely than others. However, the following definitions are provided by NICE to provide a guide to the level of impact of symptoms on everyday functioning:
Features of mild chronic fatigue syndromeThese include:
- You are able to care for yourself and do some light domestic tasks but may have difficulties with mobility.
- You are usually still able to work or attend education, but to do this you have probably stopped all leisure and social pursuits.
- You often have reduced hours, take days off and use the weekend to cope with the rest of the week.
Features of moderate chronic fatigue syndromeThese include:
- You have reduced mobility and are restricted in all activities of daily living.
- However you may have peaks and troughs in your level of symptoms and ability to do activities.
- You have usually stopped work or education, and need rest periods, often resting in the afternoon for one or two hours.
- Your sleep at night is generally of poor quality and disturbed.
Features of severe chronic fatigue syndromeThese include:
- You are unable to do any activity for yourself, or you can carry out minimal daily tasks only .
- You have severe cognitive difficulties and may depend on a wheelchair for mobility.
- You are often unable to leave the house or you have a severe and prolonged after-effect if you do so.
- You may also spend most of your time in bed and are often extremely sensitive to light and sound.
Etiology Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Etiology of CFS is unknown. No infectious, hormonal, immunologic, or psychiatric cause has been established. Among the many proposed infectious causes, Epstein-Barr virus, Lyme disease, candidiasis, and cytomegalovirus have been proven not to cause CFS. Similarly, there are no allergic markers and no immunosuppression.
Some people who have recovered from COVID-19 infection COVID-19 COVID-19 is an acute, sometimes severe, respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 was first reported in late 2019 in Wuhan, China and has since spread extensively… read more have become “long-haulers” with persistent symptoms. Some of these symptoms result from organ damage from the infection and/or treatment, and others may be from posttraumatic stress disorder Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Posttraumatic stress disorder is recurring, intrusive recollections of an overwhelming traumatic event recollections last > 1 month and begin within 6 months of the event. The pathophysiology… read more . In addition, in some patients COVID-19 seems to trigger typical CFS, but further study is needed to confirm this association and determine causality.
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Organize Your Medical Information
Having a handle on your medical information will make you a more powerful advocate for yourself.
I am a congenitally disorganized person. So, after years of papers flying all over the place, a friend helped me create a physical notebook, with tabs for Articles, Notes from Medical Appointments, Medical History, Current Medications, and Lab Results.
I had all of my lab results sent to me, and I alphabetized them with tabs, like Lupus, Lyme, Parvovirus, and Parasites. That made every appointment more productive for me and my providers.
Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Although there is no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome there are a number of ways to help manage your symptoms.
Because of the complexity of the illness, its changing nature and the number of possible symptoms, different things work for different people. Your GP may be able to support you through managing your individual symptoms. They may be able to refer you to a specialist service or to a service that will help you to manage individual symptoms but this depends on the services available in your area.
To decide what treatment is right for you, you should look at the evidence, including published research and patient surveys, and make sure you fully understand what the treatment involve, before you make a decision. You have the right to decline any treatment option you do not feel comfortable with.
Your GP may suggest some of the following treatment options.
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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 family’s 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
Finding Relief From Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Reading over this list, you may wonder if it is possible to get through a day in our modern world without encountering something that will make your symptoms worse. But the purpose of this article is not to spread doom and gloom but rather to bring hope to those who are suffering from CFS. Is there a way to find natural relief?
Many are benefiting from a niche in the chiropractic field called upper cervical chiropractic. What is this and how does it help with chronic fatigue syndrome?
Upper cervical chiropractic involves precise measurements of the top two vertebrae of the spine by using diagnostic imaging techniques. Then a gentle adjustment can be custom-fit to a patients needs. But what do these bones have to do with CFS?
The top bones of the spine can affect brainstem function as well as blood flow to the brain. These changes to both the central nervous and vascular systems can have far-reaching effects on the body. As a result, correcting this underlying problem has led to benefits for CFS patients as well as those with other chronic ailments like fibromyalgia.
To learn more, contact an upper cervical practitioner in your area to schedule a no-obligation consultation.
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Allergies And Chronic Fatigue
How are allergies one of the causes of chronic fatigue? According to doctors, celiac disease is the inability to digest gluten and leads to fatigue symptoms. These allergies can vary from food , allergens like pollution, pet fur, insects, and dust. If you feel that an underlying medical condition may come from the symptom of fatigue, avoid intolerance with allergens and other possible factors that trigger your allergies.
Is There Any Treatment
There is currently no cure for CFS. The therapies for this disorder are directed at symptom relief. It is important to maintain good health by eating a balanced diet and getting adequate rest, exercising regularly without causing more fatigue, and pacing oneself because too much stress can aggravate the symptoms of CFS. Working with a physician to develop a program that provides the greatest benefits also will help in reducing frustration with the illness.
Non-pharmacological therapies include acupuncture, aquatic therapy, chiropractic, cranial-sacral, light exercise, massage, self-hypnosis, stretching, tai chi, therapeutic touch and yoga. Certain psychotherapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy also have shown promise for facilitating patient coping and for alleviating some of the distress associated with CFS.
In pharmacological therapy there is a variety of medications that can relieve specific symptoms. It is important to begin with low doses and to escalate the dosage gradually as necessary.
Some CFS patients may also find it therapeutic to meet with other people who have this illness, and this can be accomplished by joining a local CFS support group. Support groups are not appropriate for everyone, and may actually add to their stress rather than relieving it.
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What Are The Treatments For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
There is no cure or approved treatment for CFS, but you may be able to treat or manage some of your symptoms. You, your family, and your health care provider should work together to decide on a plan. You should figure out which symptom causes the most problems and try to treat that first. For example, if sleep problems affect you the most, you might first try using good sleep habits. If those do not help, you may need to take medicines or see a sleep specialist.
Strategies such as learning new ways to manage activity can also be helpful. You need to make sure that you do not “push and crash.” This can happen when you feel better, do too much, and then get worse again.
Since the process of developing a treatment plan and attending to self-care can be hard if you have CFS, it is important to have support from family members and friends.
Don’t try any new treatments without talking to your health care provider. Some treatments that are promoted as cures for CFS are unproven, often costly, and could be dangerous.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Treatment Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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Cognitive-behavioral therapy
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Graded exercise
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Drugs for depression, sleep, or pain if indicated
In most cases, symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome lessen over time. However, it often takes years for symptoms to subside, and not all symptoms disappear. People may recover more fully if they focus more on what function they can recover than on how much function they have lost.
Specific symptoms such as pain, depression, and poor sleep are treated. Cognitive behavioral therapy and gradual graded exercise, which have helped some people, may be worth trying.
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Change The Things You Can
No doubt, when an illness barges into your life unannounced and takes up residence, it can leave you feeling angry, defeated, and powerless. For me, there came a point, though, where those feelings needed to take a back seat to a more constructive focus on the things I could change. For example, I could be a mom. I could take tai chi, and I could pursue a new career in writing. These are things I find enjoyable, fulfilling, and, best of all, my mother-in-law finds them quite agreeable too!
If one thing has become clear over my journey with this illness, its that we are all called to make the best of our living situations. Who knows? One day I might wake up and my metaphorical roommate may have found herself other accommodations. But, safe to say, Im not holding my breath. For today, Im happy to make the best of it and take the lessons as they come. How do you deal with chronic fatigue syndrome? Share your experiences with me!
Drug And Alternative Therapies
Specific chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms such as pain, depression, and poor sleep are treated.
Many different drugs and alternative therapies have been tried to relieve the chronic fatigue itself. Although many treatments, such as antidepressants and corticosteroids, seem to make a few people feel better, none are clearly effective for all. It can be hard for people and doctors to tell which treatments work because symptoms are different in different people and because symptoms may come and go on their own.
Controlled clinical trials The Science of Medicine Doctors have been treating people for many thousands of years. The earliest written description of medical treatment is from ancient Egypt and is over 3,500 years old. Even before that, healers… read more , which compare the benefits of a drug to those of a placebo , are the best way to test therapies, and no drug therapy has been shown to be effective for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome in controlled trials. A number of treatments directed at possible causes, including use of interferons, intravenous injections of immune globulin, and antiviral drugs, have been mostly disappointing and potentially dangerous. Dietary supplements, such as evening primrose oil, fish oil supplements, and high-dose vitamins, are commonly used, but their benefits remain unproved. Other alternative treatments have also been ineffective. Treatments that have no proven benefits are best avoided because they can have side effects.
With Brainwave Entrainment Technology You Too Can Easily Meditate
However, today everyone can get the benefits of meditation, even if you have zero experience. This is made possible through a wonderful technology called Brainwave Entrainment or Binaural Beats.
When you listen to a guided meditation that uses this technology as a background music, something wonderful happens: Your brain automatically and effortlessly shifts into the Theta and Alpha state. These are the brainwave states associated with deep relaxation, healing, intuition and insight.
Can Complementary Or Alternative Medicine Help Manage The Symptoms Of Me/cfs
Some people say that complementary or alternative medicine has helped their ME/CFS symptoms. Keep in mind that many alternative treatments, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies claim to cure ME/CFS, but some might do more harm than good. Talk to your doctor before trying alternative therapies to be sure they’re safe.
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.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Cfs And Viral Infections
Early on when living with illness I had no diagnosis. As some of youwill know, it is hard to live with severe chronic illness and have no label to give to others to explainwhy you are no longer your previously healthy self.
12 months later I had blood tests which showed the presence of an ongoing viralinfection.
6 months after that, I was diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
If someone receives a blood test early on after CFS symptoms develop, the tests sometimes reveal an infection with an enterovirusor influenza. Some cases of CFS follow mononucleosis or hepatitis A.However, by the time most people are given a diagnosis of ChronicFatigue Syndrome there is usually no longer any evidence of viral infection.
I know of one lady who contracted a virus at University, along with a number of her fellow students. Many recovered but 8 of them went on to develop the illness Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
How Does Chronic Fatigue Impact A Persons Life
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or CFS is severe fatigue that lasts for six months or more. Even during resting periods, it may not treat a person diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Hence, this complex medical illness often relies on treating the symptoms rather than the disease itself. This disorder is also called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or ME/CFS, which may disable a person altogether. There are significant consequences of overlooking the symptoms of chronic fatigue. Mostly, there are times when fatigue may look like daytime tiredness or sleepiness. Yet, the first sign of continuous pain and lethargy needs a general physician for further examination and diagnosis.
