What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome causes extreme fatigue that will not go away. Some people affected by this disease are unable to perform their normal daily activities. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome affects more Americans than lupus, lung cancer, ovarian cancer and multiple sclerosis. CFS is considered a major public health problem.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome generally affects people in their 40's and 50's. But it can also affect people of any age, race or ethnic background. It is more common in women than men, but men can also be affected by this illness.

Fatigue is the main symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. There are other illnesses that can make you feel fatigued. What makes CFS different is that the fatigue you experience has lasted for several months. You feel exhausted most or all of the time no matter how much rest you get. There can be other symptoms besides fatigue, such as fever, headaches, sore throat, muscle and joint pain, depression, problems sleeping, difficulty thinking clearly, difficulty concentrating and remembering things,.

Talk To Your Doctor

It is very important to have a doctor you can trust since you will need to work together to find a treatment that works for you. Let your doctor know about the symptoms you are experiencing. Your doctor will first need to rule out other ailments that cause fatigue. There is usually a process of trial and error to find the right treatment for you. Since no two people are alike, there is no one treatment that is going to work for everyone diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The treatment that works for you may not work for someone else with CFS.

Your Fatigue Is Real

Your fatigue is real. You are not imagining it. Prior to a diagnosis you may doubt yourself and even wonder if the fatigue and other symptoms are all in your head. But that's not true. I have lost track of how many doctors I went to before being diagnosed with CFS. There were times that I wondered if I was imagining the fatigue. Maybe I was just being lazy. But I was not imaging things. The fatigue was real.

Support System

It is important to have people around you that believe in your diagnosis and support you. It is much easier to deal with a chronic illness when you know you don't have to deal with it on your own. When family and friends support you it can make a big difference. If they offer to help you with some of your daily activities such as housework, accept their offer. Older children can also help out with the household chores. Accepting help doesn't mean you are lazy or weak. You may think that your house is your responsibility and you should be the one doing the housework. But thinking this way isn't going to make things any better in fact it could make things worse. Learn to slow down and not overdue it. You will just exhaust yourself and that is not going to get you anywhere.

Self-Monitoring

Keep a diary of your activities for two weeks. Write down the times of day you feel tired and the times of day that you feel energetic even if it is a small amount of energy. At the end of the two weeks see if there is a pattern for the times you feel fatigued and the times you have some energy. Try to plan your daily activities around the times that you are feeling better. For instance, if you feel more energetic in the early afternoon then try to plan your activities around that time.

Guilt

Sometimes people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome feel guilty because they can't do a lot of the things they used to do. There is no reason to feel guilty. You did not do anything to cause your CFS. Guilt can cause stress and stress will only make your condition worse.

Talking to a psychologist can really help you deal with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. A psychologist will listen to your concerns and help you find ways to deal with your illness. You will be amazed at the relief you will feel after talking to someone who is totally focused on you and your concerns.

Limitations

People with CFS need to limit their activities, especially those activities that are strenuous. This doesn't mean you have to give up all of your favorite activities but you will need to pace yourself.

Try to plan activities during the time that you feel more energetic, but don't overdue it. It can take several days to recover from one day of doing too much. If you are planning a trip to the zoo or a weekend get-away try to get as much rest as you can a few days before. Save your energy for your weekend plans.

There will also be limitations at home. Don't try to clean the whole house in one day, you will just exhaust yourself. Besides I doubt that anyone is going to come into your house and give it the white glove test. Try to do a little bit of a time. For instance I will sweep my kitchen floor and vacuum the living room then rest for awhile. After that I might empty the dishwasher and put the dishes away. If I feel like that is all I can do I leave it at that. You may want to make a weekly schedule for doing your housework. It is very important to remember to pace yourself and don't overdue it.

If you are feeling tired try taking a nap. It is better to take a nap in the morning or early afternoon. Taking a nap late in the day can have an affect on how well you sleep at night.

Depression

As with any long lasting illness there is a chance that you will also battle depression. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can be made worse by depression and anxiety. Getting treatment for depression can help your other symptoms. If you are feeling depressed please tell your doctor so that treatment can be started. Your mental health can affect your physical health.

A pet can be a great source of comfort for those suffering from any chronic illness. They are always there when you need them. If you decide to get a pet make sure it is one that doesn't need a lot of extra care.

Sleep Problems

Sleep problems can greatly affect the fatigue you experience. There are some things that you can try that may help you if you are having problems sleeping.

-Go to bed only when you are feeling sleepy and get up at the same time every morning no matter how tired you may feel.

-If you are still awake 20-30 minutes after you have gone to bed, get out of bed and go to another room and do something quiet until you feel sleepy again.

-No alcohol, caffeine or tobacco after 4:00 pm. All three of these can contribute to your sleep problems.

-Keep your bedroom as dark as possible and eliminate all sounds. Keep your bedroom at a comfortable temperature.

-You need a mattress that gives you good support.Medication Choices

Over the counter medications such as Tylenol, Advil, Motrin and Aleve can be taken to treat headaches, fevers, muscle pain and joint pain. Robitussin or Benadryl can be used to relieve nasal congestion and cold and allergy symptoms. Always read the labels and check for any possible drug interactions. Call your doctor if you have any questions about over the counter medications.

Your doctor can prescribe medications for pain that is not relieved by over the counter medications. Codeine, Morphine and Demerol can be prescribed by your doctor. There is a risk of addiction with these medications so they are normally reserved for the most severe cases and are used on a short term basis.

Antidepressants are prescribed to treat anxiety and depression. These medications can improve concentration, help you sleep better and decrease fatigue and muscle pain.

Graded Exercise

Graded exercise is exercise that starts out very slowly and increases in very small steps. Increasing exercise slowly helps your body to adjust to the activity.

Light aerobic exercise such as walking will help to increase your energy and can help you feel less tired. Start out by walking for 5 minutes every other day for 2 weeks. At the end of those 2 weeks you can add a few more minutes if you are feeling strong enough. Continue adding a few minutes to your workout every few weeks. Have an exercise plan and stick with it every day even if you feel more energetic some days.

Avoiding exercise can leave your body in worse shape and affect your self-image. Just remember to start out slowly.

Hope For The Future

More research is being done to learn more about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and how it affects the lives of those individuals who have been diagnosed with the disease.