Chronic fatigue syndrome is a difficult disease to diagnose. There are no laboratory tests to help confirm a diagnosis. You doctor can run tests however these tests are done to rule out other conditions that may be causing your symptoms. If you think you are at risk for this condition, you and your doctor will need to be aware of any early symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome that you may have.
Extreme Fatigue
The fatigue that occurs with chronic fatigue syndrome goes beyond just feeling tired, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is an extreme fatigue that is incapacitating and interrupts your daily life. It is a new sensation for you that can not be attributed to exerting yourself. If you are active, you may find that you remain exhausted for up to 24 to 48 hours after even gentle exercise. Your chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms are not relieved by rest or getting a good night's sleep. The CDC says that fatigue is an early symptom of many medical conditions, so you need to be careful about not self-diagnosing. If you are feeling overly tired all of the time or are suddenly too exhausted to do your normal activities, see your physician for a proper diagnosis.
Impaired Memory
In order for your physician to diagnose you with chronic fatigue syndrome you need to have other symptoms that accompany your fatigue. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that you must also be experiencing problems with your memory. You may find that it is difficult to concentrate during the day and be unable to complete tasks that you could always do before. Chronic fatigue syndrome usually affects short-term memory. Memory difficulties must be present for at least 6 months to be considered related to CFS.
General Pain
Along with fatigue and memory impairment in the early stages of chronic fatigue syndrome, you may develop headaches that feel different then headaches you have had in the past. You may experience general aches and pains in various muscles and joints. Your throat may be sore and the lymph nodes in your neck and armpits may be swollen. According to the Woman's Health website, these symptoms may be so mild especially in the early stages, that you may just think you are run down or getting a cold or flu. These symptoms may come and go as this disease tends to have periods of exacerbation and flares. This makes the diagnosis even more challenging, as you may be symptom free for periods of time. In addition, the symptoms experienced and the severity of these symptoms varies greatly from person to person. Even though you show the signs or symptoms it may take time before your doctor can confidently diagnose you with CFS.
