If you are living with a condition called chronic fatigue syndrome or just feeling unusually tired all of the time, there are ways to manage your symptoms. Chronic fatigue syndrome is also called chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome. Learning all you can about your condition, including causes, symptoms and available treatments can help you to get your life back under control. According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 4 million Americans have CFS. More alarming is that 80 percent have not been diagnosed. This means they are also not receiving proper medical care for their illness. To fully manage your chronic fatigue, you will need to become educated about your condition and play an active role in your care.
Identification
Having CFS or CFIDS means that you have fatigue that severely interferes with daily life and functioning for at least a six-month period. It goes beyond just feeling tired and it is accompanied by many other symptoms. During your physical exam you must meet certain criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control. Only your physician can determine if you have this disease or if your fatigue is due to another cause or illness. There are many other conditions that mimic CFS and CFIDS.
Diagnosis
According to the Centers for Disease Control, there is no definitive test to confirm chronic fatigue. It is usually diagnosed by evaluating a history of your symptoms. Your health care provider may run blood tests to rule out other medical conditions with similar symptoms. The CDC states that to properly diagnose this disease you must "have severe chronic fatigue of six months or longer duration with other known medical conditions excluded by clinical diagnosis; and concurrently have four or more of the following symptoms: substantial impairment in short-term memory or concentration; sore throat; tender lymph nodes; muscle pain; multijoint pain without swelling or redness; headaches of a new type, pattern or severity; unrefreshing sleep; and post-exertional malaise lasting more than 24 hours."
Symptoms
The symptoms that accompany chronic fatigue can be debilitating. They include extreme exhaustion, trouble concentrating, problems with short-term memory, flu-like sensations, sleep disturbances and all-over joint pain and achiness. Becoming excessively tired and needing an extended rest within 12 to 48 hours after physical or mental exertion is often a tell tale sign. Speech impairment, blurry vision, balance problems, heart rhythm irregularities, digestive problems and rashes are just some of the many symptoms you may experience.
Treatment
Treating chronic fatigue usually requires a multifaceted approach. Medications for pain, sleep, digestive complaints and depression may be needed. Professional counseling and time/energy management training may help you and your family learn to cope with your diagnosis. Meeting with a dietitian and occupational or physical therapist can help you learn skills to manage everyday tasks. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine and mind/body movement therapies may also help.
Considerations
There is no known cause of chronic fatigue syndrome or way to predict how this condition will affect each patient. It may be due to a malfunction within the immune system or be triggered by environmental factors. Genetics may also play a role. According to the CFIDS Association of America about one-third of all patients experience a full recovery. Other patients recover back to a level where they can participate in most of the activities they did before their diagnosis. Other patients may be severely affected the rest of their lives. They also state that your best chance of recovery occurs if you start treatment within five years of the onset of symptoms. So see your doctor early if you suspect CFS or CFIDS.
