What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Many people suffer from the condition known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - a condition which leaves them feeling tired and listless and unable to carry out normal day to day tasks without feeling that these tasks are the most arduous they have ever had to carry out.The main problem with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is that no amount of sleep or rest will alleviate the symptoms. Indeed such are the symptoms that many sufferers feel that sleep and rest are a waste of time.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is also referred to as M.E - a more common name which once had the label 'Yuppie Flu' attached to it; M.E. stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and the condition results in inflammation of the brain and spinal cord as well as acute pain to the muscles.
What are the Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
There are a variety of different symptoms attached to the condition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS); the most common are listed below but it should be remembered that these symptoms will vary from individual to individual and not everyone will experience all of them.- Headaches
- Painful joints and muscles
- Problems with short term memory
- Lack of concentration
- Insomnia
- Stomach problems such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Depression
- Anxiety
Again it is worth pointing out that individuals will experience of variety of symptoms each of which may be different from those of another individual suffering from the same condition; in other words no two sufferers may experience the same symptoms which is why the condition is sometimes difficult to diagnose.
Varying Levels of Mobility
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) carries with it varying degrees of mobility which are very much dependent on how virulent the problem is.Many individuals suffer from mild Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which means they can function as normal but from time to time will experience the symptoms - some of which we have already mentioned - which will leave them needing rest.
The condition also moves up from mild to moderate where the symptoms become more severe and more common and then on through to severe which sees the sufferer unable to carry out everyday tasks and sees them confined to bed for a large part of their day; they may also become susceptible to bright lights or noise and find these difficult to deal with.
Dealing with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
It is important to recognise that there is no cure for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) just as there is no cure for Fibromyalgia. Many individuals take some comfort from simply having a diagnosis as it may take some time for your doctor to diagnose the problem.As there is no cure for the condition it may become necessary for a sufferer to introduce changes to the lifestyle in order to improve their ability to cope with the condition. This means perhaps a change in diet, light exercise and trying to get your body into a regular routine when it comes to sleep.
It is important to remember also that for those people living with sufferers of this condition it can be difficult for them to adjust also as there are not necessarily any visual signs that a sufferer has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS); it may be necessary for the family of a sufferer also to speak with their doctor in order to find out more about the condition so that they too can adjust to living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
