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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

What is Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)?

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) causes long-term disabling tiredness (fatigue) affecting everyday life. It does not go away with sleep or rest.

CFS is also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). Myalgia means muscle pain and encephalomyelitis means inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Both terms are commonly used. However there is no inflammation in the brain therefore the term ME is somewhat misleading.

Treatment focuses on easing and managing the symptoms.

Who is affected?
Around 250,000 people in the UK have CFS. Many people who develop CFS/ME were previously fit and active.
Anyone can get CFS, although it is three times more common in women than in men. The most common age is usually between the early 20s to mid-40s. Children can also be affected, usually between the ages of 13 and 15. 

Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

With chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), there will be times when your symptoms improve. You will be able to do many normal, everyday activities. However, at other times your symptoms can flare up and get worse, affecting your daily life.

Fatigue
The main symptom of CFS is severe fatigue (tiredness) following mental or physical activity. This does not go away with sleep or rest, and limits your usual activities. It has not been lifelong but started at a point in time and causes you to limit your activities compared with what you were used to.

Fatigue is mental as well as physical. Some people describe it as overwhelming. Some people describe it as:
  • A different type of tiredness from what you have experienced before.
  • It is not due to exhaustion.
  • Not feeling refreshed after sleeping.
  • Not just a lack of drive, which some people feel when they are depressed.
  • Being overwhelming.



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Exercising can make symptoms worse and the effect of exercise can sometimes delayed, so after playing sport you may not feel the fatigue for a few hours or even a couple of days after.

Other symptoms
There can be other symptoms as-well as fatigue,  however people do not experience all of these. These include:
  • muscular pain, joint pain and severe headaches
  • short-term memory loss and  difficulty concentrating
  • difficulty organising your thoughts and finding the right words
  • painful lymph nodes (small glands of the immune system)
  • stomach pain and other problems similar to irritable bowel syndrome, such as bloating, constipation, diarrhoea and nausea
  • recurrent sore throat
  • sleeping problems, such as difficulty sleeping and disturbed sleep
  • sensitivity or intolerance to light, loud noise, alcohol and certain foods
  • psychological difficulties, such as depression, irritability and panic attacks
  • less common symptoms, such as dizziness, excess sweating, balance problems and difficulty controlling body temperature

Severity of symptoms
The severity of CFS/ME varies but can roughly be divided into three levels:

Mild cases - you can care for yourself and can do light domestic tasks, but with difficulty. You are still able to do a job, but may often take days off work, but in order to remain in work you may have stopped most leisure and social activities. Weekends or other days off from work are used to rest in order to cope.

Moderate cases - you have reduced mobility and are restricted in most activities of daily living. The level of ability and severity of symptoms often varies from time to time (peaks and troughs). You are likely to have stopped work and require rest periods. Night-time sleep tends to be poor and disturbed.

Severe cases - you are able to carry out only minimal daily tasks such as face washing and cleaning teeth. You are likely to have severe difficulties with some mental processes such as concentrating. You may be wheelchair-dependent for mobility and may be unable to leave your home except on rare occasions, and usually have severe prolonged after-effects from effort. You may spend most of your time in bed. You are often unable to tolerate any noise, and are generally very sensitive to bright light.

Note: most cases are mild or moderate

Also see:-
 Causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
 Treatment for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome self-help


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