Learn To Recognize The Signs And Symptoms Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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We all feel tired from time to time. It makes sense that we’d feel exhausted after a long day of work or a rigorous run. However, some people feel this way after waking up in the morning, day after day, month after month. This severe fatigue is just one chronic fatigue symptom, in addition to headaches, muscle and joint pain, mild fever, sore throat, post-exertion malaise and headaches. Dr. Nancy Klimas, an immunologist at the University of Miami School of Medicine who treats AIDS and chronic fatigue syndrome, says: “My H.I.V. patients for the most part are hale and hearty. Many of my CFS patients, on the other hand, are terribly ill and unable to work or participate in the care of their families.”
Chronic fatigue syndrome awareness began in 1984, after several hundred patients developed flu-like symptoms in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Patients complained of extreme fatigue (the primary chronic fatigue symptom), as well as sore throats, mild fevers, headaches, memory loss and confusion. Doctors found most patients had several concurrent viruses, such as cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr and herpes virus 6. At the time, the Centers for Disease Control thought these symptoms were little more than frenzied hysteria.
The most well-known symptom is fatigue. However, this fatigue is nothing like what most folks experience after a challenging workout at the gym or a especially nerve-wracking day on the job. The Centers for Disease Control describes it as “severe, incapacitating and all-encompassing.” People with CFS often cannot go to work, attend school, engage in social pursuits or take care of their personal needs because they always feel mentally foggy and bodily rundown. In the most serious cases, patients never leave their beds or their houses. Lately, it is been found that the problem may be associated with a chronic fatigue retrovirus known as XMRV.
The definition of chronic fatigue syndrome states that no matter how sleep a person gets, he or she will still suffer from the chronic fatigue symptom. The syndrome is the same, whether an individual has had an hour of sleep or twelve hours of sleep. After awakening, patients report feeling just as fatigued as they did before they went to sleep. They lack that deep, refreshing sleep that is needed for the body to replenish itself and feel well again. CFS patient Janet Krause explains: “When I say I’m tired, I hear ‘Well I’m tired, too. All you need is a little extra sleep.’ That’s a slap in my face. Tired is one thing, but body systems breaking down is another.”
In addition to the chronic fatigue symptom of extreme exhaustion, many CFS patients begin to suffer from depression. It can be difficult explaining to friends and family members why you can’t do something. No one seems to understand why a “little bit of rest and relaxation” can’t make you feel better. Surely you must be exaggerating that you can’t finish putting up the Christmas decorations or take a small trip to the store, right? According to Dr. Robert Matsko Sr. of Marysville, Pennsylvania, “Chronic fatigue syndrome is a viable medical condition. It’s not ‘all in your head.’” Hopefully, future research regarding the CFS virus will solidify the idea that, while the syndrome has mental repercussions, this condition has real physical roots.
You have to find the chronic fatigue syndrome treatments that work best for your life if you are suffering from this debilitating condition. Visit Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Help to find out more about this syndrome and how you can find relief.
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