Living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complicated disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that doesn't improve with bed rest and may worsen with physical or mental activity.

CFS is a state of chronic fatigue that exists without other explanation for 6 months or more and is accompanied by cognitive difficulties (problems with short-term memory or concentration). CFS is complicated and difficult to diagnose. Some people have a hard time accepting CFS as a disease. It's important to remember that your fatigue is real and that you can work with your doctor to improve your symptoms. Furthermore, they're not just dealing with extreme fatigue but with a wide range of other symptoms, including flu-like symptoms and chronic pain.

Complications: Possible complications of chronic fatigue syndrome include:

Depression, related both to symptoms and lack of diagnosis
Side effects and adverse reactions related to medication treatments
Side effects and adverse reactions associated with lack of activity (deconditioning)
Social isolation caused by fatigue
Lifestyle restrictions
Missing work

Diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

There is no standard laboratory test yet available for giving a reliable diagnosis of CFS. Doctors must rely on sharp clinical intuition and criteria set by the Center for Disease Control to judge whether a patient has the syndrome. The criteria is as follows:

Severe unexplained fatigue for over six (6) months that is:

new or with a definite time of onset
not due to continuing exertion
not resolved by rest
functionally impairing

And the presence of four or more of the following symptoms:

impaired memory or concentration
sore throat
painful lymph nodes in the neck or armpits
unexplained muscle soreness
pain that moves from one joint to another, without evidence of redness or swelling
generalized headaches
unrefreshing sleep
prolonged fatigue following previously tolerated exercise

Treatment: There is no effective treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome. Even though there is no specific treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome itself, you may find it quite helpful to treat your symptoms.

The lack of any proven effective treatment can be frustrating to both you and your doctors. If you have chronic fatigue syndrome, health experts recommend that you try to maintain good health by:

Eating a balanced diet and getting adequate rest
Exercising regularly but without causing more fatigue
Pacing yourself physically, emotionally, and intellectually, because too much stress can aggravate your symptoms. The course of chronic fatigue syndrome varies from patient to patient
Prescription Medications: There are currently no FDA-approved prescription medications for use in treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. There are, however, a number of medications that are used to treat the various symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Many are recommended for effects that may be unrelated to their primary use. These may include antidepressants, antifungals, antihistamines, antivirals, CNS depressants (or stimulants), immunoglobulins, cardiac medications, anti-inflammatories, anticonvulsants, corticoids, and expectorants.

Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy: Doctors also recommend cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. This short-term form of psychotherapy encourages people to consider the role of psychological as well a social factors in their illness, to become more physically active, combat depression and anxiety, and improve confidence and illness control. Studies show that both graduated exercise and cognitive therapy can help greatly.
Treatment of depression. If you're depressed, medications, such as tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may help. Antidepressants may also help improve sleep and relieve pain. Tricyclic antidepressants include amitriptyline (Limbitrol, a multi-ingredient drug that contains amitriptyline), desipramine (Norpramin) and nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor). SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft) and bupropion (Wellbutrin).
Get enough sleep. Getting sufficient sleep is essential. In addition to allotting enough time for sleep, practice good sleep habits, such as going to bed and getting up at the same time each day and limiting daytime napping.

Fatigue can be a symptom of many illnesses, such as infections or psychological disorders. In general, see your doctor if you have persistent or excessive fatigue. Severe fatigue that prevents you from fully participating in activities at home, work or school may be a symptom of an underlying medical problem.

Important Links for support groups:

USA:

http://www.cfids.org/

http://www.geocities.com/cfsnova/

http://www.friendswithfibro.org/

http://dailystrength.org/c/Chronic-Fatigue-Syndrome/support-group

Australia:

http://www.mja.com.au/public/guides/cfs/cfspat.html

http://www.mecfscanberra.org.au/aus_info/groups.htm#act

UK:

http://www.chronicfatiguesyndrome.me.uk/support-groups.html

http://www.chronicfatiguesupport.com/