Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is one of several names given to a poorly understood, highly debilitating disorder of uncertain cause, which is thought to affect approximately 4 per 1,000 adults in the United States and other industrialized countries, and a smaller fraction of adolescents.
In this lens I will be constantly adding new information I find in blogs, newspapers, books, and web sites that shine some light on CFS and can help us all understand it and deal with it better.
New Table of Contents
- Come back tomorrow! I update this information DAILY!
- Discussing CFS with your doctor...
- Causes of CFS
- New Link List
- CFS
- More CFS symptoms
- New YouTube vids
- Common conditions that can cause chronic fatigue include:
- More tips on getting sleep
- Difference between fatigue and CFS
- Getting treatment
- Blog Posts from Google
- New Flickr Photos
- Reader Feedback
- Unknown Cause
- Sudden onset cases
- Gradual cases of CFS
Come back tomorrow! I update this information DAILY!
Great tips to sleep!
Helpful tips for better sleep that may provide some chronic fatigue relief include the following:Follow a regular sleep schedule. It is helpful to go to sleep and wake up at the same times as much as possible, even on weekends.
Start an exercise program. Exercise at a regular time each day, at least three hours before bedtime.
Get some natural, outdoor light each day.
Avoid caffeine late in the day.
Don't drink alcohol to help you sleep.
Don't skip meals.
Drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
Avoid smoking.
Create a safe and comfortable place to sleep (quiet, dark, and well ventilated).
Develop a nighttime routine that helps you slow down and relax.
If you're having trouble falling asleep after about 15 minutes, get up, do a quiet activity, and return to bed when you are sleepy.
Try these tips, and record your sleep and sleep-related activities in a sleep diary. If problems continue, discuss your sleep diary with your doctor.
Discussing CFS with your doctor...
If you think that you may be struggling with chronic fatigue, it is important to discuss your symptoms with your doctor.When discussing chronic fatigue, it is also important to tell your doctor about any medications you are taking, including dietary supplements, alternative treatments, and complementary treatments, because some medications can exaggerate symptoms of fatigue. For example, stimulants (such as caffeine) as well as corticosteroids may cause sleep disturbances. Your doctor can provide guidance on what medications and interventions may restore your sleep, as well as advice on medications to avoid as part of chronic fatigue relief.
It is also important to discuss chronic pain symptoms with your doctor because chronic pain often leads to sleep difficulties, which in turn leads to chronic fatigue. Your doctor may order laboratory tests to determine what organ(s) may be involved in causing chronic fatigue. Maintaining a healthy weight and participating in regular exercise may also help provide relief of chronic fatigue.
Causes of CFS
infection, hormones, and stress.
Chronic fatigue occurs when symptoms of exhaustion or lack of energy last more than six months. Although the exact chronic fatigue causes are unknown, infection, hormone levels, and stress are believed to play a role in this symptom.
New Link List
- Altovis
- Altovis consists of a carefully balanced blend of vital energy agents and adaptogenic agents, including green tea extract, panax ginseng, and eleuthero. Altovis is designed to provide an energized boost.
- Monobril
- Do you constantly feel like you have the flu, always feeling drained, no matter how much sleep you get?
Did you used to feel healthy and full of energy, but now are always tired and weak, especially after physical activity?
Do you experience swollen lymph nodes, painful joints, or sore muscles?
Do you feel depressed or anxious?
Are too embarrassed to tell your doctor about your condition because you are afraid your doctor wouldn't take you seriously, or that your symptoms were too mild, or that there weren't any treatments? - Everything you could possibly need.
- A whole bunch of products to help CFS patients. Great variety and great site.
- Senior Health
- This site has some neat information on CFS symtoms and causes.
CFS
The disorder is marked by severe, chronic mental and physical exhaustion, arising in a previously healthy and active person, as well as other specific symptoms. Despite promising avenues of research, there remains no objective assay or pathological finding which is widely accepted to be diagnostic of CFS, and it remains a diagnosis of exclusion, made on the basis of patient history and symptomatic criteria. Although there is agreement on the genuine threat to health, happiness, and productivity posed by CFS, various physicians' groups, researchers, and patient activists champion very different nomenclature, diagnostic criteria, etiologic hypotheses, and favored treatments, resulting in ongoing controversy about nearly all aspects of this enigmatic disorder. Even the name chronic fatigue syndrome is controversial, with some patient advocates and other authorities preferring terms such as myalgic encephalomyelitis ("ME" or "ME/CFS") and post-viral fatigue syndrome ("PVFS"), which imply specific underlying etiologies or pathologic processes.
More CFS symptoms
Chronic fatigue is a symptom of many diseases. While chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition, chronic fatigue is only one symptom. In order to be diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, a person must have chronic fatigue and four or more of the following symptoms:
Substantial impairment in short-term memory or concentration
Sore throat
Tender lymph nodes
Muscle pain
Multi-joint pain without swelling or redness
Headaches of a new type, pattern, or severity
Unrefreshing sleep (insomnia)
Post-exercise fatigue lasting more than 24 hours.
Substantial impairment in short-term memory or concentration
Sore throat
Tender lymph nodes
Muscle pain
Multi-joint pain without swelling or redness
Headaches of a new type, pattern, or severity
Unrefreshing sleep (insomnia)
Post-exercise fatigue lasting more than 24 hours.
New YouTube vids
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Relieved
This young mother has found new energy after being rid of her chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms by using this alternative remedy. We now do phone sessions.
Runtime: 1:21 | 411 views | 0 Comments
Common conditions that can cause chronic fatigue include:
Fibromyalgia
Myalgic encephalomyelitis
Neurasthenia
Multiple sclerosis
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus)
Multiple chemical sensitivities
Hypothyroidism
Sleep apnea
Narcolepsy
Major depressive disorders
Chronic mononucleosis
Bipolar affective disorders
Schizophrenia
Eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia)
Cancer
Autoimmune disease
Hormonal disorders
Subacute infections
Obesity
Alcohol or substance abuse
Reactions to prescribed medications.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis
Neurasthenia
Multiple sclerosis
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus)
Multiple chemical sensitivities
Hypothyroidism
Sleep apnea
Narcolepsy
Major depressive disorders
Chronic mononucleosis
Bipolar affective disorders
Schizophrenia
Eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia)
Cancer
Autoimmune disease
Hormonal disorders
Subacute infections
Obesity
Alcohol or substance abuse
Reactions to prescribed medications.
More tips on getting sleep
Helpful tips for better sleep include:
Follow a regular sleep schedule. It is helpful to go to sleep and wake up at the same times as much as possible, even on weekends.
Start an exercise program. Exercise at a regular time each day, at least three hours before bedtime.
Get some natural, outdoor light each day.
Avoid caffeine late in the day.
Don't drink alcohol to help you sleep.
Don't skip meals.
Drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
Avoid smoking.
Create a safe and comfortable place to sleep (quiet, dark, and well ventilated).
Develop a nighttime routine that helps you slow down and relax.
If you're having trouble falling asleep after about 15 minutes, get up, do a quiet activity, and return to bed when you are sleepy.
Try these tips, and record your sleep and sleep-related activities in a sleep diary. If problems continue, discuss your sleep diary with your doctor.
Follow a regular sleep schedule. It is helpful to go to sleep and wake up at the same times as much as possible, even on weekends.
Start an exercise program. Exercise at a regular time each day, at least three hours before bedtime.
Get some natural, outdoor light each day.
Avoid caffeine late in the day.
Don't drink alcohol to help you sleep.
Don't skip meals.
Drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
Avoid smoking.
Create a safe and comfortable place to sleep (quiet, dark, and well ventilated).
Develop a nighttime routine that helps you slow down and relax.
If you're having trouble falling asleep after about 15 minutes, get up, do a quiet activity, and return to bed when you are sleepy.
Try these tips, and record your sleep and sleep-related activities in a sleep diary. If problems continue, discuss your sleep diary with your doctor.
Difference between fatigue and CFS
In most cases, fatigue:Refers to exhaustion during or after usual daily activities
Refers to a lack of energy to begin these activities
May result from exertion, lack of sleep, or illnesses such as colds
Generally goes away after getting more rest or recovering from a cold.
However, chronic fatigue occurs when symptoms of exhaustion or lack of energy last for more than six months.
Getting treatment
Treating chronic fatigue will depend on a number of factors. First, doctors will need to identify the cause. Once your doctor is able to identify the cause, he or she will be able to recommend treatment.If you think you may be struggling with chronic fatigue, you should talk to your doctor about the following:
Any symptoms you may be experiencing, including chronic pain
Medications you are taking, including dietary supplements and alternative and complementary treatments
Exercise and the importance of maintaining a healthy weight.
Blog Posts from Google
- Anna Hemmings: Up the creek without a paddle
- ?I was diagnosed wrongly at first and then finally I was told I had chronic fatigue syndrome, or C...
- Calls for more investment into ME
- ME (Myalgic Encephalopathy) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), can have a range of symptoms, includi...
- E-mail Based Study of Neuroliminal (Mind-Body) Training for ...
- Psychologist Phil Bate, PhD, and myself are doing an informal study of neuroliminal training as a tr...
- Local woman spreads message of chronic fatigue
- Ranier, who went through months of testing and blood work, found the culprit of her pain as chronic...
New Flickr Photos
Tree Hugger
Sleeping in the coat...
breathe
Icing snuggles up in...
Reader Feedback
Got any tips or interesting info/experiences on this topic? Please share here!
rockycha
Hi Mark! Excellent lens, I have CFS. Feel free to drop by my lenses on Chronic Fatigue: Is Chronic Fatigue Killing Me? and NTFactor for Chronic Fatigue Thanks! Carrie/rockycha
Posted October 12, 2007
rockycha
Hi Mark :) I added your site to my lensroll. I suffer from CFS too, I have two CFS related lenses. Add them if you'd like. CFS Chronic Fatigue
NTFactor Helps CFS
Posted October 05, 2007
Unknown Cause
Although the cause of chronic fatigue is unknown, infection, hormone levels, and stress are also believed to play a role in its symptoms. Chronic fatigue often results from:Sleep disturbance in combination with chronic pain and depression
Stress
Physical inactivity
Poor diet
Medications
Social and cultural factors
Certain medical conditions (see below).
Regardless of the cause, chronic fatigue has a major impact on day-to-day functioning and quality of life.
Sudden onset cases
The majority of CFS cases start suddenly, usually accompanied by a "flu-like illness" which is more likely to occur in winter, while a significant proportion of cases begin within several months of severe adverse stress. Many people report getting a case of a flu-like or other respiratory infection such as bronchitis, from which they seem never to fully recover and which evolves into CFS. The diagnosis of Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome is sometimes given in the early stage of the illness. One study reported CFS occurred in some patients following a vaccination or a blood transfusion. The accurate prevalence and exact roles of infection and stress in the development of CFS however are currently unknown.
-wikipedia.org
-wikipedia.org
Gradual cases of CFS
Other cases have a gradual onset, sometimes spread over years. Patients with Lyme disease may, despite a standard course of treatment, "evolve" clinically from the symptoms of acute Lyme to those similar to CFS. This has become an area of great controversy.
-wikipedia.org
-wikipedia.org
