| (As you begin this report, please note one thing. | | | | included weakness, dizziness and fainting. People |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is not a health | | | | hurt; they were really sick. Life became tough for |
| problem located solely within the boundaries of | | | | such individuals, however almost no one took |
| the United States. Different forms of the illness | | | | them seriously. |
| can be seen around the world. Often it is called by | | | | B. In the twentieth century, skeptics called the |
| other names, such as ME or Myalgic | | | | illness "yuppie flu" or "shirker syndrome." Little |
| Encephalomyelitis, a term coined in Europe. | | | | changed to help the patient afflicted with the |
| Currently in the US, there is a grass roots effort | | | | ailment. |
| to change the name of CFS to possibly ME-CFS, | | | | C. In the twenty-first century, we know that the |
| short for Myalgic Encephalopathy-Chronic Fatigue | | | | universe of symptoms associated with |
| Syndrome.) | | | | Neurasthenia is inconclusive. Now, finally, modern |
| Period #1: When people first became aware of | | | | day physicians and researchers are delving further |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or CFS a long, long | | | | than ever into the malady called Chronic Fatigue |
| time ago, no one knew what it was. The medical | | | | Syndrome. After millions of dollars of private and |
| profession routinely dismissed patients with | | | | government-funded research, still only a few, |
| symptoms of headache, easy fatigability | | | | preliminary answers have surfaced about this |
| (especially after exertion), loss of appetite, | | | | incredibly complicated condition. Some people |
| intestinal problems, sweating, chills, stiff backs and | | | | suspect that there are multiple sub-groups of |
| necks, weakness, pain, insomnia, impaired | | | | patients carrying the same, singular label. If that is |
| memory, mood swings, and hair loss. Often | | | | true, we are not dealing with one condition, but |
| patients were called malingerers or were written | | | | many. |
| off simply as being "hysterical." Doctors studied | | | | For the purposes of learning about all three stages |
| individual symptoms and remedies, but no | | | | of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome that document its |
| individual or group brought forth a clear body of | | | | place in history, look up all three reports. The |
| knowledge about the illness as a whole. | | | | more you know, the better equipped you are to |
| A. In the late 1800s, the term "neurasthenia" | | | | deal with it. The other reports are titled, Report 2 |
| became the popular diagnosis term. Symptoms of | | | | and Report 3. |
| neurasthenia (also called muscular rheumatism) | | | | |