| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is not classified as a | | | | - Depression and Anxiety |
| disease and as such there has been much | | | | - Poor Concentration |
| controversy and stigma surrounding this | | | | - Loss of Memory or Concentration |
| debilitating condition. Only a few years ago it was | | | | - Trouble Sleeping |
| labelled 'The Yuppie Flu', covertly suggesting it | | | | - Drug Sensitivity - especially those that affect |
| may be some kind of trendy 'fad' fabricated by | | | | the central nervous system The one common |
| those who engage in attention-seeking behaviour. | | | | element seen in patients with CFS is a history of |
| In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. | | | | viral infection, usually accompanied by severe |
| The symptoms are mostly physical and often | | | | stress. Many experts now agree that if a patient |
| very painful, not to mention debilitating, and | | | | has CFS for less than 2 years, chances of |
| sometimes, de-humanising. Finally, this mysterious | | | | recovery over the next 2 to 3 years are fairly |
| disorder is making its way out of the closet as | | | | optimistic. However, in many cases full recovery is |
| more and more health professionals are treating | | | | never achieved, unfortunately these people live |
| CFS patients with the professionalism and | | | | with periods of remission and relapse of the |
| empathy they deserve, too many people have | | | | disorder for many years. |
| already gone undiagnosed, and therefore, | | | | As mobility is limited in CFS the question of |
| untreated. | | | | exercise often arises. It is commonly known that |
| CFS is indeed a very serious disorder, and is far | | | | a sedentary lifestyle causes a range of other |
| more complicated than a just a loss of energy, as | | | | health problems including muscle wastage, loss of |
| the name might suggest. The disorder varies in | | | | bone mass, and increased risk of obesity and |
| both duration and severity with each individual. | | | | cardiovascular disease. The topic of regular |
| The physical impact of Chronic Fatigue can vary | | | | exercise for CFS patients has been one of much |
| from being mildly limiting to an extreme of being | | | | debate among medical professionals, some believe |
| severely debilitating to a point where many | | | | that gentle exercise is helpful, while others caution |
| months are spent confined to bed rest. For | | | | against any form of aerobic activity. It is best to |
| example, some people can function almost | | | | devise a course of treatment in consultation with |
| normally, whilst others are unable to perform the | | | | your health care professional, based on your own |
| most basic of activities such as showering or | | | | comfort levels. |
| walking from one room to another. | | | | In light of the controversy over the name |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is characterized by a | | | | 'Chronic Fatigue Syndrome', advocacy groups, |
| complex multi-layering of symptoms featuring | | | | patients and a number of experts are making |
| extreme fatigue that may worsen with physical | | | | efforts to change its name to reflect the |
| or mental activity, but doesn't improve with rest. | | | | seriousness of this often debilitating condition. |
| As there is no single cause, there is obviously no | | | | Unfortunately it has been trivialised by the |
| known 'cure'. Each individual generally experiences | | | | ignorant for far too long. |
| their own unique combination of symptoms, and | | | | Recently it has been more appropriately known |
| as such the disorder is usually treated | | | | as ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic |
| symptomatically. That is, each symptom is | | | | Fatigue Syndrome). Myalgic Encephalomyelitis |
| treated as it arises. Some of the symptoms of | | | | literally means pain in the muscles and |
| CFS include; | | | | inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. |
| - Extreme and Persistent Physical Exhaustion | | | | Other names which have been used to describe |
| - 'Migrating' Muscle and Joint Aches and Pains | | | | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are; Post-Viral Fatigue |
| - Swollen Glands and Lymph Nodes | | | | Syndrome, Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, |
| - Appetite Extremes | | | | Chronic Infectious Mononucleosis, Epidemic Myalgic |
| - Food Sensitivity | | | | Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Immune |
| - Muscle Weakness | | | | Dysfunction Syndrome, Epidemic |
| - Cognitive Dysfunction | | | | Neuromyasthenia, Myalgic Encephalitis, Myalgic |
| - Hypersensitivity | | | | Encephalopathy. |
| - Digestive Disturbances | | | | |