| Or to turn it around - How does improving your | | | | But CFS is very real and can lead to broken |
| sleep lessen the symptoms of chronic fatigue | | | | marriages and wrecked careers. |
| syndrome (CFS)? | | | | It is very important for those who suspect they |
| Our aim here is to understand the connection | | | | have CFS to seek medical attention straight |
| between the two as it may be possible to | | | | away. If you feel your doctor is not taking you |
| confuse the symptoms of CFS and sleep | | | | seriously, get a second and even a third opinion. It |
| deprivation. There are however definite | | | | helps if you have been seeing the same doctor |
| differences. | | | | for some time, as they know you and can |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms | | | | recognize that you are not a "hypochondriac" or a |
| Constant and persistent fatigue lasting 6 months | | | | time waster looking for sympathy. |
| or more | | | | CFS is certainly not new, although the association |
| Feeling feverish | | | | of symptoms under the name Chronic Fatigue |
| Sore throat | | | | Syndrome only took place in the 1990s. Previously |
| Muscle aches and pains | | | | it was largely overlooked or thought to be |
| Tender or swollen lymph nodes | | | | something else, for example low blood sugar, |
| Joint pain | | | | Lyme disease, allergies, fybromyalgia, yeast |
| More headaches than usual | | | | infections etc. |
| Abnormal lethargy after exercise | | | | Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment |
| Poor concentration | | | | These vary from antidepressants, steroids, |
| Depression | | | | immune system medications and anti-histamines |
| Poor quality sleep | | | | to the more holistic treatments like evening |
| Although not everyone who suffers with CFS will | | | | primrose oil, diet therapy, cognitive behavioural |
| display all of the above, two or more of these | | | | therapy, removal of dental fillings (mercury |
| symptoms would definitely bear further | | | | poisoning) and gentle exercise programs. |
| investigation. | | | | Although lack of a definite treatment for CFS |
| CFS often follows a bout of flu or other respitory | | | | leaves a lot to be desired, the above treatments, |
| disease. It occurs more frequently in middle age | | | | whether all or a combination, can prove fairly |
| and twice as often in women as men. | | | | effective. The broad answer seems to be to |
| CFS is a debilitating illness which is hard to | | | | treat the symptoms as they occur. |
| diagnose due to the symptoms being non specific. | | | | Therefore the quality of sleep of patients must |
| Also the symptoms described by the sufferers | | | | have a direct effect on the severity of the |
| often cannot be verified. For instance, patients | | | | disease. If depression is the main problem, |
| often describe feeling feverish although their | | | | treatment of that can significantly improve the |
| temperature is normal. Recent studies indicate | | | | quality of sleep, thus relieving somewhat the |
| CFS may in fact be an immune disorder. | | | | persistent fatigue. |
| There are medical practitioners who still believe it | | | | A combination of better quality sleep with gentle |
| to be a disease of "malingerers". In fact some of | | | | exercise, optimal diet and cognitive behavioural |
| those suffering with CFS often wonder | | | | therapy would go a long way to improving the |
| sometimes if they are imagining their symptoms. | | | | lives of patients with CFS. |