| Copyright (c) 2008 Hailey Harris | | | | children can also end up with Chronic Fatigue, |
| Today, it is estimated that more than one million | | | | although rare, a firmed diagnosis in this case is |
| people in America live with Chronic Fatigue | | | | near impossible simply because children are not |
| Syndrome. However, centers that work with | | | | able to vocalize symptoms as an adult could. In |
| disease and statistics also estimate that for | | | | cases of children, diagnosis is slightly different. |
| people with this condition, 80% are not even | | | | One of the main criteria for diagnosing Chronic |
| diagnosed. | | | | Fatigue is the individual having symptoms of |
| In other words, in addition to the one million, more | | | | fatigue for six consecutive months or longer. As |
| people are struggling through daily life, feeling | | | | you can imagine, the person needing to wait six |
| fatigued, experience sleep disturbances, feeling | | | | months only adds to the frustration but this time |
| muscle and joint pain, and having no idea there is | | | | helps distinguish Chronic Fatigue from another |
| something wrong. | | | | illness. |
| Complex Syndrome | | | | From there, the doctor will review specific |
| Because Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a complex | | | | symptoms in addition to fatigue to include flu-like |
| illness, one that is often misunderstood, it is | | | | symptoms such as body aches and pains and |
| difficult to diagnosis. While healthcare professionals | | | | memory problems. Taking the symptoms and |
| are dedicated to making a correct diagnosis and | | | | getting a solid medical history certainly helps in the |
| forming the right treatment, many overlook | | | | diagnosis. |
| Chronic Fatigue. | | | | Depending on what the doctor finds, he or she |
| Keep in mind, that while some illnesses can be | | | | may request blood work be done, looking for |
| compared with diagnostic laboratory tests or | | | | hormonal imbalances, decreased levels of |
| some type of biomarker, Chronic Fatigue cannot | | | | serotonin, and so on. Additionally, a urine sample |
| be. Additionally, many of the symptoms people | | | | will likely be taken, which again would help the |
| deal with are also symptoms associated with | | | | doctor rule out other causes for your symptoms, |
| other illnesses such as MS, Lupus, and even some | | | | or lead to a conclusion of Chronic Fatigue. Once |
| cancers. | | | | other illnesses have been eliminated as a possible |
| Known as the "invisible illness", Chronic Fatigue | | | | cause, chances are the doctor would then turn his |
| Syndrome is not only frustrating for the individual | | | | her attention to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. |
| but doctors as well. | | | | Because this condition can mask other symptoms |
| Typically, a person walking around with this | | | | or cause confusion, a confirmed diagnosis is very |
| condition looks normal. In fact, with Chronic | | | | challenging. Doctors want desperately to find an |
| Fatigue, it is common to have days where no | | | | answer so they can provide accurate treatment. |
| symptoms exist whereas other days, the illness is | | | | However, getting to the diagnosis is tough in |
| debilitating. All of these factors combined make | | | | many cases. |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome a challenging illness, for | | | | Your best bet is to do your research to find a |
| diagnosis and treatment. | | | | doctor who works with other Chronic Fatigue |
| Good News in Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue | | | | Syndrome patients, someone who will be |
| Syndrome | | | | aggressive in his/her approach so an accurate |
| The good news is that in 1994, a study was | | | | diagnosis can be made. Or look for solutions with |
| conducted in which a reliable algorithm for Chronic | | | | alternative approaches to recovery. |
| Fatigue Syndrome was developed in adults. While | | | | |