Chronic Fatigue
Chronic fatigue syndrome is not a disease as such, but characteristic and complex array of symptoms that may mimic other illnesses. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) burst into the public consciousness in the 1980’s. Under the pressure from Congress and patient support groups around the country, the Center for Disease Control released a long-awaited clinical definition of chronic fatigue syndrome in March 1988. Along with an exhaustion that leaves many people bedridden, frequent chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms include headache, muscular and joint pain, inexplicable body aches and tired all the time. The causes of CFS are not well understood. Some experts believe it is linked to infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), members of the herpes virus family that also causes mononucleosis. This belief is based in large part on the fact that many people with chronic fatigue syndrome have been found to have levels of EBV antibodies in their blood. It is likely that viral illness, emotional stress, and exposure to environmental toxins act as triggers of CFS. Most cases of CFS involve a low-grade fever along with immune deficiency.
Many illnesses have typical, common symptoms. The same microorganism may, however, manifest itself in different ways in different people, and some of those people may not only feel but objectively be much sicker than others. If you have a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome, the diagnosis is apt to be just about as uncertain as the illness itself. Regardless of the label and the concept, you lack a cure. You do not know whether, if it is temporary, when it will leave. You have no way to distinguish between what is and is not a symptom of your illness. A headache could just be an ordinary headache, or it could be a new symptom that will last indefinitely. It is difficult to decide whether to adapt to the illness or to struggle for a clear explanations and possible help. If you are not satisfied with the label CFS, you feel confused as well as sick, and often, living with the uncertainty can be as painful as living with the illness itself.
Although it would be easy to entrust your doctor with full responsibility for your health care, it would be to your advantage to research and learn what options there are for coping with CFS. While your doctor can prescribe medications, ultimate control over lifestyle decisions and the capacity to cope rest in your hands. Learn how to pay close attention to what triggers your worst symptoms, how to balance your need for rest with the importance of getting enough exercise. You can also work to reduce stress in your life. Recognizing your stressors goes a long way toward symptomatic relief. Stress reduction techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, and biofeedback, can be enormously helpful.