People with chronic fatigue syndrome can have very different experiences of the condition and how long their symptoms last. The impact of symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe. It's also likely there will be periods when symptoms get better or worse. There is no single test to detect chronic fatigue syndrome, a diagnosis is made after other possible known causes for symptoms have been excluded.
The earlier the illness is recognised, the sooner you can get help to manage your symptoms. They may be able to make a diagnosis after 3 or 4 months of seeing a pattern of symptoms.
Anyone suspected of having chronic fatigue syndrome should be considered for a number of routine blood tests to identify other possible illnesses. More specialised investigation may be needed if the diagnosis remains in doubt. Some people with chronic fatigue syndrome also have another long term condition and it is important that you talk to your GP about how to manage the symptoms of the 2 conditions.
This means that treatment plans need to be tailored to the individual as people experience different symptoms and these symptoms may change over time. Your GP may be able to refer you to a specialist chronic fatigue syndrome service or to services that can support you to manage individual symptoms and manage restricted activity.
The symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome ME-CFS vary from person to person, and there may be times when your symptoms improve and you'll be able to do some normal everyday activities.
At other times, symptoms may get worse, affecting your daily life. Women often find that symptoms worsen at different times in their menstrual cycle. Not everyone will experience all of the symptoms but some of the common ones are listed below. Severe and persistent fatigue or exhaustion most, or all of the time is one of the symptoms of ME-CFS that can help diagnosis.
This feels very different from ordinary tiredness. Simple physical or mental activities, or combinations of activities, can leave people with chronic fatigue feeling completely exhausted and can also lead to an increase in other symptoms. This is known as post-exertional malaise PEM or is sometimes called "payback". This is when the body isn't able to recover after using even small amounts of energy. For a fuller list of symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome visit the Action for M. If pain, especially muscle pain, is more of a problem than fatigue, fibromyalgia , may need to be considered.
Fibromyalgia is a separate condition with its own diagnosis. Frustration, anxiety , low mood and depression are sometimes experienced by people with chronic fatigue syndrome because of the impact of the condition and its symptoms on their lives. Further research is needed to confirm what causes chronic fatigue syndrome.
New evidence shows that there might be various factors involved and that there may be a number of different types of the illness. These different sub-groups of chronic fatigue syndrome still need more research to be identified, including how they lead to different experiences of the condition and how it develops.
Chronic fatigue syndrome may appear suddenly or more slowly over time. It may follow an infection, typically, but not always, viral. Other possible triggers can be trauma, surgery and stressful major life events. However in some cases there may be no identifiable trigger for chronic fatigue syndrome. Although there is no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome there are a number of ways to help manage your symptoms.
Because of the complexity of the illness, its changing nature and the number of possible symptoms, different things work for different people. Your GP may be able to support you through managing your individual symptoms. They may be able to refer you to a specialist service or to a service that will help you to manage individual symptoms but this depends on the services available in your area. To decide what treatment is right for you, you should look at the evidence, including published research and patient surveys, and make sure you fully understand what the treatment involve, before you make a decision.
As a result, you may experience depression, anxiety , or social isolation. Many people benefit from working with a team of healthcare providers. This can include doctors, therapists, and rehabilitation specialists. If you live with chronic fatigue, don't underestimate how your diet can impact your energy levels. Janette Hillis-Jaffe shares her journey with CFS, and the coping strategies that eventually put her on a path toward stronger health.
It's not the ideal situation, and it continues to perplex me, but living with chronic fatigue syndrome is not all bad news. Fight the fatigue with these tasty eats. If you have diabetes, you'll likely experience fatigue at some point. We'll tell you what you need to know.
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Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. What causes CFS? Risk factors for CFS. What are the symptoms of CFS? How is CFS diagnosed? How is CFS treated? What can be expected in the long term? Read this next. Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R. Medically reviewed by Nancy Carteron, M. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.
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Applying a particular treatment for one subtype can be very damaging to another subtype. For example, a short stroll, coffee with a friend, getting their child ready for school or catching the train to work, which caused no fatigue before, is followed by unusual tiredness that takes longer than usual to go away. Genes appear to be a factor in many cases. Doctors make a diagnosis by excluding all other illnesses after a person has had symptoms continually for six months.
People who receive an early diagnosis and early treatment tend to do better. Treatment choice will vary and will depend on the results of the additional testing. This misunderstanding is not helpful and can often cause a person to keep pushing beyond their limits, which will cause relapses and make their condition worse. Exercise can be a problem for some people, because physical activity can worsen their symptoms.
It is important that they work with their healthcare professionals to create a weekly routine that is especially for that person and focuses on doing as much activity as is possible, without any worsening of symptoms in the following days or weeks. The goal is to balance rest and activity to avoid decreasing fitness levels from lack of activity and flare-ups of illness due to overexertion.
It is very important that any activity plan be started slowly and increased slowly. Suggestions on how to pace yourself include: Establish the total activity level over the course of a week that you are capable of, without any negative effects or post-exertional malaise. Using a heart rate monitor will help guide your intensity. To begin with, you need to do less than you think you can do, so that eventually you increase the chance of doing more.
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