Andy & Sharon's Chronic Fatigue Web Support

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

What is Chronic Fatigue?

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as Post Viral Fatigue, ME or ‘Yuppie Flu’ is a condition which primarily is associated with severe fatigue, malaise or in the case of ‘Yuppie Flu’ total burnout. It is generally thought that CFS is contracted through a virus such as glandular fever, flu, bad tummy bug etc and after a period of time this virus kicks in and CFS is formed.

Other Symptoms Associated with CFS

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is not just associated with fatigue, there are other key symptoms. These symptoms may include some or most of the following:

	Muscle, joint & chest pains
	Sore throats
	Severe pounding headaches
	Brain fog (bad short term memory loss)
	Poor or bad concentration
	Tiredness
	Exhaustion
	Breathing problems
	Poor immune system
	Poor sleep pattern
	Un-refreshing sleep
	Blurred or difficult to focus vision
	Malaise
	Emotional turmoil caused through the onset of CFS
	Mental turmoil caused through the onset of CFS

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of CFS is not simple. CFS develops throughout time. Our first symptoms were not associated with fatigue. Fatigue develops over an undefined period of time. At the time of writing and our experiences, CFS is diagnosed after suffering a number of major symptoms (fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, chest pain, breathing problems) and a number of the minor symptoms (sore throat, poor concentration, brain fog, difficult to focus vision) from between 6 to 12 months. Your GP or a Specialist should hopefully diagnose CFS after this time.

What is it like having Chronic Fatigue?

At first it’s a total nightmare – emotionally, physically and mentally. One minute you may feel great the next your in bed for a week unable to move. You get better after a few months and feel that you are getting back into the swing of things. Then next you are in bed for another week. You feel great one day and do too much. You spend the next 4 months suffering because of this. It is living life in a vicious cycle. You break the cycle, you learn to live and cope with CFS

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to the non-Chronic Fatigue Suffer

Imagine yourself having a really bad bought of flu. Your arms, legs, body and head aches. You feel totally drained! You can’t do anything. You spend most of your time in bed. You drag yourself out of bed to go get a drink. You spend the next couple of hours recovering. Add to that the sore throat; add the pounding all over headaches but minus the cold. This is what CFS is like at its worst. The severity of these symptoms, vary from hour-to-hour, day-to-day and week-to-week. Simple things that most people take for granted, set off CFS. These can be things like: walking, climbing stairs, standing, driving, cooking or even eating! Only problem is that a non-sufferer can get a good night’s sleep and recover. A CFS sufferer might not be that lucky!

Treatment

There is no treatment for CFS! There are ways to improve the condition. There are also ways of helping you live, deal and cope with CFS. There is no treatment that totally cures CFS.

Last revised: 22/08/01

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