Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Feed

Groups

Join the Conversation on
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

45.8K people

0 stories

16.7K posts

About Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

#MyalgicEncephalomyelitis#ChronicFatigueSyndrome#CFS#MECFS#CFSME

What is myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome)? Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by extreme exhaustion that lasts for at least six months. To diagnose myalgic encephalomyelitis, doctors must first rule out other medical conditions causing the exhaustion. This condition is sometimes referred to as systemic exertional intolerance disease (SEID).
What are the symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome)? Common symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis include:

Chronic exhaustion
Difficulty focusing
Headaches
Enlarged lymph nodes
Muscle and/or joint pain
Dizziness that worsens with activity
Extreme fatigue following any form of physical or mental exertion

What causes myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome)? The exact cause of myalgic encephalomyelitis is not known. Some people have developed this disorder following a viral infection such as the Epstein-Barr virus. The immune system of individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis tends to be impaired, but it is not clear if this is an actual cause of the disorder or not. Hormonal imbalances may also play a role in your likelihood of developing this disorder. Abnormal levels of hormones produced in the adrenal glands, pituitary glands, and hypothalamus might be found in those diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis. It has also been found that this disorder can occur following a physical or emotional trauma such as surgery or a stressful event.
How do you treat myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome)? There is no cure for myalgic encephalomyelitis, but medications and therapy can help manage symptoms. Medications can be used to treat coexisting issues such as depression and pain. Chronic health conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis often cause patients to become depressed due to their debilitating nature, so antidepressants may be prescribed in these situations. Doctors may also prescribe medications to help regulate blood pressure in patients who live with orthostatic hypotension (a drop in blood pressure when you go from sitting to standing). Counseling is an effective way to help patients cope with the challenges of myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Explore Our Newsletters

What's New in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

All

Stories

Posts

Videos

Story

Tired woman sitting at table resting head on hand.

Stephanie Sparkes

•

Chronic Fatigue

Pinned

Do You Know How Much Energy NOT Doing Something Can Take?

Before I became ill with ME/CFS at age 21, I had never considered how much energy we use not doing things. We all know that our daily activities require certain amounts of energy, even for healthy people. We all have different amounts of “baseline” energy, that energy that we start the day with and is [...]

Save

Story

24 Signs You're Not 'Just Tired,' You Have Chronic Fatigue

Paige Wyant

•

Chronic Illness

Pinned

24 Signs You're Not 'Just Tired,' You Have Chronic Fatigue

Editor’s note: Any medical information included is based on a personal experience. For questions or concerns regarding health, please consult a doctor or medical professional. If you struggle with chronic fatigue, you’ve likely been in a situation where you’re trying to express how you feel and a healthy person responds, “Yeah, I’m a bit tired today, too. Mondays, right?” The [...]

7.8K

Save

Story

a woman in a purple shirt lays her head on the table while holding a mug of tea

Sarah Scarisbrick-Rowe

•

Chronic Fatigue

Pinned

What I Actually Mean When I Say I'm 'Tired'

Since being diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, “tired” has become one of my most commonly used words. It’s a word we all use. Everyone gets tired. Whether it’s at the end of a busy day or as you drag yourself out of bed early in the morning, we all experience it. But the more I [...]

2.7K

Save

Who to learn better from than fellow spoonies! This group is here to spread the knowledge and make life with chronic illness a little bit easier.

Join Spoonie Life Hacks

Story

Teona Studemire

•

Chronic Fatigue

Pinned

What It Was Like to Get My First Infusion Treatment for M.E.

It had been weeks of the worst flare I’d ever gone through and I was only getting worse. I could barely sit up for more than a few minutes at a time and the fatigue grew more and more each day. I’m used to feeling like death is knocking at my door, but this time [...]

Save

Story

woman in sunglasses walking outside, and a man getting out of bed using a walker

Paige Wyant

•

Chronic Fatigue

Pinned

16 Photos That Show What ME/CFS Really Looks Like

May 12th is ME/CFS Awareness Day, so it’s especially important during this time to raise awareness and promote understanding of the condition and those who live with it. ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) is a chronic condition with no known cure that can produce a range of symptoms, including joint or muscle pain, chronic fatigue, post-exertional malaise, [...]

961

Save

Talk to a friend; no talking required

Our Mighty Podcast allows you to join some friendly voices as they take on unabashedly honest conversations about the health world. Give it a listen today.

Listen to The Mighty Podcast

Story