Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome can be misdiagnosed or overlooked because its symptoms are common to other many disorders. Fatigue, for instance, is found in hundreds of illnesses. The nature of the symptoms, however, can help distinguish CFS from other illnesses.

Primary Symptoms

As the name chronic fatigue syndrome suggests, this illness is accompanied by fatigue. However, it's not the kind of fatigue we experience after a particularly busy day or week, after a sleepless night or after a single stressful event. It's a severe, incapacitating fatigue that isn't improved by bed rest and that may be worsened by physical or mental activity. It's an all-encompassing fatigue that results in a dramatic decline in both activity level and stamina.

People with CFS function at a significantly lower level of activity than they were capable of prior to becoming ill. The illness results in a substantial reduction in occupational (work-related), personal, social or educational activities.

The fatigue of CFS is accompanied by characteristic symptoms lasting at least six months. These symptoms include:

• difficulties with memory and concentration
• problems with sleep
• persistent muscle pain
• joint pain (without redness or swelling)
• headaches
• tender lymph nodes
• increased malaise (fatigue and sickness) following exertion
• sore throat

Other Symptoms

The symptoms listed above are the symptoms used to diagnose this illness. However, many CFS patients may experience other symptoms, including:

• irritable bowel
• depression or psychological problems (irritability, mood swings, anxiety, panic attacks)
• chills and night sweats
• visual disturbances (blurring, sensitivity to light, eye pain)
• allergies or sensitivities to foods, odors, chemicals, medications or noise
• brain fog (feeling like you're in a mental fog)
• difficulty maintaining upright position, dizziness, balance problems or fainting

It's important to tell your health care professional if you're experiencing any of these symptoms. They may be related to CFS, or they may indicate that you have another treatable disorder. Only a health care professional can diagnose CFS.