Chronic Fatigue
Feel tired for no reason? You may have chronic fatigue syndrome. Chronic fatigue syndrome is real. It is when you feel tired all of the time, you don’t feel refreshed when you wake up and your doctors cannot find any other reason for your feeling tired. Chronic fatigue syndrome is most common in women who are between 30 and 50. While there are many ideas as to why people get chronic fatigue syndrome, no one really knows why some people get it.
These are called the “Fibro Five,” and include chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis, migraine headaches and irritable bowel syndrome.
In order to have chronic fatigue syndrome, you have to have tiredness which is new. In other words, you had to have felt fine and then the tiredness came on. To make sure that it is not just a short-lived problem, the tired feeling needs to last for at least six months. Your doctors will want to make sure that you do not have another disease which would explain why you are tired. Examples of these other diseases include infections, arthritis-like problems, muscle or nerve diseases like multiple sclerosis, problems with your thyroid or other glands or depression. Some people think that chronic fatigue syndrome may be caused by Epstein Barr virus.
Chronic pain syndrome has other symptoms than just being tired. Some of these symptoms include being tired for more than 24 hours after exercise that would normally be considered easy, waking up in the morning not feeling refreshed, forgetfulness, muscle aches, joint pain, headaches different from what you have had in the past, a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or less, sore throat or sore lymph nodes. In addition to being tired, you have to have at least four of these other symptoms.
There are no specific tests which can diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome.
You have several ways of treating chronic fatigue syndrome. One thing is to have healthy sleep habits, like not taking naps during the day, not eating late at night, especially spicy foods, and not drinking caffeine before going to bed. Another is to have a healthy diet. Chronic fatigue disability is a real problem. If you have chronic fatigue syndrome, you should try to exercise. You do better with low impact stretching exercises. Try to keep up an active social life. Tricks to do this include not doing too much on days when you are more tired. Try to balance your time between activities, rest and sleep. Break large tasks down into smaller, easier to do ones.
Your doctor also has many treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome. Many medications can be used, such as ones to treat anxiety, depression or pain. A therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy can help. Massage, meditation, yoga, muscle relaxation, hypnosis, deep breathing exercises and acupuncture can help also.
Some people with chronic fatigue syndrome get better after six months to a year. Other people never feel like they did before getting chronic fatigue disorder. People who get treatment appear to do better than those who do not.
Contact Endurance on 8th Health Centre today if you’re suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, and let us help you find relief.