Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What is chronic fatigue syndrome? " пїЅ Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disorder that makes you feel very tired all the time. Sometimes the disorder is so bad that it makes it hard for you do your normal activities. пїЅ пїЅ

Living with chronic fatigue syndrome can be tough because most people, even many doctors, dont really understand the condition. Plus, there aren't a lot of treatment options. пїЅ пїЅ

What are the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome? " пїЅ The most common symptom is feeling tired all or most of the time. People who get the disorder usually begin to feel tired suddenly, right after they recover from a cold or an infection called "mono. " пїЅ Even though they are over their cold or mono symptoms, they still feel very tired. Plus, being active makes them feel even more tired. пїЅ пїЅ

Besides feeling tired, people with chronic fatigue syndrome have other symptoms, such as: пїЅ пїЅ

Sore throat
Trouble thinking clearly
Pain all over
Headaches
Trouble sleeping
Tender lymph nodes (glands) in the neck or armpits

Chronic fatigue syndrome is hard to deal with, because people who get it were usually active before. They did not tend to worry about being sick. Then, all of sudden, they feel tired and can't figure out what is wrong with them. Even the doctor often can't find a cause for the symptoms. And to make matters worse, other people sometimes think their symptoms are "all in their head. " пїЅ This can make people with chronic fatigue syndrome feel angry, helpless, and sad. пїЅ пїЅ

Should I see a doctor or nurse? " пїЅ Yes. If you suddenly feel tired all the time, you should see a doctor or nurse. Lots of health problems can cause tiredness. It's important to get checked out to find out what might be causing the problem. пїЅ пїЅ

Is there a test for chronic fatigue syndrome? " пїЅ No, there is no test. To diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome, doctors and nurses have to go by symptoms. Often they look for other causes of the symptoms first. If they can find no other causes of the symptoms, they consider chronic fatigue syndrome. пїЅ пїЅ

To be diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, you must feel tired all the time for no reason, and you must have some of the other symptoms listed above. пїЅ пїЅ

How is chronic fatigue syndrome treated? " пїЅ There is no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome, but there are treatments than can help with the symptoms. пїЅ пїЅ

The most effective treatments seem to be cognitive behavioral therapy and graded exercise. пїЅ пїЅ

Cognitive behavioral therapy " пїЅ Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of "talk " пїЅ therapy. During CBT you talk with a psychologist or counselor about the things you think and do. Then he or she helps you change how you see your situation and how you react to your situation. This teaches you how to cope better with your condition.
Graded exercise " пїЅ Exercise sometimes makes chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms worse. But not exercising at all can also make symptoms worse. That's why experts recommend that people with chronic fatigue syndrome do gentle exercises. As they get used to that, they can slowly increase the amount of exercise they do. Sometimes it helps to work with a trainer who understands chronic fatigue syndrome.

Researchers have also checked whether different medicines, supplements, and special diets help with chronic fatigue syndrome. So far, none of these approaches has proven helpful. пїЅ пїЅ

Can antibiotics help me? " пїЅ Probably not. Your doctor might offer you antibiotics, especially if you test positive for Lyme disease. But antibiotics do not work on chronic fatigue syndrome. And testing positive for Lyme does not mean that your symptoms are caused by Lyme disease. Plus, taking antibiotics for a long time when you do not need them can cause health problems. пїЅ пїЅ

What will my life be like? " пїЅ If you have chronic fatigue syndrome, try to remember that you have a real medical condition. You are not imagining your symptoms, and your problem is not "made up. " пїЅ Scientists have not yet figured out how to explain or cure chronic fatigue syndrome, but they do know that it is real. пїЅ пїЅ

The most important thing you can do to deal with your condition is to find a doctor or nurse whom you trust and like and who believes that your condition is real. Only that way can the 2 of you work together to figure out how best to deal with your symptoms. пїЅ пїЅ

Many people with chronic fatigue syndrome also have depression. If you are depressed, get treated for your depression. Doing so can make your chronic fatigue syndrome easier to handle. пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 15916 Version 2.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The Basics

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

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