Chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterized by a constant experiencing of fatigue, muscle pain, fever, drowsiness and depression which lasts for months and sometimes years.

Usually it is difficult to find a doctor who would treat seriously the symptoms described.

Doctors are often reluctant to recognize and diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome. Though, we should also admit that this disease is difficult to diagnose. Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome resemble many other diseases. That is why doctors often tend to confuse them or simply pay little attention to them, despite the whole seriousness of this state. If doctors are so lazy to diagnose this disease, can we make a diagnosis ourselves? Yes, it is possible. Let's consider these symptoms.

— The symptoms of cold or weakly expressed feverish condition

— Sore throat.

— Slightly swollen or painful lymph glands.

— Strange general muscular weakness.

— Muscle pain.

— Round-the-clock severe fatigue after the physical work.

— Headache, different from those you experienced before.

— Joint pain without swelling or redness.

— Forgetfulness, excessive irritability, inability to concentrate or depression.

— Somnopathy.

— Quick emergence of symptoms during a few hours or days.

The disease is diagnosed, if there are six of these symptoms, together with the sore throat, and painful lymph nodes on the neck or under the arms.

The disease often begins when a person is experiencing stress or an unusual situation that requires much effort such as divorce, change of occupation, death of a family member, etc.

Even in spite of treatment, chronic fatigue syndrome can last very long. It can last months and years.

How to help yourself? Though you need medical help to cope with chronic fatigue syndrome, there are things you can to do without nay professional assistance.

Adopt a healthy diet. Food which contains the sufficient amount of nutrients, including the required number of calories, affects positively to people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Some of them report that they feel better if they use less sugar and fat.

Do physical exercises every day. Physical activity will help you, even if it is rare. Permanent overload usually worsens the illness and aggravates it. Fulfil only the most important work. Learn to postpone or refuse those things, which aren't very necessary, then you'll be able to distribute the available energy for the urgent tasks.

Spare your family members and friends. If you constantly complain of your illness to your relatives, it can cause a backlash. Don't explain your condition in much detail. Ask for help. Continue to live. If you cannot walk a mile, take shorter walks. If you cannot work full time, work part of the day. Try to live as you did it before, even if you are unable for the former activity.

Be optimistic. Optimists in general have the best chances to cope with the disease.

What can you do to cope with this disease? Although so far there are no medicines for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome, there are several methods, which can help to reduce its manifestations. Doctors try to use different drugs that enhance the immune system or affect certain viruses. Antidepressants also favour the general improvement. These drugs not only raise energy and but can also improve sleep, which in turn helps to reduce fatigue. Most people do not understand that antidepressants may be used in different situations. Chronic fatigue syndrome usually requires much smaller doses of these drugs than those prescribed to treat depression. Doctors also prescribe antiviral drugs and vitamins.

Don't resort to self-treatment and unreliable methods of help. Consult a specialist, which will offer you safe and optimal way of treatment.