Information About CFS

CFS - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - has been around a lot longer than you might imagine, though it was not known by that name originally. The first documented cases, identified by symptomatic description, go back to the 1860s and were predominantly middle-class females and these were referred to as 'bed cases' or 'sofa cases'.

CFS is a thoroughly debilitating illness which sometimes seems to develop after a viral infection such as 'flu - though it does not always start that way, sometimes appearing to just arrive 'out of the blue'. Many sufferers disagree with the name of the illness, feeling that fatigue hardly describes the symptom pattern, preferring to refer to it as 'ME', or Myalgic Encephalitis. The medical profession, however, almost always uses 'Chronic Fatigue Syndrome' or its acronym, CFS.

Symptoms
The most obvious symptom, as the name suggests, is fatigue - but this is not just an ordinary tiredness and does not go away after 'a good night's sleep'; in fact, it sometimes seems to progress relentlessly and rarely can result in an inability to carry out even basic personal functions such as washing and tooth-cleaning. At the degree of illness, referred to medically as Very Severe CFS, there is sometimes an intolerance to light or loud noises. In its mildest form, the individual is able to lead a relatively 'normal' lifestyle, though may need to take days of work from time to time in order to rest.

Other symptoms can be:

• Poor short-term memory and concentration.
• Difficulty organising thoughts and/or finding the right words.
• Painful glands, esepcially around the throat.
• Stomach pain and other problems similar to IBS.
• Insomnia and other sleep disorders.
• Dizziness, sweating, difficulty with balance.
• Psychological difficulties, such as depression, irritability and panic attacks.

The cause of CFS is yet to be properly established, though some believe that it is associated with spinal inflammation or other purely physical states, including the possibility that it is an auto-immune disease. Others adhere to the belief that it is mostly a psychological problem, even an imaginary one, a concept that gave rise to the term 'yuppie flu' by which it was known for a while. The truth is it is probably neither one thing or the other but has elements of both - certainly the recovery rate is higher and speedier amongst those sufferers who have received psychological therapy or some sort or another. Trials using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy seemed to produce favourable results, though other individuals have found improvement via Hypnotherapy (including HypnoAnalysis) and Counselling.

Medically, only some painkillers (over-the-counter remedies) and Antidepressants sometimes help.

Generally not life-threatening (although it has been listed as the cause of death in the UK, USA and Australia, these findings are contentious) nor even life-shortening, it is debilitating not just to the sufferer but to those who share their life.

Self Help
There are various things a sufferer can do to avoid some of the discomfort associated with CFS, including:

• Observing how energy levels change and timing physical activity accordingly.
• Taking moderate and carefully graded exercise.
• Avoiding stress.
• Observing foods that seem to trigger symptoms and avoiding them.
• Sweeteners, caffeine and alcohol are best avoided.
• Learning how to relax effectively.

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