Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The first thing we need is a basic understanding of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome [CFS]. I hope to give you an explanation as well as a personal glimpse into what it is like to have it. As I said on the index page I will not be giving credit here as that would be impossible. I have collected this information over the past few years from various sources, source types, and from personal experience as well.

DEFINITION
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a symptom complex that does not consider what causes the symptoms, but in which "fatigue" is a prominent finding.

ETIOLOGY
No one is certain about what causes CFS. The symptoms may be caused by an immune system that isn't working well. Or they may be caused by some kind of virus. Researchers are looking for the cause of CFS.

SYMPTOMS
Must have at least 4 of the following.

Sore throat
Tender or painful lymph nodes in neck or armpits
Unexplained muscle soreness
Pain that moves from joint to joint but doesn't include redness or swelling
Headaches that are different from the kind you usually get, or headaches that make your whole head hurt
Trouble with short-term memory or concentration
Feeling very tired for more than 24 hours after exercise that didn't bother you before
Trouble sleeping

TREATMENT
The first step is to see if there is a medical cause for the fatigue. After a review of symptoms, medical history, and physical exam, blood tests may be ordered. But lab testing is not often helpful.

Although there is no treatment for CFS itself, some of the symptoms; such as muscle aches, sleep problems, anxiety and depression, can be treated with medicine. The medicine can only reduce your symptoms and allow you to be more active but not cure the fatigue. So far, there is no medicine that cures the entire syndrome but most symptoms improve with time.

MY POINT of VIEW
What can I say? I'm tired. I hurt. Everyday in some way or another. The only inconsistency is the amount, intensity and/or location.

I was given Amantadine 150mg BID to help combat the fatigue. It really seemed to help the first few days or weeks but I am not sure if it actually helps.

Since pain is easier to prevent than get rid of, I take pain meds routinely... not much really... but I don't really want to add any more at this time. When the weather changes, my pain levels tend to change too so I will take more pain meds.

I find that since I tend to enjoy sedate activities I do fairly well. But when something requires a lot of energy from me... like going out and doing anything, I pay for it for a few days by being extra tired. So, I can do days and days where I put out say 75%. Or I can take a day and put out 100% and then have a setback where I have 2 or 3 days where I can only put out 25%. So, I prefer to take the days more sedately than most would but sometimes it can't be helped.

I do know that I may be giving off the wrong idea. I do not complain about feeling bad and try very hard to go forward with a laugh and a smile. However, if you are here because you are searching for info, you need to know the truth. Not just see the brave face. Sooo....

2000 UPDATE
I'm tired. I hurt. I guess that really isn't an update, huh? lol...
I did learn that even though I have no noticeable energy burst from the Amantadine, I can tell a difference when I don't take it so I'll continue with it.

2001 UPDATE
No change for the most part but I had 22 days in December when I was absolutely symptom-free! No symptoms from anything.
It was GREAT!

2002 UPDATE
No change. Tired and hurting.

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You are listening to Memories from the musical Cats, written by
Andrew Lloyd Webber and T.S. Eliot. I felt this song was a perfect selection
for this site because of the affiliation I feel with Grizabella. Although for her,
it was age and not health issues that changed her, neither of us are who we
were before, on the outside, and it can affect how we feel on the inside.