Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
As it's name suggests, Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome is marked by exhaustion. A fatigue so deep and
debilitating that it is not relieved by rest - no matter how
much one tries. This is not a fatigue that is the result of
ongoing exertion. And the person who is suffering from it has
had a marked reduction in normal activity of at least fifty
percent.
Whether the fatigue has manifested itself suddenly or
gradually, when someone becomes a victim to it, it can last
from six months to a number of years. In many incidents it
coincides with another illness that could be respiratory in
nature or gastrointestinal. It may follow an acute infection
that has flu like symptoms. And it has been found that a severe
trauma - whether it be physical as in the case of an injury or
surgery or emotional such as in the loss of a loved one - can
be a trigger for this syndrome.
With the ongoing severe fatigue a number of other symptoms
will be evidenced. Among these are the following:
An increasing inability to concentrate. Some have described
this as 'mental fogginess'. Perhaps finding it hard to think of
the proper words to use. A sufferer may also find that their
short term memory is being affected. That their ability to
concentrate for any length of time becomes difficult. Others
may have some spatial disorientation and as a result feel
clumsy and unsteady on their feet.
There can be a significant amount of pain in the muscles and
joints of someone suffering from CFS. The joint pain will not
have the redness and swelling that is the case with arthritis
though. It may also prove to be transitory in nature. There can
be a feeling of muscle weakness and 'twitchiness'.
Headaches may occur. If the individual normally suffers from
headaches they may notice that these are different in nature,
severity and duration from what they are used to.
There can be nerve and skin sensitivity that can be
described as painful. Some have described feeling pain in their
eyes, jaw and bones. Sore throats and swollen and painful lymph
nodes are an issue. For others they have remarked on chest pain
and having a shortness of breath.
Getting sufficient and proper sleep is yet another
dysfunction that comes with CFS. Also, the way that their sleep
pattern is affected may vary in that the length of deep sleep
may be cut short or interrupted, breathing rhythms may be off
or vivid disturbing dreams may cause unrest.
Certain neuroendocrine functions (such as our metabolism)
may be affected and the CFS sufferer may experience
fluctuations in their body temperature - going between feverish
and cold. They may find they have a decreased tolerance of
extremes in environmental temperatures. There may be digestive
disturbances in that they find a change in their appetite which
in turn could translate into an unusual gain or loss of weight.
In addition these gastrointestinal problems may include
bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea.
While
this list covers some of the main symptoms that may occur
with CFS it is always good to keep in mind that each
individual will be a unique case. Since some of these
health problems could be a possible manifestation of a
different underlying problem it is important to
communicate with your health care provider anything that
causes you specific concern.
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