Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
Primary Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
As the name chronic fatigue syndrome suggests, this illness is
accompanied by fatigue. However, it's not the kind of fatigue patients
experience after a particularly busy day or week, after a sleepless night or
after a stressful event. It's a severe, incapacitating fatigue that isn't
improved by bed rest and that may be exacerbated by physical or mental
activity. It's an all-encompassing fatigue that results in a dramatic
decline in both activity level and stamina.
People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome function at a significantly lower
level of activity than they were capable of prior to becoming ill. The
illness results in a substantial reduction in occupational, personal, social
or educational activities.
A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosis should be considered in patients who
present with six months or more of unexplained fatigue accompanied by other
characteristic symptoms. These symptoms include:
- cognitive dysfunction, including impaired memory or concentration
- post exertional malaise lasting more than 24 hours (exhaustion and
increased symptoms) following physical or mental exercise
- unrefreshing sleep
- joint pain (without redness or swelling)
- persistent muscle pain
- headaches of a new type or severity
- tender cervical or axillary lymph nodes
- sore throat
Other Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms
In addition to the eight primary defining symptoms of Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome, a number of other symptoms have been reported by some Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome patients. The frequency of occurrence of these symptoms
varies among patients. These symptoms include:
- irritable bowel, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea or bloating
- chills and night sweats
- brain fog
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- chronic cough
- visual disturbances (blurring, sensitivity to light, eye pain or dry
eyes)
- allergies or sensitivities to foods, alcohol, odors, chemicals,
medications or noise
- difficulty maintaining upright position (orthostatic instability,
irregular heartbeat, dizziness, balance problems or fainting)
- psychological problems (depression, irritability, mood swings,
anxiety, panic attacks)
- jaw pain
- weight loss or gain
Clinicians will need to consider whether such symptoms relate to a
comorbid or an exclusionary condition; they should not be considered as part
of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome other than they can contribute to impaired
functioning.
Further explanation about the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The severity of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome varies from patient to patient,
with some people able to maintain fairly active lives. By definition,
however, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome significantly limits work, school and
family activities.
While symptoms vary from person to person in number, type and severity,
all Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients are functionally impaired to some
degree. CDC studies show that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can be as disabling
as multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, end-stage
renal disease ,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and similar
chronic conditions.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome often follows a cyclical course, alternating
between periods of illness and relative well-being. Some patients experience
partial or complete remission of symptoms during the course of the illness,
but symptoms often reoccur. This pattern of remission and relapse makes
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome especially hard for patients and their health care
professionals to manage. Patients who are in remission may be tempted to
overdo activities when they're feeling better, which can exacerbate symptoms
and fatigue and cause a relapse. In fact, post exertional malaise is a
hallmark of the illness.
The percentage of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients who recover is
unknown, but there is some evidence to indicate that the sooner symptom
management begins, the better the chance of a positive therapeutic outcome.
This means early detection and treatment are of utmost importance. CDC
research indicates that delays in diagnosis and treatment may complicate and
prolong the clinical course of the illness.
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