Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has been a label many doctors will put on a person when they can't find anything wrong with a person or if they are just tired of the person complaining. The syndrome is very very real and should not be taken lightly.
Symptoms of CFS are similar to those of most common viral infections (muscle aches, headache, and fatigue). They come on within a few hours or days and last for 6 months or more.
Main symptoms:
- Fatigue or tiredness, never experienced to this extent before (new onset), lasting at least 6 months and not relieved by bed rest
-
Fatigue that is severe enough to restrict activity (serious fatigue develops with less than one-half of the exertion compared with before the illness)
Other symptoms:
-
Fatigue lasting more than 24 hours after an amount of exercise that would normally be easily tolerated
-
Feeling unrefreshed after sleeping an adequate amount of time
-
Forgetfulness or other similar symptoms including difficulty concentrating, confusion, or irritability
-
Headaches, different from previous headaches in quality, severity, or pattern
-
Joint pain, often moving from joint to joint (migratory arthralgias), without joint swelling or redness
-
Lymph node tenderness in the neck or armpit
-
Mild fever (101 degrees F or less)
-
Muscle aches (myalgias)
-
Muscle weakness, all over or multiple locations, not explained by any known disorder
-
Sore throat
CFS has now been linked to a virus called XMRV which is a slow-growing, gammaretrovirus and replicates in dividing cells. Low-level infections are best detected in activated, dividing cells; to activate a virus requires cell culture. Productive infections are more easily detected without special treatment of the specimen..
This was explained to some degree on the T.V. Show Dr. Oz last week. It was very enlightening to finally have a cause behind this illness, but it is explained in the video that this virus enters your body and becomes part of your physical makeup. You can't get rid of it! Hopefully it is good news that the cause was found so possibly a cure can be found so those who suffer from this can have some relief.
Do you find it a relief that there is a cause? What about the fact that this virus becomes a part of you? Do you think there might be a cure or a medication possibly found to help?
If you missed my earlier article visit it here.
Comments
Great article!!!
U did a great job i loved it
It is horrifying to know that XMRV becomes a permanent part of the person who gets sick with it. The animated graphic that was on Dr. Oz's show made it very crystal clear that our foe, XMRV, is daunting.
With the millions, if not billions, spent to try to cure AIDS, another retrovirus, and no cure in sight, I'm discouraged.
I've been sick and disabled with CFS for 14 years. It is hell on earth. When the price of the test comes down and/or there is a benefit to having the test done, I'll be tested.
It does sound like scientists are on the right track and that they are very interested in the future understanding of XMRV for diagnosis and treatment.
I am bitter that the US government has held up research for decades.
'I am bitter that the US government has held up research for decades.'
I feel the same about the UK government. The pych lobby have spent most the research fund, trying to prove it's in our heads.
People in the UK have been imprisoned in psychiatric hospitials because they 'wont' get well.
Will any main media out let other than the Dr.Oz show in the US, talk about the cruelty that people suffer with this disease.
Only now that there is a link between XMRV FIBRO CFS ME MS AUTISM Breast & Prostate CANCER is research truly happening. Because now there are concerns that 4% of the healthy population have this XMRV VIRUS.
ThanQ for helping to raise awareness.
I have been living with ME/CFS since June of 1990. Hell on earth= Yes. I know why many have taken there own lives. You are sick all the time. It is hard to fall asleep and sleep or death is your escape from this dreadfull disease. I take 15 mg of Mirtazapine at bedtime daily to help relieve headache some and aid in sleep. Also helps with cold hands and feet some as it calms the nervouse system down some. We need a cure to relieve the brain fog, fatigue and other symptoms. We need blood testing here in Canada.
I do feel better knowing that they have found the cause but will be truly blessed when they find a cure. It will be a godsend to many, myself included. CFS is the pits.
Wonderful article!
Great article! I'm grateful that I do not have CFS, but many of the symptoms are similar to MS. I think the main difference is that MS comes in "exacerbations" and the time between the two can be a long time. Thankfully, I haven't had a "spell" in a looong time. From what I have read, CFS and Fibromyalgia are daily diseases to fight.
It is possible to recover from this naturally. But it does take time, see www.postviralfatigue.me.uk
thanks for the article; CFS needs to be accepted for what it is: a hugely disabling illness.
However, nobody has said that XMRV CAUSES CFS - just because it is found in 98% of the bloodstreams of CFS patients doesn't mean it is a cause. XMRV in be a result of a genetic immune failure or immune failure from another viral infection, such as Herpes 6 or presently unknown viruses, etc.
Please, please get your facts right. Dr. Oz didn't. NOBODY has yet connected XMRV to Fatigue. Period. And fatigue is actually a relatively minor part of CFS. For instance, 50% of CFS suffers have POTS, which is a cardiovascular condition causing high and low adrenaline rushes, fainting, dangerously high and low blood pressure and more.
CFS involves autonomic failure (functions that your brain does without cognition), not just brain fog. Failure of digestion, bowel function, circulation, fluid control, bladder function, muscle weakness/pain, inflammation, constant viral infections and much mo
Oh if only this discovery had been made 34 years ago when I became ill. This illness has made my entire adult life a living hell with no support and what makes you want to end it is the cruelty of people who believe you want to live like this. They somehow think you have spent every cent you have trying to get well so you can bludge off taxpayers or whoever.
I was living in a very abusive situation and was told by local family councilers that there was nothing wrong with me and I should just get out. I was too sick to make my own bed but was offered no help and told I should just leave and go where? in my condition which apparantly doesnt exist.
And its thanks to the name of the disease plus the attitude of the medical profession that I have endured a horrible illness without kindness or assistance for eons. I have kept going hoping for a change and still hope my old age will be the happiest time of my life.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!