We’ve been hearing a lot about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the news lately; however, many are still unaware of this potentially debilitating condition.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating illness affecting as many as 800,000 Americans. Because the illness is not clearly identifiable or well known, CFS patients receive very little emotional or financial support. Consequently, many face the illness in relative solitude, resulting in depression, isolation, and potentially deplorable and unsanitary conditions. For this reason, developing a clearer understanding of this illness is of utmost importance for the emotional and mental stability of those afflicted with this condition.
The origins of CFS are widely believed to be viral in nature; however, an agreed upon etiology has yet to surface within the medical community. Even more challenging is the fact that CFS is without a routine laboratory test or distinguishing physical examination used to conclusively diagnose the illness. Consequently, CFS patients undergo countless diagnostic tests to eliminate other, more common ailments. Despite the multitude of physical abnormalities, the diagnostic findings are generally unremarkable. Accordingly, CFS remains a challenging symptom-based clinical opinion for the most skilled medical practitioner.
CFS results in a myriad of potentially disabling symptoms to include incapacitating fatigue lasting a minimum of 6 months, unrefreshing sleep, word-finding difficulties, mental fogginess, inability to comprehend/retain what is read, inability to calculate numbers, and impairment of reasoning. Also included are light-headedness, visual disturbances, night sweats, irritable bowel, numbness, tingling and/or burning sensations in the face or extremities, rashes, allergies and sensitivities to noise/sound, odors, chemicals and medications, muscle twitching, and a worsening of the symptoms following physical or mental exertion requiring frequent periods of rest.
In addition, others experience dizziness, loss of coordination and ringing in the ears from standing, walking, lengthy conversations and bustling social events. Not only are these events physically taxing but may result in confusion from an apparent barrage of incoming visual and auditory stimuli.
Unable to maintain their former routines, CFS patients experience a significant decline in the quality of their personal and professional relationships resulting in dissolution of marriages, loss of close friendships, and diminished social and emotional support. Moreover, because the primary complaint of CFS patients is that of debilitating and numbing fatigue, approximately one-third are unable to work a full-time job and another one-third are only able to work part-time; hence, income is dramatically reduced, directly affecting their socioeconomic status and self-esteem.
Without a definitive medical etiology, medical practitioners can only attempt to consistently curtail the individual symptoms of CFS with anti-depressants, pain medication, etc.
CFS is real.
Nereida M. Littrell, Ph.D.
References
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