Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is one of the most common pathological conditions today. Its development is associated, first of all, with the peculiarities of the modern rhythm of life, which is characterized by excessive psycho-emotional stress on a person. That is why the risk group is primarily people aged 25–45 living in large cities. During this period of life, people are most active, busy with a career and take on too many obligations. In pursuit of success, many ignore the appearance of alarming bells, indicating that it is necessary not only to relax for two weeks at sea, but to begin treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome, because a constantly tired person cannot fully live.

What do you know about CFS?

In the last few years, this term has been actively discussed. First of all, the influence exerted by this pathology on modern society is analyzed, various causes of occurrence are considered. At the same time, CFS is still not a separate nosological unit; there are no studies of the pathogenesis and clinical picture of the syndrome. At the same time, more and more people are in an unhealthy state and do not know how to cope with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Here are some interesting facts:

1. Women make up about 75-80% of the total number of people suffering from CFS.
2. The presence of responsible work has the appearance of persistent fatigue. So, doctors (especially surgeons), people who operate large vehicles (pilots, machinists), high-ranking leaders are most at risk.
3. CFS was officially recognized as a separate disease in 1988, and two years later the National Center for Chronic Fatigue was founded in the United States.
4. Australian scientist Andrew Lloyd has identified a link between the Epstein-Barr virus (the causative agent of mononucleosis) and CFS: the virus can temporarily “damage” the brain, which leads to permanent weakness and apathy.

Isn’t it time to see a doctor?

Each person must have encountered such phenomena as overwork, bad mood, a feeling of chronic “lack of sleep”, irritation, loss of strength. Most often, it seems that these problems will go away after a long vacation or at least a relaxed weekend. If this does not happen after a long rest, and the feeling of weakness does not leave even after a night’s sleep, there are the first signs of a more serious problem than overwork. Chronic pathological fatigue persists even with reduced loads and good rest. A person feels sick, but does not know what and how to treat.

Symptoms of CFS

So, what are the signs of an insidious disease?

• Fatigue haunts a person for at least six months. On the part of the muscles, weakness of the limbs can manifest itself, that is, the legs and arms do not seem to obey, there is some clumsiness in the movements.
• There are frequent headaches, weakening of attention, memory problems, forgetfulness. A person with CFS may be somewhat lethargic, distracted, and inhibited. It is getting harder and harder to complete the tasks.

• It is likely that depression will occur. A person with CFS becomes emotionally unstable, irritable, intolerant, short-tempered, and gives in to gloomy or disturbing thoughts.
• Sleep is disturbed, becomes shallow, restless. The patient may be tormented by nightmares, often accompanied by profuse sweating. As a result, the general condition is characterized by weakness and drowsiness. Lack of normal sleep makes a person with CFS lethargic and uninitiated.
• Hand tremors, dull aching pains throughout the body may disturb: muscles and joints most often suffer. At the same time, neither edema nor changes in the skin are noted. It is possible to increase the temperature to values of 37.4–37.9 °С.
• There is a danger of an increase in lymph nodes, such as cervical or submandibular, accompanied by painful sensations. This indicates a decrease in immunity, which is typical for people suffering from CFS.
• A decrease in appetite leads to a decrease in body weight, due to a lack of necessary substances, the patient notes the emerging pallor of the skin, the appearance of premature wrinkles.

Most often, with such symptoms, patients are told about the development of neuroses in them or, for example, about vegetative- vascular dystonia. However, the treatment prescribed in such cases is ineffective. Clinical studies are being conducted, but the indicators are often within the normal range, while the patient’s condition worsens.

It is very important to consult with your doctor in time, to undergo comprehensive examinations, since the symptoms of CFS are similar to the clinical picture of other diseases. It is the doctor who should diagnose the presence of chronic fatigue syndrome in a patient, having studied the symptoms, and prescribe treatment that promotes a speedy recovery.

An independent disease or a sign of a latent pathology?

As already mentioned, the complexity of diagnosing CFS lies in the fact that the symptoms that characterize it can be observed in the presence of certain diseases:

• somatic;
• infectious;
• endocrine;
• mental.

For the diagnosis of CFS and treatment, it is necessary to exclude the presence of any hidden pathologies, so a consultation with one doctor will not be enough. A comprehensive examination will require the participation of the following specialists:

• neurologist and neuropathologist;
• endocrinologist;
• immunologist;
• psychotherapist .

To be sure that constant fatigue is not the result of diseases that require specific treatment, the following tests and procedures will be required:

• blood tests – general and biochemical, – urinalysis;
• tests for the presence of helminths – feces and blood (to determine antibodies to certain varieties);
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
• X-rays of light;
• blood tests for antibody titers to certain viruses – herpes, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr, enteroviruses;
• HIV test;
• examination of the fundus;
• diagnosis of diseases of the endocrine system;
• dopplerography of the vessels of the head and neck, MRI, tomography of the brain.

CFS is diagnosed when test results are within normal limits. If violations are detected, treatment of the detected disease will be required.

CFS treatment. What can you do to regain your taste for life?

How can you deal with identified chronic fatigue syndrome? Doctors emphasize the importance of an integrated approach – together with the treatment prescribed by a specialist, a patient can and should do a lot on his own. It must be remembered that with chronic fatigue, treatment should be prescribed in a timely manner. Therefore, you do not need to engage in self-diagnosis and the choice of medicines, based on an essay from the Internet with high-profile headlines “How I fought CFS and recovered in a week.”

Help from a specialist

Doctors’ recommendations for treatment will be multidirectional.

• CFS is characterized by a decrease in immunity, so
  vitamins A, B1, B6, B12, C, D, folic acid will be prescribed to strengthen it.
• Can be recommended for use immunocorrectors , immunostimulants. It is worth contacting a competent immunologist who will prescribe the necessary tests, including a detailed immunogram , and only on the basis of the results obtained will prescribe medication if he considers it necessary.

You can take immunostimulating drugs only as directed by your doctor.

• Since CFS is directly related to the nervous system, sedatives are often prescribed to stabilize it. It can be St. John’s wort, motherwort, mint, peony, chamomile, thyme, valerian. Aromatherapy is sometimes recommended.
• To strengthen the nervous and immune systems, it is usually advised to engage in an exercise therapy group, undergo a course of massage (possibly with elements of manual therapy), attend hydroprocedures (for example, oxygen baths or a circular shower), and prescribe a diet.
• It would be nice to get the advice of a psychotherapist, since it will be much easier to cope with emerging problems together. Both individual work and group therapy are allowed. The doctor, if necessary, prescribes treatment with antidepressants, daytime tranquilizers.

Remember that taking tranquilizers and antidepressants is carried out strictly under the supervision of a specialist.

The main method of treating CFS is the creation of optimal conditions for rest and physical activity for the patient, as well as the observance of the correct nutrition system. That is why hospital treatment is recommended, since it is easier to maintain the desired regimen in a specialized institution.

After inpatient treatment, it is necessary to follow the recommendations and periodically be observed by specialists to prevent the recurrence of CFS.

Self-guided steps to recovery

What you need to do yourself:

• Organize your day the right way. This will help you set aside crazy time for physical activity (for example, nightly walks or workouts that are not too intense) or for an enjoyable hobby.
• Sleep is important! Most often, people need 6-8 hours for a good night’s sleep. It is necessary to take into account the characteristics of your body: to sleep so much that after sleep you feel cheerfulness and a surge of strength.

If daytime sleep negatively affects the quality of night rest, it should be excluded.

• Change your habits. First of all, this applies to the use of coffee and alcoholic beverages. Alcohol, especially in large quantities, can cause fatigue, provoke the onset of a depressive state. Caffeine gives only a temporary burst of activity, often deceptive.
• Observe the diet. It is necessary to eat foods rich in antioxidants, sulfur and selenium, reduce the calorie content of meals and give up late dinner. This will reduce the formation of free radicals, which, according to researchers, are associated with the causes of CFS.

• Take small breaks during the working day, do not give up vacation, do not burden yourself with work on weekends, watch less TV.
• When a tense situation arises, find ways to calm down, preventing negative emotions from getting out of control. You can listen to calm music, read your favorite poems to yourself, imagine yourself in a pleasant place.
• Use folk methods – make tinctures of cinnamon and ginger, drink kefir with honey at night.

Instead of a conclusion

Unfortunately, while experts cannot give an accurate and final answer to the question of how to get rid of chronic fatigue syndrome. Today, it is considered a little-studied, but already widespread pathology, the qualitative diagnosis of which is not always available. It is important to constantly monitor your condition, do not overwork and do not avoid doctors.