US News.com :A Patient’s Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

[Sly Saint]

updated 4th May 2023

hmm could do better

This article is based on reporting that features expert sources.


What Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

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In our busy lives, there's little room for extreme exhaustion. However, for those diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, that is their daily reality.



Chronic fatigue syndrome, also referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis, is little understood and a complicated illness. Its hallmark symptom is extreme and persistent exhaustion.

According to a report from the National Academy of Medicine, an estimated 836,000 to 2.5 million Americans suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, and at least one-quarter of patients are bed- or house-bound at some point in their illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the economic costs of chronic fatigue syndrome to be between $17 to $24 billion yearly.

“Chronic fatigue syndrome strikes people of all ages, including children, across racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups,” says Dr. Avi Nath, clinical director at the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda, Maryland.

In order to meet the CDC’s diagnostic criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome, a person must experience the following three symptoms with moderate, substantial or severe intensity:

• Extreme fatigue and impairment for more than six months.
• PEM.
• Unrefreshing sleep.

In addition, a person must experience at least one of the following symptoms:

• Impaired cognitive function, such as memory or focus.
• Orthostatic intolerance.

Because diagnosing chronic fatigue syndrome is a process of elimination, it requires a thorough medical workup and evaluation by a doctor to rule out other illnesses.

Connection Between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID
Closer examination has been paid to chronic fatigue syndrome after the medical community realized the condition shares many symptomatic connections with long COVID.

“We better understand that viral infections may last longer than the initial attack and the line between acute and chronic disease is becoming blurred,” says Dr. Houman Danesh, director of integrative pain management at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

The overlap between chronic fatigue syndrome and long COVID has increased both awareness and attention about both conditions. About 50% of patients with long COVID meet the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome.

“This increased awareness will hopefully lead to more research to provide answers for both long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome patients,” Danesh says.

PEM, one of the most prevalent symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, has been shown to be a hallmark symptom of long COVID. One study, published in one of the Lancet journals, followed 3,762 COVID-19 patients with persistent symptoms and found that 89% reported post-exertional malaise as a symptom.

this is the wrong way around. PEM is hallmark symptom of ME/CFS not "one of the most prevalent symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome" and is not 'a hallmark symptom of LC'.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Children
One promising treatment approach might be cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). A study, published in the European Journal of Pediatrics, showed that CBT was effective in helping two thirds of children and adolescents long term manage chronic fatigue syndrome. The effect of this treatment has been shown to continue effectiveness two to three years later.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, CBT and exercise that gradually increases over time have been shown to moderately improve fatigue levels, help patients with their day-to-day activities and manage anxiety and PEM.

https://health.usnews.com/conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome

 

[rvallee]

Closer examination has been paid to chronic fatigue syndrome after the medical community realized the condition shares many symptomatic connections with long COVID.

Yes, totally was the medical community that realized that. Sure. Why not? It's not as if they're still almost in universal denial after 3 years and we have been screaming about this from the start. Who cares about what's true? Let's just go with that feels true.

“This increased awareness will hopefully lead to more research to provide answers for both long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome patients,” Danesh says.

It's been 3 years. To hell with this crap, the medical profession is refusing to even try. It's always someone else's responsibility. Somewhere. Maybe. No one, actually. This is the stuff that kills all hope, seeing all the lies and nonsense that we know are nothing but lies.

Literally zero progress. They still market the damn pseudoscience that is explicitly responsible for this problem as if it's "promising". WTF? It's almost fanatical commitment to failure. No one has any damn courage in this entire dysfunctional system.