How Do You Know If You Have CFS – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Are you wondering if you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? You should know that this sleep disorder is not an easy condition to diagnose because it looks like many other conditions. People who have CFS report feeling very exhausted, as if getting up to live their day is a challenge and no amount of sleep will help. This fatigue makes life difficult to live and getting yourself up and ready for work can make a person who suffers from this condition feel as if they will just fall down. There is hardly energy to eat or bathe and exercise of any kind feels completely out of the question. Having more energy is what you feel you need.
This is a condition that can hit quite suddenly, but it’s more likely that it’s been building up over time. The causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are unknown, but it is thought that it has to do with the immune system having some type of imbalance. Plus, to complicate matters further, many of the warning signs of CFS are also indicators of a serious or life threatening condition, so you need to see your doctor if you have any of them.
Common Symptoms of CFS
There are some very common, defining symptoms of this condition which you should look for if you think you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Remember having any or all of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have this sleep disorder.
- Severe exhaustion for six months or more. No matter how early you go to bed or how long you sleep, it always feels as if it’s just not enough. Plus, your body may feel tired; in fact, you will likely feel almost too tired to move on most days. This is the most common sign of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and it can almost take away the ability to become active or concentrate.
- Headaches for six months or more. These will usually be new to you or they will be much more severe than what you are used to. If you are starting to get frequent headaches, when you never used to get them, you may be suffering from CFS.
- Aches, pains and weakness for six months or more. You might feel as if you’ve just done a really hard workout, but you haven’t lifted a weight in months. You may also find that your joints hurt for seemingly no reason. Also, the lymph nodes in your armpits or around your throat may become swollen and hurt to touch.
- Many people who suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome will report feeling as if they have the flu. Fever, chills, sore throat, abdominal bloating, pain and nausea are all part of this group of symptoms.
- Short term memory loss is another common symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Is Real
As with all newer types of conditions, CFS may not seem as if it is a real condition. Your doctor, however, will tell you that you are suffering from a very real condition that can interfere with your life if you do not work to reduce fatigue and get it under control.
You can learn to manage your symptoms and work with the times of day that you have energy “peaks” and feel good to get your big tasks done. However, there is no cure for the condition. Over time, many people do see improvement in how they feel and are able to resume all normal activities.
If you think you are suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, it’s important to seek medical attention so that you can begin to feel better overall and start having more energy.
Eight Common Symptoms Of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
A sore throat may be one of the more common signs of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but there are other symptoms which accompany a sore throat and CFS that should be considered as well. For instance, if you just have a scratchy throat that goes away within a week or so, it’s likely that you are suffering from a virus, cold or allergies, however, if you have a sore throat that is often accompanied by soreness in your neck around the lymph nodes, and it sticks around for about 6 months or more, you may be suffering from CFS.
You should check with your health care professional because sore throats are often associated with other potentially serious conditions as well.
However, if you have been very tired for six months and your sore throat doesn’t seem to ever go away, then you might be on to something. One good way to tell if you are suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is if the sleep you get doesn’t seem to be refreshing or help you reduce fatigue. Another way to tell if you might have this condition is if your wariness seems to make it hard to live your daily life.
Eight Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
You should know that there are eight common symptoms which medical professionals use to diagnose Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and you must have four of the eight for this diagnosis.
- Trouble with short term memory
- Inability to concentrate
- Not feeling rested after sleeping
- Muscle and joint pain
- Sore throat
- Sore lymph nodes in the neck or armpits
- Headaches
- A relapse of symptoms when you physically exert yourself
Remember that it takes four of the eight to be diagnosed with CFS, but there are also symptoms which you may experience that are not used when diagnosing this condition.
Other CFS Symptoms
- Allergic reactions to new things or alcohol, chemicals, odors, certain foods, or medications
- Jaw, abdominal or chest pain
- Bloating, diarrhea and nausea
- Ear infections or pain
- Dizziness or fainting
- Irregular heartbeat
- Morning stiffness
- Chills or sweating at night
- Panic attacks, anxiety, depression or irritability
- Weight loss or gain
- Persistent cough
You might be interested to know those women are more likely to suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome than men, but there is no definite cause for this. It is also much more likely to hit people who are in their 40’s or 50’s than those who are younger, but it is possible that anyone can get it.
Treating CFS
While health care professionals will usually work to treat the symptoms of CFS, since there is no known cause, there is no known cure, however, if you think you might be suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, it’s a good idea to see your doctor to find out if you can get relief from your symptoms of this condition and get back to living your healthy life. There are also natural supplements that can help you get more natural energy.