Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / M.E. is a multi-systemic illness of which there are many person dependent symptoms.
The medical diagnosis of CFS/M.E. is based on a individual experiencing persistent fatigue for a period of longer than six months, with levels of fatigue varying greatly.
There can be a number of reasons or ‘triggers’ for you to experience some or all of these chronic and often invisible symptoms. Many of which although horrid, can be reversed with the right support.
- Severe flu like symptoms
- Chronic and persistent fatigue / exhaustion – brought on by physical or mental activity
- Physical weakness
- Muscular aches and pains – sometimes severe (Fibromyalgia)
- Adrenal problems – adrenal fatigue
- Hormone problems – the HPA axis (Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Adrenal Axis – the three glands that regulate hormones, including cortisol and adrenaline, to keep our bodies working properly)
- Difficulties sleeping, leading to feeling un-refreshed and continuously exhausted after a nights sleep
- Foggy or fuzzy head – brain fog
- Problems focusing with the eyes
- Problems with short-term memory and concentration or experiencing incoherence
- Sensitivity to light and noise or fuzzy hearing
- Mild to severe headaches
- Cognitive issues, such as slurred speech or words that come out not making sense
- Being cold and feeling the cold
- Low blood pressure, feeling dizzy when standing, or possibly fainting
- Heart palpitations, chest pains and accelerated heart rate at night
- Adrenaline rushes, especially at night or around 3 – 4am
- Being “tired, but wired”
- Problems walking and even being upright and standing – wobbly legs that feel as though they aren’t part of your body
- Feeling or being sick
- Dizziness
- Swollen glands
- Sore lymph nodes
- Extreme tiredness after any form of exercise – leading to experiencing chronic fatigue
- Anxiety and depression caused by feeling ill and helpless
Please note I the use the word ‘symptoms’. This means they are not the cause, so I invite you to look much deeper into your health and find where out where it all started!
There are good clinicians around the UK and web sites full of information – Dr Myhill is the leading medical professional in the UK on working with CFS/M.E. and clinics such as The Optimum Health Clinic and clinicians in Functional Medicine and Nutrition such as Robyn Puglia, are able to work with you and test for vitamin, mineral, hormonal or chemical imbalances.
By putting together a comprehensive medical history of you, undertaking any necessary blood tests or functional medicine tests to do this, it is a bit like painting a picture of your overall health in a step-by-step process, then working to restore your body to its fully functioning state.
Counselling & psychotherapy, or hypnotherapy, sometimes used in combination with mindfulness meditation, can also be part of the process of getting well again. By offering you support and helping you towards changing your life at an emotional level, working in reducing your stress levels and busyness and helping with slowing your mind down.