I Get Tired, Too - Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

[Guest guest]

" I Get Tired, Too " - Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

_http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/07/24/i-get-tired-too-understanding-ch

ronic-fatigue-syndrome.htm_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2008/07/24/i-get-tired-too-understanding-chro\

nic-fatigue-syndrome.htm)

 

Thursday July 24, 2008

When you tell someone you have _chronic fatigue syndrome_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatischronicfatigue/a/what_is_CFS.htm)

(CFS or _ME/CFS_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/cfsglossary/g/MECFS.htm) ), how often does

he

or she look blandly back at you and say, " Yeah, I get tired, too. A little

(sleep/rest/exercise/coffee/other-unsolicited-bit-of-advice) will make you

feel better! "

Doctors don't get terribly excited about " fatigue " as a symptom, either -

it's the number one complaint they get, and it's usually caused by overwork,

stress, lack of sleep, or some passing illness such as a cold. Sometimes it

surprises them by hanging around for longer than expected, and then they might

start looking into other causes, like nutritional deficiencies or (the dreaded

" d " word!) depression. Sometimes, that's what it is, and its name is chronic

fatigue. (Notice the lack of " syndrome. " )

Sometimes, though, it's not that simple and you have muscle aches, flu-like

symptoms and brain fog, and that's when " syndrome " gets tacked onto the end.

Grammatically, it might not seem like that big a distinction. However, when

it comes to your treatments, not to mention your life, that third word is a

doozie!

So what exactly is the difference between chronic fatigue and chronic

fatigue syndrome? Here's your answer:

_Chronic Fatigue vs. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatischronicfatigue/a/cf_vs_cfs.htm)

_http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatischronicfatigue/a/cf_vs_cfs.htm_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatischronicfatigue/a/cf_vs_cfs.htm)

Feel free to pass it along to the next guy who says, " Boy, I'm beat, too.

I'll hit the gym after work - that always makes me feel better! "

Suggested Reading:

 

* _Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Fact Sheet_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatischronicfatigue/a/cfsfactsheet.htm)

 

* _Exercising When You Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome_

(http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/treatingfmscfs/a/exercise.htm)