|
CFS/ME INFORMATION
CFS stands for chronic fatigue syndrome. Chronic means persistent or long-term. ME stands
for myalgic encephalomyelitis - pronounced: Myalgic: my-AL-jik Encephalomyelitis:
en-SEF-uh-lo-MY-uh-LY-tis. Myalgic means 'muscle aches or pains'. Encephalomyelitis
means inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. CFS/ME is a serious, disabling and
chronic neurological illness affecting approximately 1 million people in the United States
and as many as 17 million people worldwide.
CFS/ME is characterized by:
- debilitating fatigue (exhaustion and extremely poor stamina)
- neurological problems
- and a variety of flu-like symptoms
The illness is also known as chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS), In the
past the syndrome has been known as chronic Epstein-Barr virus (CEBV).
The core symptoms include:
- excessive fatigue
- general pain
- mental fogginess
- often gastro-intestinal problems
Many other symptoms will also be present, however they will typically be different among
different patients. These include:
- fatigue following stressful activities
- headaches
- sore throat
- sleep disorder
- abnormal temperature
- and others
The degree of severity can differ widely among patients, and will also vary over time
for the same patient. Severity can vary between getting unusually fatigued following
stressful events, to being totally bedridden and completely disabled. The symptoms will
tend to wax and wane over time. This variation, in addition to the fact that the cause of
the disease is not yet known, makes this illness difficult to diagnose.
In some cases, CFS/ME can persist for years. The cause or causes of CFS/ME have not
been identified and no specific diagnostic tests are available. Moreover, since
many illnesses have incapacitating fatigue as a symptom, care must be taken to
exclude other known and often treatable conditions before a diagnosis of CFS/ME is made.
What To Call It
Although there is agreement on the genuine threat to health, happiness, and productivity
posed by CFS/ME, various physicians' groups, researchers, and patient activists champion
very different ideas regarding diagnostic criteria and favored treatments, resulting
in ongoing controversy about nearly all aspects of the disorder. The name chronic
fatigue syndrome is itself controversial, with some patient advocates and other
authorities preferring terms such as myalgic encephalomyelitis ("ME" or "CFS/ME")
and post-viral fatigue syndrome ("PVFS"), which imply specific underlying
etiologies or pathologic processes.
Yes, CFS/ME is Real
A lack of information and awareness has led to many patients being stigmatized
as hypochondriac or lazy. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention have now
recognized CFS/ME as a serious illness and have recently launched a
campaign to raise public and medical awareness about it. The
American Medical Association (AMA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) are among those who have accepted CFS/ME as a legitimate
physical illness and a major cause of disability.
You May Also Like
|
