CFS/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is misunderstood – are you?
For most people cognitive behavioral therapy and regular exercise programs can help greatly and to some others antidepressants can help in a great way. Cognitive behavioral therapy help patient to manage the activity levels, stress and symptoms and also it can help to cope up with the impact of CFS. Low-dose tricyclic antidepressants help patients with fibromyalgia (illness similar to that of CFS). Hence doctors often recommend these drugs for people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome with mostly positive results.
As there is no effective treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, you have to treat the symptoms of the illness. The illness shows its impact on the entire family not just the patient and because of this you have to consider family education and counseling. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen can help in getting rid of any body aches or fever and nonsedating antihistamines can help in relieving any prominent allergic symptoms such as running nose.
By learning
how to manage your fatigue may help you to improve the level of body function
and the quality of life regardless of symptoms. A specialist in rehabilitation
medicine can evaluate and teach how to plan the activities to take the
advantage of time in which you are feeling better.
Because of
the lack of proven effective treatment, the treatment is frustrating for both
doctor and the patient. Health experts recommends to maintain good health by
eating balanced diet and taking adequate rest, regular exercise without causing
more fatigue, avoid physical, emotional and mental stress as it worsen the
symptoms. The course will vary from patient to patient.
Early in
the course of illness the symptoms will be stable and then it appears and
disappears. Some patients feel better completely but it is not known how
frequently this happens. Emotional support and counseling can help the patient
to a great deal and the loved ones to manage the uncertain outlook and the
instability of the illness.
For most
people cognitive behavioral therapy and regular exercise programs can help
greatly and to some others antidepressants can help in a great way. Cognitive
behavioral therapy help patient to manage the activity levels, stress and
symptoms and also it can help to cope up with the impact of CFS. Low-dose
tricyclic antidepressants help patients with fibromyalgia (illness similar to
that of CFS). Hence doctors often recommend these drugs for people suffering
from chronic fatigue syndrome with mostly positive results.
According
to some researchers these drugs improve the quality of sleep and other kind of
antidepressants also help the patients. Doctors have to increase the dosage of
antidepressants slowly or prescribe more active antidepressants as therapeutic
doses of antidepressants often increase fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome. In
addition to these antidepressants some people will benefit from
benzodiazepines, a class of drugs which are used to treat acute anxiety and
sleep problems.
CFS patients have different patterns of primary
symptoms and the severity of symptom also vary considerably. Physicians should
question the patients about the symptoms which are more disabling and can plan
the treatment accordingly. Most problematic symptoms are prioritized by the
patient and start treatment for those symptoms of priority. But the treatment
will start only after the symptoms have been investigated and excluded.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can be extremely devastating
and difficult and a lot of people need help when it comes to how to cope,
chronic fatigue being a completely new experience for most sufferers of the
disease. To cope, chronic
fatigue sufferers have to learn how to deal with irregular symptoms, a complete
lack of stamina and energy, cognitive problems, a loss of autonomy and
independence, and any number of other problems.
In
learning to cope, chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers frequently experience
feelings of guilt, anger, loneliness, isolation, worry, fear, and even abandonment. They start to feel that their loved
ones resent the fact that they are sick for seemingly no reason.
Part of
the problem when learning to cope with chronic fatigue is that there seems to
be no real cause, so a lot of people look at victims of Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome and make the mistaken assumption that they are simply lazy or that it
is their choice to be so tired and unmotivated. This can have a truly devastating
effect on those who have chronic fatigue syndrome, and it does not make coping
with the disease any easier.
For that
reason, a lot of people trying to beat chronic fatigue turn to a variety of
therapies, such as professional counseling, cognitive behavior therapy,
symptomatic treatment, and various alternative therapies, such as relaxation
techniques, massage, and healing by touch therapies. Support groups are also extremely
helpful.
One thing
that can help with coping is to write down in a diary the times when your
energy levels are highest and when they are the lowest. By doing this
activities can be designed around the more favorable times. Also suffers can
have their doctor design an exercise program that can help to keep strength
levels up. This may also help with overall well being.
So what can you do about your Chronic fatigue Syndrome?
One of the
most common self care remedies is to rest and learn to reduce and manage your
stress levels. However, this is almost impossible to achieve in our busy lives
today.
And all of us have to keep working to earn a living, so taking a year off from work to rest and recover is not really an option for most of us. Another strategy is to build up your strength and immunity levels by improving your diet and nutrition. But when you are feeling sick you do not feel like eating the huge amounts of fresh organic fruit and vegetables that this would require.
But do not
worry, whatever may be your level of chronic fatigue, it has been observed that
taking quality dietary supplements and use of chronic fatigue herbs can help to
improve the health and energy levels of the sufferer. This is the simplest and fastest way
to improve your health and start on your road to recovery and fully enjoying
your life again.
