Symptoms
Core Symptoms
- • Overwhelming fatigue that sleep doesn't resolve
- • Energy depletion, inability to keep up with life
- • Post-exertional malaise (PEM)
- • Difficulties with sleep, unrefreshing sleep
- • Memory, focus, thinking difficulties
- • Headaches
- • Sore throat
Physical Symptoms
- • Muscle and joint pain, weakness
- • Irregular heartbeat
- • Tender/swollen lymph nodes
- • Digestive challenges
- • Shortness of breath
- • Chills and night sweats
- • Orthostatic intolerance
Post-Exertional Malaise
The worsening of symptoms after physical, mental, or emotional activity. Terms people may use include: "crash," "relapse," or "collapse." It may take weeks or months to recover from a crash.
Sensitivities
- • Allergies and sensitivities to foods
- • Sensitivity to odors, chemicals
- • Light sensitivity
- • Sound sensitivity
- • Dizziness, lightheadedness
- • Weakness, fainting
Tiredness vs. Fatigue
Tiredness
- • Can be resolved by getting adequate sleep and rest
- • Can be pushed through
- • Happens to everyone, typically daily
- • Normal, not a reason for deep concern
- • Doesn't prevent basic activities
- • Everyone understands tiredness
Fatigue
- • Cannot be resolved by sleep and rest
- • Can be so debilitating it's impossible to push through
- • Not a universal experience, not normal daily
- • Can be a reason for deep concern if regular
- • Can prevent basic activities like brushing teeth
- • Most people don't understand unless they experience it
Important: Trying to push through fatigue can lead to serious crashes that can take weeks, if not months, to recover from. When a person experiences fatigue every day for at least 6 months, it may be considered Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Activities That May Be Unmanageable
Work & Social
- • Working
- • Phone and Zoom calls
- • Socializing
- • Attending concerts, events, parties
- • Other festivities
Daily Activities
- • Exercising
- • Running errands
- • Household chores
- • Showering
- • Preparing food
Cognitive & Leisure
- • Reading
- • Watching TV or movies
- • Listening to music or podcasts
- • Explaining fluctuating abilities
ME/CFS PSA
Understanding ME/CFS
Living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can be frightening, confusing, isolating, and life-changing. Everyone experiences it differently. For any one individual, every day can look different - even different parts of each day can be drastically different.
What You Need to Know
Activities that healthier individuals might consider to be "no big deal" might take tremendous effort for someone with ME/CFS to do. Examples include talking, brushing teeth, running errands, taking a shower, preparing food, socializing, watching TV, listening to podcasts, reading, etc.
Important: Just because someone with ME/CFS may appear to be "out and about" on one day doesn't mean that they are doing well, or that they should be expected to be able to partake in activities.
Often, people with ME/CFS need to become very methodical and diligent with how they spend their time. Someone with ME/CFS might choose to go out with friends on Sunday afternoon, knowing that they'll need to rest and recover in solitude the rest of the week or even month(s).
Please remember: Don't assume you can understand how someone with ME/CFS is feeling based on appearances and apparent activity level. A lot may be hidden beneath the surface.
Potential Co-Morbidities
Connective Tissue & Autonomic
- • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- • Dysautonomia, POTS
- • Mast Cell Diseases
- • Fibromyalgia
Infections & Immune
- • Viruses and infections
- • Lyme Disease
- • COVID (Long-COVID)
- • Autoimmune Conditions
- • Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Gastrointestinal & Other
- • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- • Mold infection, environmental toxicity
- • Vision and vestibular challenges
- • Traumatic Brain Injuries
- • Concussions
Things That Help Me
Energy & Time Management
- • Limiting screen time and social media
- • Learning my limits, setting boundaries
- • Learning to say "no"
- • Not pushing through fatigue or pain
- • Having a recovery plan when needed
- • Prioritizing lowering stress load
Treatment
- • Benagene CFS
- • Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
- • Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber
- • Vagus nerve reset, exercises
- • Treating mold and environmental toxicity
- • Addressing mitochondrial dysfunction
Specialized Care
- • Working with Dr. Marc Schoen, PhD via medical hypnosis
- • Restoring parasympathetic nervous system function
- • Recalibrating nervous system to feel safe
- • Working with Neuro Performance Specialist Steve Madama
- • Addressing vision, vestibular, vocal, vagal issues
Care Team
Click here for care team recommendations
Medical Specialists
- • Functional/integrative/naturopathic medical doctors
- • Complex disease specialists
- • Medical hypnosis providers (MD, DO, or PhD)
Supportive Care
- • Neuro performance trainer (Z-Health trainers)
- • Mental health professionals
- • Psychiatrists, psychologists
- • Trauma specialists, counselors