What is CFS?

Persistent debilitating fatigue of recent onset, with greatly reduced physical activity and some combination of muscle weakness, sore throat, mild fever, tender lymph nodes, headaches, and depression, not attributable to any other known causes; it is of controversial etiology."

Also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and various other names, CFS is a syndrome (or group of syndromes) of unknown and possibly multiple etiologies, affecting the central nervous system (CNS), immune system, and many other systems and organs of the body. There is no simple diagnostic test; CFS is a diagnosis of exclusion, although recent research indicates biological hallmarks of the syndrome, and a diagnostic test is predicted soon.

Who gets CFS?

CFS occurs more often, but not exclusively, in women, possibly due to immunological factors or hormonal changes. CFS/ME is most easily diagnosed when formerly active adults become ill, but it has been reported in persons of all ages, including young children and particularly teenagers.

Does stress make CFS ?

Yes, too much stress can cause additional problems for people with FM/CFS/ME. It is often listed as a factor in causing flares. Most specialists recommend minimizing stress.

If you have ongoing problems with depression or anxiety, consider seeking help for them from your family doctor or a psychiatrist. Anxiety and depression may arise as symptoms of Fibromyalgia and in turn cause insomnia, leading to worsening of the underlying problem. Relaxation techniques or a chronic pain program can also help lower your stress level.

Is CFS contagious?

To date, there is no published evidence that CFS/ME is contagious or transmissible from person to person. Contagious diseases tend to appear in clusters, but the overwhelming majority of CFS/ME cases appear sporadically. Furthermore, large studies conducted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have found no increased risk for CFS among the other members of households that have a person with CFS.

Can CFS be cured?

There is no cure for CFS at this time. In fact, there is no treatment for CFS/ME, only treatments for the symptoms of CFS, such as headaches, sore throats or sleep problems. Some patients partially recover; a few may fully recover, while others may find their symptoms get worse. Others experience periodic Relapses. Since little is known about the cause and progression of CFS/ME, the course of your individual illness cannot be predicted. It is important to realize that people with CFS/ME can be helped with appropriate treatment.

How long can CFS last?

People with CFS may improve after a few months, or after many years, or never at all. They may reach a plateau at some constant level of health, or may progressively decline. Often, the symptoms change over time, or cycle irregularly. Relapses are common, especially after stressful life events or additional illness. Exertion can cause not merely a relapse, but a worsening of overall health. Undiagnosed cases of CFS/ME often worsen as the sufferer attempts to return to a 'normal' level of activity, only to make their condition worse through exertion.

Of those CFS/ME patients moderately to severely affected, many may expect to remain so for an indeterminate period, even for the duration of their life. It is not known whether any patients truly "recover" entirely from the illness, or merely recuperate enough to regain previous levels of activity.

CFS can prove to be fatal, as in the case in the UK of Sophia Mirza, where the coroner recorded a verdict of "Acute anuric renal failure due to dehydration arising as a result of CFS". The pathologist said,

It should be noted that inflammation of the 'muscles' is erroneous, as opposed to the central nervous system inflammation, as this has never been a criteria for a ME diagnosis. CFS has been linked to heart damage and cardiac arrest among other causes of death; research has not yet progressed to determine whether this is in fact the case, and some patients die from co-morbid diseases. To date there is one study on CFS life expectancy.