A Guide to Living With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
People who have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome [once referred to as neurasthenia] can sometimes see both positive and negative aspects of that determination.
For many, such as my wife, there is a feeling of relief at finally getting a diagnosis regarding the deterioration in their health and the difficulties they experience in life.
At the same time, however, they must face the fact that there is almost nothing they can do about their situation because a cure for CFS is yet to be discovered.
The good news is that there are medications, therapies,s and self-care techniques that a person can undergo or implement which can help substantially in relieving the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Here are a few simple suggestions.
Take charge of your sickness and do not let it take charge of you.
Chronic disorders and illnesses often demand a lot from patients attempting to control their symptoms. It can be difficult, but, the best course of action is to always take the lead in controlling the disorder. If you have spent months, or even years, suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome,you have likelye developed a sense of helpless and defeat as a result.
But, you cannot let CFS win.
Take control of your life and learn how to handle the disorder.
Look for simple, but effective, chronic fatigue syndrome solution options.
While you have many tools at your disposal, we are all different, and not all CFS treatments or techniques may work for you. While there is a general clinical definition of the disorder, there are various levels of severity of CFS and each person's response to their particular state is going to be unique.
So, if you think your prescribed medications are not doing you much good, for example, don't give up, but try to look elsewhere for relief of your chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms. There is a host oftreatmentst and therapies you can use which oftentimes go beyond conventional medicine.
While one person may require several different methods for overcoming their CFS, another may only require a little more activity and maybe a supplement which increases energy to break the self-fulfilling cycle of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Try to look for those small stepsthath can help you raise your energy and enjoyment of life to a higher level...even if it's just a small step.
Herbalists and alternative medicine therapists can help you uncover natural treatments that will help your disorder. Ask your doctor about using supplements to help boost energy and increase activity instead of taking antibiotics and pain relievers.
Ask a psychologist about therapies wthatfacilitate coping with your chronic fatigue syndrome. Don’t limit yourself to only pharmacological treatments, but experiment with various options and pick and choose those that seem to provide you the most benefits.
Take lessons from each day.
When you have chronic fatigue syndrome, you are lucky if you can go a whole day without feeling sick or experiencing the crashing fatigue associated with the condition.
To stay ahead of the condition, make note of your symptoms each day, and each part of the day, as well as your responses to treatments and therapies. A journal of your daily experience can help guide you on how to better manage your disorder.
Don't hand over treatment completely to others, but take ownership of your healthcare.
When it comes to facilitating the planning and delivery of healthcare services for yourself you should be the first responder. If what your doctor gives you does not work, do some more research on your own or find someone else who can help you.
Don’t ever be afraid to get second, or even third opinions, from doctors who are experts in immune system dysfunction. Not all doctors are versed in the detection and treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Unfortunately, some doctors, feel that chronic fatigue syndrome is not even "real", but is all it the sufferer's head!
However, there are many aspects to CFS...some physical, some mental, some virtually undetectable. It will be an ongoing battle. If you don’t respond well to conventional medicine, find other treatments.
Last, but certainly NOT least, move your body.
Whatever it takes, it is a fact that for most patients, the idea of doing some physical activities seems impossible and unthinkable. Even so, recent studies have shown that even the most minor physical activities can increase energy and improve health, so try getting some regular exercise.
You might want to try graded exercise therapy, for example.
According to recent studies, this therapy improves the physical energy and capacity of an individual with chronic fatigue syndrome.
While exercise therapy is difficult for the first few months, the first few years even for some people, it is always eventually worth the effort. In time, with a little activity done each day, the body will begin to regain the strength and vigor that once were available to itbeforeo the chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms.
