Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A large faction of the population suffers from fatigue. They may have felt tired for quite a long time – chronically – but that is not what Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is. It is a medical diagnosis used to describe an amalgamation of symptoms where no definitive test has been established. It is generally associated with generalized muscle pain, exhaustion after minimal effort which can take hours or even days to recover from, flu-like feeling much of the time, and not just generalized tiredness, but extreme fatigue. Typically, it is accompanied by headaches, disturbed sleep, food sensitivities, joint pain and irritable bowel.

The problem with CFS is that the symptoms can mimic about 30 different other problems including problems with the immune system (which most say is at the root of CFS), neuromuscular diseases, gastro-intestinal disorders, hormonal imbalances, psychiatric disorders, rheumatic disorders and others. It is critical that other conditions are ruled out before diagnosing CFS. CFS and Fibromyalgia (FMS) have become catch-all diagnoses when the doctor can’t determine what is really wrong.  This clouds proper medical or health intervention that can help.

Post Exertional Malaise (PEM) is a relatively new term that has been associated with this group of mysterious symptoms (CFS, FMS). PEM is considered one of the symptoms of CFS and includes the symptom pattern of extreme fatigue, sore throat and/or swollen lymph glands after normal physical activity. Most of the time these activities, which were previously tolerated without incident, become symptomatic (PEM) either shortly after the activity or has a delayed response. Typically, the person will say “I did [such and such], so I’ll really pay the price tomorrow”. This is not to be associated with using a muscle group more than usual, such as working out at the gym, and getting normal post-exertional muscle soreness. PEM is extreme, often laying the person up for a day or more, unable to do normal daily activities.

From a conventional medicine standpoint, little is known about it, research is inconclusive, and there is no cure. However, practitioners using more natural medicine such as Naturopaths, Acupuncturists, Nutritionists, etc. have been effective in offering relief – both short term and permanent. Because they view the underlying issue as being nutritional, lifestyle and a defect in the body’s normal defense mechanisms in origin, their approach to treatment isn’t just to cover up the symptoms, but to get at the root of the problem and attack it from that standpoint. When the patient becomes an active participant in their health, making the necessary changes, seeing their practitioner according to his/her recommendations, the resolution of their health challenges becomes very real. Chronic fatigue – whether CFS or any fatigue – doesn’t have to be lived with. There is much that can be done. It is important to learn the causative factors – be it hormonal, immune, gastro-intestinal, nutritional or other. Then you can be armed with the tools to help in its resolution.

© 2010 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.

Dr. Holly Carling

Dr. Holly Carling

Dr. Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with nearly four decades of experience. Dr. Carling is a “Health Detective,” she looks beyond your symptom picture and investigates WHY you are experiencing your symptoms in the first place. Dr. Carling considers herself a “professional student” – she has attended more than 600 post-secondary education courses related to health and healing. Dr. Carling gives lectures here in the U.S. and internationally and has been noted as the “Doctor’s Doctor”. When other healthcare practitioners hit a roadblock when treating their patients nutritionally, Dr. Carling is who they call. Dr. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d’ Alene clinic.

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The information provided in this article or podcast should not be construed as personal medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken based solely on the contents of this article or podcast. Readers/listeners should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information and opinions provided here are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the author, but readers/listeners who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries.

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