More women than men are diagnosed with CFS. But, it isn't known for sure that this illness affects women more than men. Women may be more likely than men to talk to their doctors about symptoms like exhaustion and pain.


How would my health care provider know if I have CFS?

There has been much debate among CFS experts about a standard way to define CFS. This is because the cause for CFS is not known and there is no one standard symptom. Your health care provider will first do a physical exam and order any needed tests. She or he will rule out the presence of any other diseases or problems that may have CFS-like symptoms, such as multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus (autoimmune diseases). To be diagnosed with CFS, you must have severe chronic fatigue for 6 months or longer, with other medical conditions ruled out by a provider, and 4 or more of the symptoms bulleted out in the question "What are the signs of CFS" in this FAQ.


CFS treatment

Right now, there is no treatment that works to cure CFS. The good news is there are things you can do to feel better, increase the level at which you can function, and improve your quality of life.

Talking with your health care provider about treatments for your symptoms, along with ways to manage your fatigue, is a good place to start. And, building a good relationship with your provider is key to managing your illness over time. This will help you to talk more freely with your provider about your symptoms, which can improve the treatment of your illness. Keep in mind your provider may need to learn more about CFS to better help you. If you feel your provider doesn't know a lot about CFS or has doubts about whether it is a "real" illness, see another provider for a second opinion. Try a local university medical school or research center for help with finding providers with expertise in CFS.

Medications can work to relieve the symptoms of CFS. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or ibuprofin (Advil, Motrin, Alleve), can help with body aches, headaches, and muscle and joint pain but can cause induced gastrointestinal complications. While there is no proof these practices help, some people report temporary symptom relief.

Recent clinical studies have show that serrapeptase induces fibrinolytic, anti-inflammatory and anti-edemic (prevents swelling and fluid retention) activity in a number of tissues, and that its anti-inflammatory effects are superior to other proteolytic enzymes. Besides reducing inflammation, one of serrapeptase's most profound benefits is reduction of pain, due to its ability to block the release of pain-inducing amines from inflamed tissues. Physicians throughout Europe and Asia have recognized the anti-inflammatory and pain-blocking benefits of this naturally occurring substance and are using it in treatment as an alternative to salicylates, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs.

Drugs used to treat depression, or antidepressants, are sometimes used to treat CFS. This is because studies have found that people with fibromyalgia, an illness similar to CFS, get relief from taking these drugs. Some experts believe these drugs improve the quality of sleep, helping decrease fatigue with CFS. Two types of antidepressants are most often prescribed by providers - low-dose tricyclic antidepressants or the newer selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).


Coping with CFS

When you have CFS, learning how to pace yourself and manage or avoid physical and emotional stress is important. Physical activity helps you to feel better not just physically, but emotionally as well. Regular exercise can lessen body aches, joint and muscle pain, and increase energy. But, be careful not to over do it. Too much exercise can end up causing more fatigue. As you build up strength over time, you may be able to increase the intensity of your exercise program. Physical therapists and rehabilitation medicine specialists can help you develop an exercise program and a daily activity plan that won't be too stressful or something you can't handle.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a special treatment that can help you to change the way you think about your condition. It also helps you to develop ways to improve both your daily functioning and quality of life.

Yoga, stretching, and self-hypnosis are some alternative treatments that some people report help with CFS. Keep in mind that there are many alternative treatments, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies, it is essential that these supplements are certified by the FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) / Quality System (QS) Regulation.

Having an illness for which there is no cure can cause psychological stress and even depression for some people. It is normal to feel cranky, sad, angry, and frustrated with an illness that causes extreme fatigue and pain. Psychotherapy (sometimes called "talk therapy") can help you learn how to manage your feelings about this difficult illness. It may also be helpful to join a support group, where you can talk with other people who are going through the same thing.

A little unknown truth is that If a person becomes so disabled with CFS that they can no longer work, they can contact the Social Security Administration for help with disability benefits. There are two social security programs that have the same medical requirements for disability payments - the Social Security Disability Insurance Program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program. Your prior work history will determine if you can receive Social Security disability.

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