Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) both describe a profoundly disabling condition in which sufferers experience a marked difficulty in carrying out effort-related tasks. A broad and varying range of symptoms (link to symptoms below) only adds to the confusion that already surrounds medical use of the term fatigue.
Chronic fatigue is a major health problem, with over 17 million sufferers worldwide and as many as 250,000 in the UK alone. It affects people of all ages, including children, though the commonest age of onset is between the early twenties to mid-forties and it is diagnosed about twice as often in women compared to men.
What is fatigue?
In the healthy population the feeling of physical tiredness is a normal response proportionate to the amount of effort exerted. Recovery follows with rest or after a short period of time; indeed, repeated exercise will normally improve strength, fitness and stamina. However, this is not the case for people suffering from chronic fatigue, where activity does not lead to adaption and improvement in strength, but quite the reverse. In their case, sustained activity leads to greater fatigue, though often with a delay of onset from hours to days between the two.
What are the symptoms?
There is no definitive list of symptoms in these conditions, but they commonly include:
- debilitating fatigue
- muscle pain, with or without exertion
- headaches
- sore throats & swollen or tender lymph glands (small swellings under the skin which are part of the immune system) in the neck region or under the armpits
- sleep difficulties/ disordered sleep patterns
- gastrointestinal/digestive disturbances
- poor memory and concentration
- depression, anxiety, panic attacks
- weakness & dizziness, pins & needles
- frequent viral infections, post viral fatigue
- prolonged fatigue after exercise
Doctors diagnose chronic fatigue by excluding other disorders that could account for the patient's symptoms. It can therefore take a considerable amount of time before a diagnosis is given and there is no specific test that can be conducted to make the diagnosis. There is much overlap between the symptoms of ME, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, and consequently each case needs to be assessed and addressed on an individual basis.
Difficulties experienced in getting better
When people begin to experience chronic fatigue problems they often begin an arduous search for answers. In many cases that search takes them down a long road of doctors appointments, specialist clinics and a whole host of complementary healthcare therapists. This journey, which may take years, often feels like it is taken alone as there is no one recognised route to recovery and nor are the conditions well understood. In many cases sufferers are given coping methods for managing their symptoms rather than being supported in working towards full recovery.
Why should I come to Energy Equation for support in my recovery?
Our commitment to help recovery stems from personal experience; Rachel has suffered from chronic fatigue herself and Jenny grew up with a mother with ME, so we both have first-hand, day-to-day experience of the utterly debilitating and painful nature of these conditions. Today however, we are delighted to work alongside many former sufferers who have also achieved full recovery, and our desire to specialise in this area is informed by the firm belief and knowledge that, with the right support, recovery is possible.
Using The 6 Phases of Recovery Model, we help you identify where you are and how you got there and how to get back to a healthy state. We then manage that process for you step by step.
We are nutritional therapists, also trained and accredited by Chrysalis Effect, an organisation established to support recovery from ME/CFS and fibromyalgia. Being part of a nationwide network of Chrysalis Effect therapists means we are able to call on a vast array of specialist knowledge outside of our own and make referrals if required. This might include acupuncture, pain therapy, hypnotherapy, EFT, massage and meditation or even specific counselling, to name a few.
We use the Chrysalis Effect online recovery programme, which has been specifically designed for sufferers of ME & CFS. This is a supported weekly coaching programme you can access 24 hours a day. As wellbeing coaches we facilitate your goal setting in order to achieve the small steps needed for recovery
What are the costs?
