Chronic fatigue, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID), is a complex and serious long-term illness characterized by extreme and persistent fatigue that is not improved by rest. The fatigue is often worsened by physical or mental activity and other symptoms like muscle and joint pain, headaches, sore throat, enlarged lymph nodes, and cognitive dysfunction.
Diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS include:
The exact causes of ME/CFS are unknown but some hypotheses include:
There are currently no FDA-approved treatments specifically for ME/CFS. Treatment focuses on symptom management through medications, dietary changes, graded exercise programs, and pacing daily activities. Many patients do not fully recover.
If you struggle with persistent fatigue and other debilitating symptoms, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at Harmony Hormone Center(), which specializes in treatment of chronic illnesses. Our integrative medicine experts can run advanced testing to get to the root cause of your fatigue and craft a personalized treatment plan. We have helped many chronically ill patients finally reclaim their health and vitality!
I hope this overview on chronic fatigue syndrome helps provide more clarity on this complex illness that severely impacts day-to-day functioning and quality of life for many. Please let me know if you have any other questions!