If you’re always feeling particularly tired and can’t figure out why, your body may be desperately trying to fight off something without a chance in sight.
It’s not the kind of exhaustion you can get from spending the weekend sleeping in or even spending the entire week on the beach. It’s a deep muscle, debilitating type of fatigue that makes even getting out of bed feel impossible some days.
A depressing, overwhelming feeling of fatigue that leaves you feeling exhausted can be caused by a condition known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
What is chronic fatigue syndrome?
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a term intended to describe a complex syndrome that causes long-term, disabling, severe fatigue and exhaustion.
Most people with ME/CFS experience one or more symptoms such as muscle pain, joint pain, disturbed sleep, poor concentration and/or headaches. In severe cases, you may experience all of these.
What causes ME/CFS and how is it diagnosed?
As with many syndromes, there is no blood test to make an accurate diagnosis, and there is currently no reason to.
There are pressure point tests that you can take to assess your pain, which provide a strict measurement standard. If you respond to certain symptoms, you may have ME/CFS.
The medical community in Europe recognized it as a painful inflammation of the brain and spinal cord (which is basically the Latin word for myalgic encephalomyelitis). Again, however, this is another way of describing the cluster of pain rather than identifying the cause.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome When you suffer from debilitating chronic pain and fatigue, go to the doctor but everything has been tried and nothing shows up. Many doctors seem to think of it as an umbrella test that covers a variety of diseases and issues that all cause the same symptoms. There is much variation in the types and severity of symptoms that cause a person to feel chronic fatigue.
Basically, this syndrome is known only by eliminating all known possibilities.
So, when does chronic fatigue cross the line between being overworked, overstressed and close to burnout?
If you’re extremely tired and always wonder, “Why am I always so tired?” Here are 9 myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue symptoms to watch out for if you’re wondering.
Here are 9 subtle signs that you may have chronic fatigue syndrome:
1. It is very different from everyday fatigue (for example, after a week of work).
- It doesn’t get much easier on vacation.
- It is not due to fatigue or the like following excessive fatigue.
- It is not due to muscle weakness.
- It is not a lack of motivation or joy that occurs in depressed people.
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None of these, but either, can develop as a result of CFS/ME.
2. There is a sudden onset
Feeling like you’ve come down with the flu, but it never goes away. There are cases where it grows slowly, but a sudden onset is a huge red flag. This is one big reason why many believe it has a viral component.
3. There is a dull, aching pain in your muscles and joints.
A dull ache in the muscles or joints that does not go away and is unresponsive is another symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome. Non-migraines can be chronic headaches. The pain is often thought to be in the fascia, but it moves a lot and doesn’t seem to be related to muscle use.
4. You experience pain after exercise
This means that you are able to do something but can’t do it the next day. It may take several days to return to stability. Exercising worsens all symptoms.
5. You are mentally tired
Not only do your muscles feel tired, but your mind feels like it can’t turn on. Many say it’s different from brain fog or anxiety. The mind seems too tired to function.
6. Your intelligence is declining
You may experience poor concentration, short-term memory loss, reduced attention span, poor memory of recent events, difficulty planning or organizing your thoughts, difficulty finding the right words to say, and sometimes feeling confused. Often these abilities present a very different picture than the patient’s preoperative abilities.
7. You feel tired, but you can’t sleep
You are lying in bed and the pain keeps you awake. It’s like you don’t have the energy to sleep. When you sleep, you feel like you can’t wake up. Many suffer from sleep disorders. Sleep problems are not a cause of CFS/ME.
8. You have a frequent sore throat
This is often accompanied by tenderness in nearby lymph nodes. Sore throats seem to be cyclical rather than picking up another bug.
9. You have a racing heart or palpitations
Your heart rate may be irregular. But the test doesn’t show anything and the doctors can’t explain it.
If you are tired to the point of extreme fatigue and exhibit six or more of the above indicators, you need help.
It’s not just about overworking or needing a break.
To rule it all out, find a functional medicine doctor or naturopath who will do the diagnosis and then follow up with a holistic therapist for treatment.
Knowing what you have is helpful, but on the other hand, a diagnosis alone won’t make you feel better. But don’t fall into the trap of believing that this can’t be “cured”.
You’re not just tired, and the right care is there to help you.
Linda Easthouse He is a stress management coach, energy healer, radionics master, best-selling author, and founder of East House Natural Health.