Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: 5 Signs That You Are Suffering From It

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a.k.a. Systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID), is a complicated disorder that makes a person extremely fatigued. The tiredness wouldn’t go away with rest or it cannot also be explained by an underlying medical condition as well.

There isn’t any single diagnostic test to confirm this condition. One might need several medical tests to rule out other health issues with similar signs and symptoms. Here are a few signs that you are suffering from CFS:

1. Loss of Memory or Concentration

Individuals suffering from CFS might feel like they are in a fog all the time. It is one of the most common symptoms of this condition. When sleep is disturbed and a person is heavily stressed out, they can experience memory loss and find it difficult to concentrate on everyday activities.

2. Enlarged Lymph Nodes in Neck or Armpits

People suffering from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia might have swollen lymph nodes. In most cases, these enlarged or swollen lymph nodes are likely to hurt.

3. Headaches

Headaches and migraines are common among individuals suffering from CFS and fibromyalgia. While in some cases doctors treat headaches as simply a symptom of the condition, some doctors even consider headaches as a comorbid condition. If you have been experiencing severe headaches for at least four months, which doesn’t improve with rest, it could be a sign of CFS.

4. Unexplained Muscle or Joint Pain

CFS patients suffer from joint pain for a minimum of five to six months alongside four other symptoms, including cognitive impairment, headaches, tender lymph nodes, etc. The joints might hurt without showing any signs of swelling or redness. Although the causes of these symptoms aren’t well understood, it can be managed efficiently via medication or physical therapy.

5. Unrefreshing Sleep

Individuals suffering from CFS face a wide range of sleep problems, including excessive daytime sleepiness and unrefreshing sleep (waking up feeling tired despite having slept for a sufficient amount of time). Some might even experience sleep disorders including sleep apnea, narcolepsy or insomnia.

People with this condition can be hypersensitive to normal physical activities and exercises. The cause of this condition remains unclear. While some might have a predisposition to the condition, some might be experiencing it as a result of certain potential triggers, including viral infections, hormonal imbalances, and immune system issues.