Treatment FAQ

what is chronic fatigue syndrome treatment

by Randy Gibson Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Medication

Jan 21, 2022 · Since there is no standard treatment for CFS/ME, people often consider alternatives to traditional medicine or use non-traditional treatments to complement their other medications. Commonly used alternative and complementary treatments 11 include: Mind-body treatments, like qigong, tai chi, and meditation Massage Homeopathy

Therapy

Self-care

Nutrition

What helped you with chronic fatigue syndrome?

How can I recover from chronic fatigue syndrome?

What is the best medication for chronic fatigue syndrome?

How to treat chronic fatigue syndrome quickly?

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Can chronic fatigue syndrome be cured?

There is no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome. Treatment focuses on symptom relief. The most disruptive or disabling symptoms should be addressed first.Sep 24, 2020

How do you cure chronic fatigue syndrome?

12 Diet Hacks to Reduce Chronic FatigueDitch inflammatory foods. ... Stay hydrated. ... Keep a food and symptom journal. ... Don't cut it all out. ... But do experiment with your diet. ... Limit your caffeine intake. ... Try smaller, more frequent meals. ... Pay attention to sugar.More items...

Do vitamins help chronic fatigue syndrome?

Oxidative stress in CFS is due to diminished antioxidant capacity and/or decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes. Treatment with a vitamin and mineral supplement could be a safe and easy way to improve symptoms and quality of life in patients with CFS.Jan 14, 2014

Is chronic fatigue syndrome a mental illness?

In 1991 UK psychiatrists redefined ME as chronic fatigue syndrome, under the Oxford Criteria, a somatoform psychiatric mental health disorder (4).May 24, 2012

How to help a patient with chronic illness?

Strategies that do not involve use of medications and might be helpful to some patients are: 1 Professional counseling: Talking with a therapist to help find strategies to cope with the illness and its impact on daily life and relationships. 2 Balanced diet. A balanced diet is important for everyone’s good health and would benefit a person with or without any chronic illness. 3 Nutritional supplements. Doctors might run tests to see if patients lack any important nutrients and might suggest supplements to try. Doctors and patients should talk about any risks and benefits of supplements, and consider any possible interactions that may occur with prescription medications. Follow-up tests to see if nutrient levels improve can help with treatment planning. 4 Complementary therapies. Therapies, like meditation, gentle massage, deep breathing, or relaxation therapy, might be helpful.

What to do if you have chronic pain?

Doctors may first recommend trying over-the-counter pain-relievers, like aceta minophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen. If these do not provide enough pain relief, patients may need to see a pain specialist. People with chronic pain, including those with ME/CFS, can benefit from counseling to learn new ways to deal with pain.

What does it mean when your heart beats too fast?

Weakness. Feeling like your heart is beating too fast or too hard, fluttering, or skipping a beat. For patients with these symptoms, their doctor will check their heart rate and blood pressure, and may recommend they see a specialist, like a cardiologist or neurologist.

How long does PEM last?

The symptoms typically get worse 12 to 48 hours after the activity or exposure and can last for days or even weeks.

Can ME/CFS cause sleepiness?

Patients with ME/CFS often feel less refreshed and restored after sleep than they did before they became ill. Common sleep complaints include difficulty falling or staying asleep, extreme sleepiness, intense and vivid dreaming, restless legs, and nighttime muscle spasms.

How to help with memory problems?

Memory aids , like organizers and calendars, can help with memory problems. For people with ME/CFS who have concentration problems, some doctors have prescribed stimulant medications, like those typically used to treat Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). While stimulants might help improve concentration for some patients with ME/CFS, they might lead to the ‘push-and-crash’ cycle and worsen symptoms. “Push-and-crash” cycles are when someone with ME/CFS is having a good day and tries to push to do more than they would normally attempt (do too much, crash, rest, start to feel a little better, do too much once again).

Can ME/CFS be treated?

Many patients with ME/CFS develop depression during their illness. When present, depression or anxiety should be treated. Although treating depression or anxiety can be helpful, it is not a cure for ME/CFS. Some people with ME/CFS might benefit from antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications.

What is the best way to reduce fatigue?

People also use it to attempt to reduce fatigue and increase energy. Massage, Reiki, and other bodywork: Gentle massage may help with relaxation, lowering anxiety and improving sleep. Qigong: This is a traditional Chinese practice to improve the movement of energy (qi or chi) through the body.

How to help someone with chronic illness?

You may benefit by seeking psychological counseling to help address the emotions and stress that come with having a chronic illness that greatly impacts your lifestyle. In addition to seeing a therapist, you may find attending a support group beneficial.

What is an antimicrobial?

"Antimicrobial" refers to a variety of drug types, including antivirals, antibiotics, antifungals, and antiprotozoals. Some researchers theorize chronic fatigue syndrome makes your body constantly act as if it's fighting an infection. 5  While no specific virus or bacteria has been linked conclusively to ME/CFS, some of the suspects include Epstein-Barr virus (which causes mononucleosis), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6, which causes roseola, and enteroviruses. 6 

What is it called when you have low blood pressure?

A form of low blood pressure called orthostatic intolerance is common in people with chronic fatigue syndrome. 10  It's caused by an abnormal interaction between the heart and the brain, even though both organs are normal and healthy.

Can you soak your feet in Epsom salts?

You can take a warm or cool bath or just soak your feet. Epsom salts added to bath water is a traditional folk remedy used by many.

Can antidepressants cause depression?

While antidepressants are a common treatment, it doesn't mean all people taking them are depressed or have a psychiatric condition. Many people with chronic fatigue syndrome are clinically depressed, but that's generally considered a result of the symptoms and change in lifestyle and not a cause of the illness itself.

What is it called when you push yourself on your good days?

Pushing yourself on your good days can result in crashing for the next few days, which is known as the "push-crash cycle ." 1  Learning to pace your activities may help you avoid this.

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Alternative Medicine

Preparing For Your Appointment

Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
There is no cure for CFS. Treatment aims at providing relief from symptoms.
Medication

Antidepressants: They are given to treat depression, and improve sleep.

Amitriptyline . Doxepin


Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): It is given for pain relief.

Naproxen . Ibuprofen


Anxiolytics: Used to treat anxiety.

Alprazolam . Lorazepam

Therapy

Cognitive behavior therapy:A professional counselor helps you improve your daily activities and lifestyle.

Graded exercise program:Increasing the exercise intensity and time gradually to get used to long-time activities.

Self-care

Always talk to your provider before starting anything.

  • Try relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation.
  • Maintain a regular regimen for the suggested exercises.
  • Limit caffeine intake to prevent insomnia.
  • Create a sleep routine.
  • Learn to manage physical and emotional stress.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals, legumes, poultry, fish, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products

Foods to avoid:

  • Processed, refined carbohydrates: e.g. white bread, crackers, cookies, cakes, soda

Specialist to consult

Psychologist
Specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the brain, emotional disturbance, and behaviour problems.
Primary care physician
Specializes in the acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health.

Home Remedies and Lifestyle

  • There's no single test to confirm a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. Symptoms can mimic those of many other health problems, including: 1. Sleep disorders.Chronic fatigue can be caused by sleep disorders. A sleep study can determine if your rest is being disturbed by disorders such …
See more on mayoclinic.org

Over-The-Counter Therapies

  • There is no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome. Treatment focuses on symptom relief. The most disruptive or disabling symptoms should be addressed first.
See more on mayoclinic.org

Prescriptions

  • Many alternative therapies have been promoted for chronic fatigue syndrome, but there's not much evidence that they work. Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome may be sensitive to medications, including herbal products and supplements. Treatments that are expensive or potentially harmful should be avoided.
See more on mayoclinic.org

Therapy

  • If you have signs and symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, you're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. It can be difficult to absorb all of the information provided during an appointment, so you might want to arrange for a friend or family member to accompany you. Having someone else hear the information can help you later in case there's something you …
See more on mayoclinic.org

Complementary Medicine

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