◦ Tender cervical or axillary nodes
◦ Muscle pain
◦ Multi-joint pain without redness or swelling
◦ Headaches of a new pattern or severity
◦ Unrefreshing sleep
◦ Post-exertional malaise lasting over 24 hours
CFS is a very individual disease, with a varied set of symptoms and individual response to different therapy options. There are no diagnostic lab tests that can diagnose CFS, and it typically remains a diagnosis based on exclusion - ruling out all other options based on the pattern of symptoms and signs.
Because of this, how you describe your symptoms will often drive your treatment plan, and addressing symptoms accurately and specifically is essential in aiding your healthcare provider with understanding your symptoms. For example, when discussing your fatigue, be sure to specify when you’re having fatigue. A doctor may ask about your sleep and whether you have sleep interruptions, when you could be speaking about general daytime energy. Treatments for those two symptoms are very different.
Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Because there is still much to be learned about the cause and effects of CFS, most treatments deal with the symptoms of the disease. Among them:
● Antidepressants and benzodiazepines: Although not everyone with CFS is depressed, some antidepressants can help ease some of the debilitating symptoms of the disease, including fatigue, pain, and disrupted sleep.