The Symptoms of and Medication for Chronic Fatigue

Some physicians may think its depression, some may think it is caused by other matters. It could, in fact, be chronic fatigue syndrome.

If you’ve ever had a day where you just can’t seem to wake up, function, and get into your daily activities, you may have had a poor night’s sleep.

When this becomes a recurring problem, day in and day out, it could be a sign of other issues. Unfortunately, always being tired is a hard thing to diagnose.

Continue reading for symptoms and to find out about medication for chronic fatigue.

Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

As if being exhausted all the time wasn’t bad enough, you may be dealing with some other symptoms that are related to this condition. Oftentimes, a diagnosis is difficult to make but keeping track of these signs may aid your doctor in his identification of your problem.

Pain is a common symptom for sufferers of CFS. Muscle and joint pain are run of the mill, but patients may also experience headaches and sore throats.

Lymph nodes can become swollen and tender to the touch which sometimes can cause a differing diagnosis. Memory can also be affected as well as aggravation occurring when physical or mental exertion is required.

Obviously, with CFS, you feel run down quite often. But once again, it can’t be solved by a long nap. These symptoms and the fatigue will last at least 6 months or longer and can only be diagnosed by a medical professional.

Causes of CFS

The root cause of chronic fatigue is unknown but there are many schools of thought on it. Some believe it is due to a problem with the immune system, others believe it to be viral or hormonal and some think it to be psychological.

Doctors who believe this syndrome is caused by a compromised immune system think this way because many patients diagnosed also seem to be immuno-impaired.

People that have had certain viruses also seem to be more prone to chronic fatigue but there has yet to be a conclusive study.

Some scientists and doctors have also seen that hormonal imbalances from the pituitary, hypothalamus, and adrenal glands could also have an effect on the level of fatigue. It is still unknown how much these imbalances affect this condition.

Psychologically speaking, CFS can present quite similarly to depression and anxiety. Many times this can lead to a misdiagnosis for a period and inadvertently lead to the correct one.

Correct Diagnosis & Treatment

When seeking help for this illness, your doctor may run a battery of tests including blood and urine. He should also review your medical files and history to find any other underlying causes for the fatigue.

While waiting for your diagnosis, there may be some aggravation because of the pain and tiredness. It’s okay to ask your doctor if there is anything to be done in the meantime.

It’s important that you don’t start taking herbal remedies or supplements without medical supervision or approval. In the event that your condition is not CFS, these could make things worse or present with nasty side effects

At-Risk Populations

Chronic fatigue syndrome is far more prevalent in women than in men. Women are more prone to hormonal issues than men, and this could link back to hormones causing CFS.

However, chronic fatigue syndrome is not specific to women–men can have this problem too. This means that high stress and high levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) may be correlated with this condition.

Age is another factor in chronic fatigue. Older adults are more likely to be diagnosed with CFS than younger adults, teens, and children.

As much as psychological factors may be the cause of chronic fatigue, they also may put you at risk for it. Conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD all have been thought to be associated with CFS.

Medication for Chronic Fatigue

The biggest question on your mind is probably how you can FIX this syndrome. There is some good news for you: CFS is a medically treatable condition.

Oftentimes, antidepressants will be prescribed to help with energy levels and to offer support to any mental issue that may be present. A number of other drugs may be given for different symptoms.

These may include anti-anxiety or sleep aids to help you rest better, and pain pills to help you deal with the aches and pains of CFS.

Natural Remedies

Finally, if you have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, it may be wise to explore non-medicinal treatment (of course with permission from your doctor.)

A few of these holistic remedies include bananas, maca (which is a plant root,) an herbal supplements from the bark of the pau d’arco tree, and even plankton.

Vitamin D is also called the sunshine vitamin–getting an extra dose of sunlight may help you feel better rested. It also helps lessen the severity of depression, which may tie into CFS.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re diagnosed with CFS or not, feeling exhausted and achy all the time is not fun. The best thing anyone could do for this or something with similar symptoms is to take care of themselves.

Taking care of yourself means limiting alcohol and caffeine, and not smoking. Eating plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables is a must, as is getting adequate exercise. Drinking plenty of water won’t hurt, either.

Putting it simply, maintaining a healthy weight is important to combat CFS.

The idea of taking medication for chronic fatigue may not be appealing to everyone. Always keep in mind that your doctor only is doing what they feel is best. If your body adjusts to the medicine and you still don’t like it, your medical professional will help change your medicine until you’re satisfied.

Though the cause of CFS is unknown and the diagnosis difficult to make, it absolutely can be treated. It can be frustrating getting to the bottom of your symptoms, and if you’re tired of guesswork, book an appointment!

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