Chronic fatigue syndrome

Talk to your doctor about how you can temporarily relieve the flu-like symptoms of CFS with over- the -counter medicines and prescription treatments. He or she may recommend a short course of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen for muscle aches, joint pain and headaches. Deep massage, stretching and chiropractic treatment may also help minimise symptoms.

Treatments to improve sleep and energy levels are also available. Low doses of antidepressants such as amitriptyline, clomipramine and fluoxetine often improve patients’ quality of sleep and help relieve both fatigue and muscle pain. Patients with CFS often respond to lower doses of antidepressant medications than patients with depression. In fact, many CFS patients cannot tolerate the typical doses used to treat depression. It often takes several weeks for these drugs to produce benefits, so be patient and work with your doctor to find the one that is best for you.

Support groups can help by setting graded programmes of increasing physical activity, and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy helps the patient to reduce associated depression by teaching a new approach to how they perceive their illness.

Prognosis
Although CFS can persist for many years, long-term studies indicate that it generally is not a progressive illness. The symptoms usually are most severe in the first year or two. Thereafter, the symptoms typically stabilise and then persist chronically, wax and wane, or improve. Most patients partially recover, only a few fully recover, and others recover and relapse. Currently, an individual’s course of illness cannot be predicted. No long-term health risks have been associated with having CFS.

Help is available from:
The ME Association
4 Top Angel
Buckingham
MK18 1TH
Tel 01280 818968
www.meassociation.org.uk

Action for ME
Third Floor
Canningford House
38 Victoria Street
Bristol BS1 6BY
Tel 0845 123 2314
www.afme.org.uk