Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – CFS Part 1

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or CFS is a disease affecting millions around the world. Most cases of CFS are generally misdiagnosed, especially in countries like India. Most symptoms of CFS are also symptoms of Depression and Hypothyroid. However, there are some differences between the three, and it takes skill to diagnose CFS. One significant difference between depression and Chronic Fatigue is that a person suffering from depression usually feels better and more energetic if she starts to or is forced to go on a regular exercise routine. There are medicines which can treat Depression and Hypothyroid, but nothing for CFS. In Hypothyroid also simple hormone replacement therapy works well. In CFS this is not the case. Modern Medical science does not yet understand the cause of the disease, but whatever it may be, there is some physiological problem underlying the disease. I have been suffering from CFS for the past over 20 years. It was triggered after an acute attack of Tuberculosis of the lungs. I took full treatment and have recovered fully. However, there is something not definable by medical science which is still having a lingering affect. There is absolutely nothing that modern medical science can detect in any sort of examination or tests. However, my day to day functioning gets affected from time to time.

Usually my energy levels are the big concern. Such that I have an energy-dip from 9am to 3pm every day. At other times of the day or night my levels of energy are absolutely normal. I exercise two hours in the morning and function quiet normally for the rest of the day. In addition to the daily dip I sometimes get into a situation, such that simple things like shaving, taking a bath or just going out for a walk become extremely difficulty. It has taken me nearly 20 years to figure this pattern out. So my advice to anyone suffering from CFS or even suspect misdiagnosed depression is that you try to figure out your own energy pattern. Also, do not except people around you, friends and family especially, to understand what you are going through. Most of them will give you all sort of advice and will have no regard for your explanations or point of view, especially because very often even you will not be sure what is going on. It sure is difficult for anyone to understand that suddenly and for no reason you do not have the energy to do the most simple of things. If you have CSF you are alone and will have to fight it out on your own and probably for the rest of your life. However, like me, if you are able to figure it out, you will be psychologically better off, because you know what you are fighting, and also that you are not alone.

 
Your troubles however, do not end just by figuring out the problem. The big challenge is to design your professional and personal life around it.