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New Findings About Chronic Fatigue By Kyle Roderick ThirdAge StaffChronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) goes by a lot of names: chronic fatigue syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis. Sometimes it's called the "yuppie flu." Researchers now believe it afflicts a much wider population.
CFIDS is most common among people ages 40 to 59, and as many as 800,000 people nationwide may suffer from the illness, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
"This figure is significant as it is twice the number previously estimated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," says Peter Wolfe, M.D., a Los Angeles infectious disease specialist and associate professor of medicine at UCLA.
CFIDS was once thought to be a rare condition afflicting mostly white, upper middle class professionals. Researchers in Chicago found the highest levels of the illness among minority groups and individuals with less education and occupational status, such as blue-collar workers. The study estimates that 422 out of every 100,000 adults has CFIDS.
Debilitating fatigue is the primary symptom of CFIDS. Bed rest doesn't help. Physical or mental activity may make it worse. Other symptoms include impairment of short-term memory or concentration, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, muscle and joint pain and headaches.
CFIDS patients function at markedly lower levels than before onset of the illness. Many are unable to work, attend school or care for themselves or family members. The illness is further baffling in that some patients experience periods of remission, during which they can return to normal activities.
The cause of CFIDS is not clear, though scientific evidence points to an underlying biological disorder involving the brain and immune system. There is no diagnostic test for the illness, and no cure.
Some patients benefit from immunoglobulin and other immunologic therapies, nutritional supplements or various prescription drugs. The CDC advises that people with CFIDS work with a physician to create an individualized treatment plan. You'll find tips on Choosing a Doctor at the CFIDS Association of America.
-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001
I've read that it sometimes disappears after about ten years. I have about four more to go.
-- Anonymous, July 03, 2001
boy, I hope you are right....does it just go away the same way it just suddenly appeared? I hope you are not joking.....I swear I woke up one mony and POOF I had it...I was diagnosed with Fribromialgia, and CFS is part of it.
-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001
I was too tired to read this article.
-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001
SAR, from what I understand, it just goes away. My older brother in England, whose illness was called by the myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) name, had it for about ten years and it seems to have gone. BTW, he was very athletic, running marathons and playing semi-professional soccer.CFS came on fairly gradually for me and then was exacerbated by high blood sugar and/or the medications, don't know. My mother had it and one of my father's sisters has it so I get it from both sides of the family. Of course we didn't know what it was, just figured they slept a lot, maybe narcolepsy.
My aunt's CFS was terrible. She fell asleep looking in shop windows and riding her bike. Whenever we had family gatherings, it wouldn't be long before she was in a chair, snoring her head off.
The main thing to remember is if you feel tired, quit what you're doing as soon as possible and take a nap. The more you push it, the worse you will feel and you will have to sleep far longer to compensate.
Illness and stress make CFS worse. When my arm was infected I was sleeping probably 16-20 hours a day, all told. I'd like to see a specialist about it but I get sick and tired (lol) of seeing doctors.
-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001