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Are you wondering how you get a chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis? Maybe you’re worried that you might have the condition yourself or that a loved one does. Or you might be curious about how doctors identify and treat chronic fatigue syndrome.
If so, you’re in luck, because the answer is fairly straightforward if not exactly simple. So let’s talk about what exactly chronic fatigue syndrome is, how you get a chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis, and how the condition is treated.
What Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?
Chronic fatigue syndrome is not very well understood on a number of levels. While we know that chronic fatigue syndrome causes, obviously, chronic fatigue, we don’t yet know why. Some doctors have speculated that the source of the condition might be in the immune system, suggesting that it is an autoimmune disorder.
An autoimmune disorder is a condition where the body’s immune system begins to attack the body because it thinks that a person’s own cells are actually an invading foreign cell. This produces conditions like celiac disease and psoriasis. It’s possible that this could explain the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Fatigue is common among autoimmune disorders.
And the fact that some of the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome include things like muscle pain and swollen lymph nodes suggests that there may be an immune system component as well. At the moment, there simply is no solid answer to what causes chronic fatigue syndrome.
But it is still possible to get a solid chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis
When a doctor attempts to make a chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis, there are a few things that they will look for. First, the most obvious sign is that the patient is consistently tired. Now, most people over the age of twelve can’t remember the last time they weren’t at least a little bit tired, but for people with chronic fatigue syndrome, it’s very different.
Their fatigue makes it difficult to carry out daily tasks or even to think clearly. It’s like no matter how much sleep they get the night before, they feel like they haven’t slept in days. Obviously, this makes living with the condition difficult, and it is this level of fatigue that doctors look for when making a chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis.
But the fatigue must also be chronic, which means it lasts for at least 3 to 6 months. This chronic fatigue is a sure sign that you may be suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, but there are a few other symptoms that will make the diagnosis a sure thing. And these are the symptoms we discussed earlier. People with chronic fatigue syndrome often manifest those physical signs like muscle pain and a sore or swollen throat.
These symptoms combined with the chronic fatigue are usually enough to make a solid diagnosis. The doctor will then try to rule out any other possible explanations before making their final diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.
What Should You Do After A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis?
If you’ve just been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, you will likely be somewhat confused. The lack of good information available about chronic fatigue syndrome means that finding out knowing what to do is sometimes tough.
As your doctor will likely tell you, the first step is learning how to manage your condition. The treatment options for chronic fatigue syndrome are usually things like antidepressants and lifestyle changes like maintaining a healthy diet and getting enough exercise. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome. So if you’ve just received a chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis, odds are good that, barring the later development of an effective cure, you will be managing this condition for the rest of you life.
That might sound daunting and it absolutely is. But the fact is that you aren’t alone. You can reach out to a wide network of people who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome and similar conditions all over the world. Just a few years ago this wasn’t the case. So take advantage of that extra web of connection.
Tell us in the comments if you’ve just been given a diagnosis and there’s a good chance that someone in the comments will be able to give you some advice or encouragement. So let us know, did you just get a chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis? Are you worried that you might have the condition? Have you been living with chronic fatigue syndrome? Post about it below. You’re not alone.
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