Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) : FAQ, Part 2

by Women's Health Information Center

(Page 2 of 2)

How is CFS treated?

Right now, there is no cure for CFS. But there are things you can do to feel better. Talk to your doctor about ways to ease your symptoms and deal with your tiredness. You might also try these:

Lifestyle changes:

Try to stop or do less of the things that seem to trigger your tiredness. For a week or two, write down what you do each day and note when you feel really tired. Then, look over this list to find out which activities tend to tire you out. An occupational therapist can help you by looking at your daily habits and suggesting changes to help you save energy. Your doctor can help you find an occupational therapist near where you live.

Regular exercise can lessen body aches and joint and muscle pain and increase your energy level. Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting an exercise plan. Your doctor can help you create a plan that is right for you. Don't exercise too much. Too much exercise can cause more tiredness.

Medications:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers such as Advil, Motrin, or Aleve can help with body aches, headaches, and muscle and joint pain.
• Nondrowsy antihistamines can help with allergy symptoms, such as runny nose and itchy eyes.
• Antidepressants can help improve sleep and ease pain.

Some people say their CFS symptoms get better with complementary or alternative treatments, such as massage, acupuncture, chiropractic care, yoga, stretching, or self-hypnosis. Keep in mind that many alternative treatments, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies claim to cure CFS, but they might do more harm than good. Talk to your doctor before seeing someone else for treatment or before trying alternative therapies.

Also, keep in mind that your doctor may need to learn more about CFS to better help you. If you feel your doctor doesn't know a lot about CFS or has doubts about it being a "real" illness, see another doctor for a second opinion. Contact a local university medical school or research center for help finding a doctor who treats people with CFS.

What can I do to cope with CFS?

It's normal to feel cranky, sad, angry, or upset when you have an illness like CFS. Here are some things you can do that may help you to feel better:

See the "For more information..." section at the end of this FAQ for a list of organizations that can help you cope with CFS.

Talk therapy can help you learn how to deal with your feelings.

Join a CFS support group. Sometimes it helps to talk with people who are going through the same thing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed guidelines to help you find a good CFS support group. Also see the "For more information..." section at the end of this FAQ for a list of organizations that can help you find CFS support groups.

What is the latest research on CFS?

Both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) fund CFS studies. Today, we have a much better understanding of CFS, but researchers are still searching for the cause(s). They also are looking for ways to prevent CFS and for the best ways to ease CFS symptoms. In time, research findings will be used to develop a cure for CFS.

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