Feeling tired all the time? Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (The Facts)

Over the past decade, GPs have had to deal with increasing numbers of patients with a complaint for which there is no known cure: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Here two authors, one who has CFS, the other a doctor who has spent years helping sufferers, have combined their experiences to offer hope to the permanently exhausted.

An overactive or striving lifestyle, with inadequate time for rest and reflection over a long period is one possible trigger. A virus infection may act as a trigger in some people. A severe emotional upset or some other kind of trauma may be a cause in others. It could also be a combination of these things. You may well have found that doing nothing for a day or two makes you feel better, and believe that more rest is the answer. There is a real danger in people with chronic fatigue making themselves worse by becoming too inactive. Prolonged inactivity, even in fit people, can itself cause fatigue and make it harder to do anything. Spending a lot of time in bed or just sitting can make you feel weak and worsen pain.

It really will help your body if you can keep it moving, even if all you can manage is a small amount at intervals throughout the day. Little and often works well. The best forms of exercise for someone with chronic fatigue are bending, stretching, walking, swimming and cycling and alternating periods of activity, both physical and mental, with periods of good-quality rest. Your aim should be to stop before you become exhausted. Sticking to a consistent pattern of physical and mental activities, both during the day and over a week, is one of the best things you can do to give yourself more energy. Plan a programme for yourself and make sure it includes things that give you pleasure as well as necessary chores.

Why do you need to be so hard on yourself? It is possible to get as much satisfaction and pleasure by doing something you want to do in a different way. Spending an evening with friends, for example, can be just as enjoyable if you order a takeaway meal rather than preparing all the food yourself. If you still find it hard to stop being a perfectionist, try telling yourself that your pacing programme and getting better are your priority and concentrate on doing that in the best way you can.