ME/CFS is an extremely complex illness for which there remain many unanswered questions.
What is ME/CFS?
It is very common for people to have seen numerous healthcare professionals before receiving a diagnosis of ME/CFS. This is because ME/CFS is the name given for the syndrome of its multiple symptoms rather than its cause.
For a more detailed list of the symptoms of ME/CFS please refer to our symptom tracker.(Coming Soon)
As a result of the ambiguity surrounding this syndrome, many people have been given various diagnoses over the years such as depression, psychosomatic disorders (i.e. all in the mind) or no diagnosis at all.
Fortunately this distressing situation is beginning to change. ME/CFS is now recognised as an actual (organic) illness by the World Health Organisation, Department of Health and the Royal Colleges of Physicians, Psychiatrists and General Practitioners. Prompt accurate diagnosis still remains a challenge.
How common is it?
As a result of the historical controversy that exists with regard to whether ME/CFS is an organic disorder or all in the mind of its sufferers, the estimates of the incidence of ME/CFS vary enormously.
One thing for sure is that it affects many hundreds of thousands of patients, their carers and families.
What course do the symptoms take?
It is very reassuring to know that unlike other chronic illnesses, ME/CFS does not typically have a progressive downhill course of getting worse over time. Indeed, some people recover completely, although that can take a number of months or years.
In many cases, the start of the illness can be linked to a viral infection, an operation, accident or pregnancy. Others experience a slow, insidious onset.
There then follows a chronic phase with cyclical waxing and waning of symptoms and symptom severity. The degree of disability in these cycles can vary enormously. Sadly, in a minority of severe cases, there may not be such obvious cycles, rather a steadier debilitation.
This section provides a brief overview.
For a more detailed explanation we suggest you read
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Professor Basant K Puri
Living with M.E: The Chronic/Post-viral Fatigue Syndrome by Dr Charles Shepherd.
Also visit the various websites on ME/CFS charities and action groups as detailed in the Links section
ME/CFS is an extremely complex illness for which there remain many unanswered questions.