The most striking thing about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is the way it affects your whole life. A previously active person can become lethargic to the point where even getting out of bed is a struggle.
Often, one will have a solid night’s sleep and still feel groggy, exhausted and sluggish throughout the next day, unable to feel energized no matter how much you rest.
Simple tasks become the focus of huge amounts of energy, and sufferers often need to change careers to find something less mentally or physically taxing. Extreme fatigue occurs after any physical and mental exertion.
The effect this can have on a person's self esteem and mental health is dramatic. Having such low energy and weariness can make life feel overwhelming, so many sufferers experience poor mental health and become depressed.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can cause severe exhaustion, body aches and even cramps. To some sufferers this physical exhaustion can be mild, but to others it can be so debilitating that they have to completely alter their lifestyle.
Mental exhaustion is another symptom. Sufferers often have difficulty concentrating and experience poor memory, brain fog and headaches.
You might not immediately associate it with CFS, but many sufferers experience digestive issues. These can include constipation, cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea and indigestion.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome can cause sensitivities to hot and cold weather, and sufferers often find it difficult to get comfortable. You may also experience sensitivities to loud noise, bright lights and odors.
If you find yourself waking up tired and irritable, or you're a frequent napper, this may be related to your CFS too.
Sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have problems staying in the deepest sleep stage, otherwise known as REM or dream sleep. They also tend to have high incidences of sleep apnea.
Other symptoms may include bruxism (teeth grinding) and insomnia.
Body aches and pains often occurring at the same time as physical exhaustion in sufferers of CFS. Headaches, muscle stiffness, involuntary twitching, burning and shooting pains are some of the general symptoms.
More specific areas that might be affected are the neck and the lymph nodes in your armpits. Some also report Cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder) and worse-than-usual Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).
