If you feel dizzy or weak while sitting or standing, you can try wearing pressure stockings or putting your feet up.
Think about how much energy you have on a given day and try not to "spend" more than you have.
Me cfs how to#
For symptoms that are worse after activity (also called post-exertional malaise), learn how to manage your activity.
There are some things you can do to treat the most common symptoms. So the keys to living with ME/CFS are learning how to pace your activities and treating your symptoms.
Feeling dizzy or faint while standing or sitting upright that gets better when you lie down (orthostatic intolerance).ĭoctors may also use a variety of tests to confirm a diagnosis or to rule out other conditions.
Problems with concentration, short-term memory, or using the correct word (cognitive impairment).
You must also have one or more of these symptoms:
Not caused by being active for a long period of time.
New or has not been a life-long problem.
Sleep problems, including not feeling rested after sleeping (unrefreshed sleep).
Worsening of symptoms after being mentally or physically active (post-exertional malaise).
Major decrease in your ability to do the things you did before you got sick-including work, school, social, or personal activities-that has continued for more than 6 months.
To be diagnosed with ME/CFS, you must have all of these symptoms: footnote 1
You may also have headaches, muscle and joint pain, a sore throat, and tender glands in your neck or armpits.ĭepression is common with ME/CFS, and it can make your other symptoms worse.
You may feel dizzy, weak, or in more pain when you have been standing or sitting upright for a long time.
It may be harder for you to think clearly, concentrate, and remember things.
Or you may wake up feeling tired or not rested. And it may take days, weeks, or more to feel better. There may be a day or two delay before it starts.
Your symptoms often flare up after a mental or physical activity that used to be no problem for you.
You feel exhausted all or much of the time.
It's likely that a number of factors or triggers come together to cause ME/CFS. And changes in a person's immune system may also play a role. High stress may also lead to ME/CFS for some people. It seems to follow after a flu-like illness. What causes it?ĭoctors don't know what causes ME/CFS. You may have other symptoms like problems with thinking. Any kind of activity often makes your symptoms worse. Sleeping problems occur along with extreme fatigue that doesn't get better with rest. Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a disease that causes you to feel so ill that you can't do your normal activities. Condition Basics What is myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)?