ME & Chronic Fatigue

CFS/ME is a condition of long-term disabling tiredness (fatigue). Most people with CFS/ME also have one or more other symptoms such as muscular pains, joint pains, disturbed sleep patterns, poor concentration, headaches, etc. The cause is not known.

Conventional treatments offered are usually a programme of graded exercise, cognitive behaviour therapy, and 'pacing'. However it has been shown that these conditions can respond extremely well to high quality diet and supplements, indeed the woman who trained me successfully treated her own severe ME using diet 15 years ago and set about sharing with as many people as possible the health benefits of excellent diet.

There is controversy about the nature of this condition. There is no test to diagnose the condition. The diagnosis is made in people who have a certain set of symptoms (which can vary in their type and severity).

The onset of symptoms can be fairly sudden (over a few days or so), or more gradual. The most common main symptom is persistent fatigue (tiredness) that is often made worse by activity. This is called 'post-exertional malaise'. However, the post-exertional malaise may not develop for several hours or more following the activity. It may even develop on the following day.

In addition to fatigue, the following symptoms are common:

• Mental ('cognitive') difficulties such poor concentration, reduced attention span, poor memory for recent events, difficulty to plan or organise your thoughts, difficulty 'finding the right words' to say, sometimes feeling disorientated.
• Sleeping difficulties. For example, early waking, unable to sleep, too much sleep, disrupted sleep/wake patterns.
• Pains - most commonly muscular pains (myalgia), joint pains, and headaches.
• Recurring sore throat often with tenderness of the nearby lymph glands.
• Intolerances and sensitivities to foods, alcohol, noise and bright light.
• Gut symptoms similar to those that occur in 'irritable bowel syndrome'. For example, excess, wind, bloating, alternating diarrhoea and constipation, abdominal pains, nausea (feeling sick).
• A range of other symptoms have been reported in some cases such as dizziness, excess sweating, difficulties with balance, and disordered temperature control of the body.

To find out how diet can help you recover from ME/CFS either use the Ask a Question form on the right, call 01234 271506, or click the button below: