Chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis is classified as a rare disease and remains little known in France. The WHO has recognized this disease since 1993. The diagnosis requires a certain number of steps and meets strict criteria relating to the definition of chronic fatigue syndrome.
How to detect chronic fatigue syndrome ?
Myalgic encephalomyelitis is a chronic and complex disease characterized by recurrent and persistent fatigue aggravated by physical and mental exercise, associated with cognitive symptoms and diffuse musculoskeletal pain, which lasts for more than 6 months. This syndrome is at the origin of a marked repercussion. However, its existence remains controversial. Chronic fatigue syndrome has long been equated with a neurotic or anxio-depressive disorder.
People with chronic fatigue syndrome often see dozens of doctors before a diagnosis is made. Without this diagnosis, the patient remains alone in the face of the disease and its painful symptoms and is not recognized by anyone: doctors, employer, social services, insurance, family and friends. This, in addition to the lack of appropriate treatment, can have catastrophic work and family consequences, with the risk of major depression in the long run.
What are the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome ?
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Disabling fatigue:
This persistent fatigue is not due to the current exertion, nor is it really relieved by rest. Fatigue was not present before, and significantly reduced activity levels.
- Sleep disorders:
Unrestful sleep is often accompanied by a disturbed circadian rhythm.
- Mood disorders:
These disorders can include emotional sensitivity, emotional lability (unstable or exaggerated emotion) and irritability.
- Discomfort after exercise:
Too much physical or mental effort can indeed worsen the symptoms. It appears right after exercise, sometimes several hours or days later. Unfortunately, this state can last for days or weeks.
- Abdominal pain:
These pains are felt in the intestine and / or colon and can therefore cause diarrhea.
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Neurological and cognitive difficulties:
These disorders include loss of short-term memory, difficulty concentrating, impaired ability to find words, disorientation, sensory disturbances (sight, hearing, touch), hypersensitivity to light, noise, emotional overload, confusion, slowness of thought, problems with balance, muscle weakness and impaired coordination of movements.
- Orthostatic intolerance:
An upright posture (standing) can create symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, nausea, dramatically increased heart rate, sweating, dizziness, low blood pressure, and sometimes fainting.
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Pain:
These pains also affect the muscles and / or the joints, they are often scattered and migrating (pain, weakness, tingling). One can often observe severe headaches.
- Problems of the autonomic, neuroendocrine and immune nervous systems:
- Autonomous nervous:
Hypotension or tachycardia at change of position; fear of heights ; extreme pallor; palpitations; dyspnea on exertion; frequent urination; irritable bowel or bowel syndrome; nausea …
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- Neuroendocrine:
Low body temperature; cold ends; sweating; intolerance to hot or cold; reduced stress tolerance; worsening of other stress symptoms; weight change; abnormal appetite …
- Immune:
Recurrent flu symptoms; sore throat ; tenderness of lymph nodes; fever; new intolerances or allergies (food, drugs, odors, chemicals) …
What about long-term fever? ?
Very often, young women referred for consultation or hospitalization for long-term fever are in fact carriers of a chronic asthenia syndrome without a fever that can really be assessed. One of the reasons for this is that it is easier to get an appointment for hospitalization or consultation for a long-term fever than for simple fatigue or a polyalgic syndrome of not very organic appearance. The second reason, more serious, is that the fever is part of the daily life of the tired: it is in fact a sensation of heat felt after a moderate effort, such as for example the fact of go shopping. This impression causes the temperature to be taken immediately, which is then between 37 ° 5 and 38 ° 5.
Some doctors consider that this feverishness is sufficiently objective so that we can speak of autonomic thermal dysregulation.
When this syndrome of asthenia with feverishness occurs and recurs every winter, it is possible to bring it closer to the circadian rhythm which would be sensitive to phototherapy.
Fatigue with feverishness must therefore be a disease that is certainly sometimes very debilitating but affects young and healthy subjects, without very significant medical history.
More than 30 years after its individualization, chronic fatigue syndrome suggests a multifactorial origin with triggering (infections) and maintenance (psychological) factors and the persistence of inflammatory abnormalities (low noise inflammation, microglial and astrocytic activation) , immune (decrease in NK lymphocytes, abnormal production of cytokines, reactivity to various allergens, role of estrogens) and muscular (mitochondrial dysfunction and lack of bioenergetic performance) at the origin of multiple dysfunctions (endocrine, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, digestive).
Some naturopathic tips to better manage the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome on a daily basis :
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Naturopathic psychotherapy :
Learning to manage your energy wisely and redefine your stress limits so that they are no longer exceeded is one of the first steps in a holistic approach to this condition. If one learns to align with the extremely weakened body and accepts the rapid onset of exhaustion, other symptoms like muscle and joint pain, often due to an overload reaction, improve. often.
Rest, reducing all physical activity, and avoiding stress are ultimately important in pain or the acute phase.
Under no circumstances should deep work be undertaken in the acute phase, as there is simply not enough strength to do it. Therapy sessions should be short, perhaps only 20-30 minutes. Breaks should be deliberately sought within sessions with the option of lying down. The intervals between sessions may be longer than usual, two to three weeks apart is quite sufficient. Too frequent and too long therapy sessions are contraindicated in this clinical picture.
As part of therapy, it should always be to calm the autonomic nervous system. Calming exercises could in particular be offered (relaxation exercises, breathing exercises, selected music, careful massage, meditation, etc.).
In general, it is advisable to always stay a little below the possible stress limits. Psychotherapeutic-oriented support can help establish a healing space in which it is possible to help stabilize the disease and improve symptoms. Self-healing forces naturally unfold in an attitude of calm, acceptance, patience, and trust.
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Physical exercise or qigong :
It appears that such therapy could help manage symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome by allowing physical activity to be gradually reintroduced into daily life. These therapies are, for the most part, based on aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming, cycling or dancing; but others are anaerobic exercise.
Food side :
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Favor starchy foods, as well as fruits and vegetables:
The former provide lots of complex carbohydrates, while fruits and vegetables provide the carbohydrates and vitamins needed for energy and resistance to infection.
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Zinc and vitamin C to strengthen the immune system :
For the immune system to work well, eat foods rich in zinc and vitamin C.
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More essential fatty acids:
Among the symptoms of this condition, the lymph nodes and inflammation of the joints will be relieved, at least temporarily, by the consumption of foods rich in essential fatty acids.
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More magnesium :
A surplus of magnesium, participating in the contraction and relaxation of muscles, could relieve muscle pain related to this pathology.
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More salt :
Hypotension promotes fatigue in people prone to chronic fatigue syndrome. In general, blood pressure rises a little during times of stress or physical activity, but in some people it remains constant or falls, causing fatigue. It could be salt resistance; in this case, subjects should take more salt to raise their blood pressure. Some patients with chronic fatigue syndrome do eat a low sodium diet, which could explain their hypotension and fatigue. The symptoms lessened when they increased their intake of salty food.
