"I Get Tired, Too" - Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

When you tell someone you have chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS), how often does he or she look blandly back at you and say, "Yeah, I get tired, too. A little (sleep/rest/exercise/coffee/other-unsolicited-bit-of-advice) will make you feel better!"

Doctors don't get terribly excited about "fatigue" as a symptom, either - it's the number one complaint they get, and it's usually caused by overwork, stress, lack of sleep, or some passing illness such as a cold. Sometimes it surprises them by hanging around for longer than expected, and then they might start looking into other causes, like nutritional deficiencies or (the dreaded "d" word!) depression. Sometimes, that's what it is, and its name is chronic fatigue. (Notice the lack of "syndrome.")

Sometimes, though, it's not that simple and you have muscle aches, flu-like symptoms and brain fog, and that's when "syndrome" gets tacked onto the end. Grammatically, it might not seem like that big a distinction. However, when it comes to your treatments, not to mention your life, that third word is a doozie!

So what exactly is the difference between chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome? Here's your answer:

Chronic Fatigue vs. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Feel free to pass it along to the next guy who says, "Boy, I'm beat, too. I'll hit the gym after work - that always makes me feel better!"

Suggested Reading:

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Fact Sheet
• Drugs for Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Exercising When You Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome