What is ME/CFS
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a severe, complex, acquired illness with numerous symptoms related mainly to the dysfunction of the brain, gastro-intestinal, immune, endocrine and cardiac systems.
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What's it like to have ME/CFS?
Hear from people with ME/CFS. Learn how they where diagnosed, how they manage their condition, and how having ME/CFS has affected their lives.
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Symptoms
Symptoms of ME/CFS include fatigue; post-exertional malaise; sleep dysfunction; pain; neurological-cognitive manifestations; autonomic manifestations; neuro-endocrine manifestations; immune manifestations. Symptoms must persist for at least six months.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of ME/CFS can only be made using the ME/CFS Canadian Guidelines for Medical Practitioners.
Treatment and Management
There is, as yet, no universally successful treatment or cure for ME/CFS. At this stage, the major focus is on managing the illness.
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Severity and Disability
ME/CFS causes significant disruption to normal patterns of work and study, recreation, socialising and family life.
Causes
ME/CFS frequently develops after an acute infection (e.g. flu-like illnesses, upper respiratory infections, glandular fever) but it may also be triggered by events such as toxic exposure, physical trauma, immunisation and anaesthetics.
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Overlapping Conditions
The diagnosis of ME/CFS is sometimes complicated by co-existing conditions such as fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, allergies and depression.
Prognosis
Given the great variation in the severity and duration of symptoms it is not possible to accurately predict recovery for individuals. Most people with ME/CFS will improve over time.
Case Definitions
The Consensus Document (popularly known as the "Canadian Guidelines") was compiled under Terms of Reference devised by Health Canada and drawn up by an international team of ME/CFS practitioners and researchers from Canada, US and Belgium with the combined experience of treating over 20,000 people with ME/CFS.
