|
What are the Symptoms of M.E/CFS?
As its name suggests, M.E. mainly affects the muscles and the head:
Muscle symptoms include severe fatigue upon exercise, muscle pain and spasms, influenza-like malaise, clumsiness, poor memory, concentration and balance. Non-refreshing sleep, sore throats, enlarged glands, joint pains, depression.
It's important to appreciate that the kind of fatigue experienced by many M.E. sufferers is quite different from the straightforward "tiredness" most normal people have experienced.
M.E. sufferers have likened the fatigue to "having their plug pulled out", or being totally drained of energy. And unlike in many other illnesses, exercise may make things worse.
Any physical activity - even walking up or down stairs - may put some M.E. sufferers in bed for days or weeks, and even cause a major relapse.
Sometimes, you will see M.E. sufferers apparently able to do quite normal things physically, yet complaining of terrible fatigue and muscle problems. What you haven't seen is the price they pay afterwards for their physical exertion - perhaps days in bed recovering.
Some sufferers have learnt how to "save up" energy to enable them to do things, know exactly how much they can do - and what price they are likely to have to pay afterwards.
It is as though their muscles have a limited energy supply. When this runs out, the muscles stop functioning and need time to recharge.
|
