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What is it Like to Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

People with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) may not look physically ill, but the symptoms of the condition can make life pretty hard. When family caregivers or older adults with CFS have an understanding of the disease and what it is like to live with, they can provide more informed and empathetic care.

What Is CFS?

CFS isn’t an easy disease to understand. In fact, even doctors are still learning about it. It’s difficult to diagnose because it’s defined by having severe fatigue without another condition that causes it. In fact, no one knows just what causes the disease. Some theories as to the cause include it being triggered by a virus or psychological stress. It is also possible that the disease occurs because of a combination of things.

Because it is such a complicated disease, there isn’t a single test that can diagnose it. Instead, doctors come to the diagnosis through a process of elimination. Once the diagnosis is made, the only treatment for it is to manage the symptoms.

Though the cause of CFS is unknown, doctors have identified some factors that make it more likely for a person to be diagnosed with the disease, such as:

Age: CFS is most commonly diagnosed during a person’s 40s or 50s.However, it can be diagnosed at any age.
Sex: Women receive a diagnosis of CFS far more often than men do.
Stress: People who have trouble managing stress are more likely to be diagnosed with CFS.

How Does CFS Make People Feel?

Everyone’s experience with CFS is different. However, the most prominent symptom of the disease is extreme fatigue. It can make it hard to do normal activities. The fatigue isn’t like simply being tired. Instead, it can happen even when the person hasn’t been active. It also does not go away after resting. Other symptoms of CFS include:

Trouble remembering things or concentrating.
Sore throat.
Swollen lymph nodes in the armpits or necks.
Muscle or joint pain with no underlying cause.
Headaches.

If your aging relative suffers from CFS, they may need some assistance to keep up with daily life. For example, having CFS might make it difficult for a senior to clean their house or do laundry. Senior care can be an enormous help, allowing the elder adult to continue living comfortably in their home. A senior care provider can clean the house, prepare meals, do laundry, and much more.