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Symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

(Also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)

 

To be classified as ME or CFS, the following criteria must be fulfilled and be present for at least 6 months:

A: Severe, debilitating and disabling fatigue, usually made worse post-exertion

- delayed onset of fatigue is characteristic of this illness

B: Plus 4 or more of the following main symptoms:

Main Symptoms

1. Impaired Cognitive Functions

  • inability to concentrate

  • calculation difficulties

  • memory disturbance

  • spatial disorientation

  • frequently saying the wrong word

  • being in a 'fog'

2. Chronic sore throat - often with recurrent flu-like illness

3. Tender and swollen lymph nodes - especially neck and underarms

4. Muscle pain

5. Multi-joint pain

  1. New headaches - often severe

  2. Non-refreshing sleep

  3. Post-Exertional Malaise

 

Other symptoms may include:

Nervous system problems

  • Sleep disturbance - insomnia, hypersomnia - often with vivid dreams or nightmares

  • Severe muscular weakness without muscle wasting

  • Paralysis or Paresis - weakness or short lived paralysis

  • Numb or tingling feelings

  • Twitching muscles

  • Changes in visual acuity and photophobia-intolerance to light

  • Changes to hearing - sensitivity to noise

  • Alteration of taste and smell

  • Tinnitus - ringing in ears

  • Disequilibrium - severe dizziness

  • Feeling 'spaced out' or 'cloudy‘

  • Blackouts

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Emotional lability - mood swings, may be related to fatigue

 

Other main symptoms may include:

  • Nausea

  • Abdominal pain

  • 'Irritable Bowel Syndrome', wind, diarrhoea

  • Weight change - usually gain - often 2 to 3 stone gain or loss

  • Temperature disregulation with cold hands and feet

  • Low-grade fevers, abnormally hot or cold

  • Symptoms worsened by extremes of temperature

  • Night sweats

  • Heart palpitations

  • Severe nasal and other allergies

  • Multiple sensitivities or allergic reactions to medicines, food and other substances

  • Severe premenstrual syndrome and exacerbation of all symptoms before and during periods in women

 

Other symptoms may include:

  • Rashes

  • Dryness of mucous membranes eg throat, mouth and eyes

  • Ulceration of mouth

  • Uncomfortable or frequent urination

  • Muscle spasms

  • Chest pain

  • Shortness of breath on exertion

  • Disordered sensation in tongue - difficulty moving tongue

  • Intolerance of alcohol

  • Decreased libido and occasional impotence

  • Personality changes (usually a worsening of a previous mild tendency)

  • TMJ Syndrome - pain/tenderness on movement of jaw

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - pressure on nerves in hand with pain/tingling

  • Food cravings - especially carbohydrates

  • Finger/toe nails and hair stop growing

  • Hair loss

  • Slow healing process of cuts/scratches

This list is not exhaustive, during the course of your ME/CFS there may be other symptoms you need to add to this list.

If you feel able to highlight your particular symptoms, you may then use this list as a means of explaining how you are personally affected by ME/CFS, creating greater awareness and understanding amongst your family and friends of how complex and individualistic an illness ME/CFS is.

© Tanya Harrison 2004



Copyright © 2004  The contents of these webpages are copyrighted.