Recovering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is like walking a tightrope. Missteps can cost you time, money and health, and it is the last of these that can leave even less energy to devote to health-building practices.
In my many years on this path, I’ve learned some lessons that will hopefully make your journey a shorter one.
Rest, Rest and Rest
The first rule of CFS is that you don’t push too hard. The second rule of CFS is that you don’t push too hard.
It is the very rare – and probably misdiagnosed – case that is assisted by pushing your body, practicing poor sleeping habits or loading up on caffeine.
Being aware of your body’s limits are in a given period, crashing only when absolutely necessary, and spreading out, simplifying or delegating activities to avoid crashing are all vital strategies for self-management of this illness.
Put Health Above Pleasure
I love sugar, I love starch, I love chocolate. I also used to drink heavily at parties, smoke when I felt like it and enjoy a cup of green tea every day.
When you learn that something isn’t serving your health, serve your body and your future by switching to something health-affirming instead. I’m now on a highly restricted diet because, after many years of poor health, I am more interested in being well than having a good time. I want to spend the rest of my life out of bed and in the world.
We have even more imperative to enjoy our lives after we develop health challenges, but the truth is that if we don’t make building our health a daily practice, we are likely to continue facing setbacks.
Vet Your Doctors
I didn’t know how to interact with doctors until I had spent a lot of time in their care. It’s possible to waste months or years with doctors who don’t know how to help you and aren’t upfront about it.
Ask questions like: How long did you study CFS in medical school? How many patients with CFS have you treated? What do you think CFS is caused by, or what its main mechanism is? How do you intend to treat my major symptoms, like brain fog or post-exertional malaise?
If your doctor doesn’t provide strong, satisfactory answers, find a better doctor in your area or consider a CFS specialist.
Think Outside the Box
There are a few good pharmaceutical options to try, but if your doctor provides these and they do not help, it’s time to look further afield.
Local naturopaths are more helpful than MDs in discovering neurotransmitter imbalances, testing for metal toxicity, and treating common infections like SIBO, candida and H. pylori. They’re well versed in supplements and herbs that may be more healthful for sleep and boosting energy than medications are.
Your exploration doesn’t need to stop there. I’ve benefited from acupuncture, homeopathy and anthroposophic medicine. There is really no profit in being a skeptic when allopathic medicine fails you.
Self-taught laypeople, some of them former sufferers, are also available for online consultations. Some of them have developed books or courses that provide theory and practices for recovery.
Be Your Own Doctor
The Catch-22 of CFS is that it is highly complicated, but the cognitive issues involved make understanding it a much more daunting undertaking. But since the medical system often fails us, that’s one more challenge we have to embrace.
Some of us are swayed by a forum or Facebook post touting some new therapy or book as the answer to our problems. Before we jump aboard (or jump ship), we need to have a solid theoretical understanding of the mechanisms of our illness and how this therapy will address it.
This Chronic Fatigue Syndrome treatment guide is an excellent resource to get started.
Blame Biology, Not Circumstances
I’ve had every flavor of negative emotions since I got sick. Too often, we blame circumstances for how we behave, or how we see others behaving. Someone made us feel bad. The noise was too much.
Outside stressors are a real issue (and if jobs or relationships are making you sicker, please, please find a way out), but if it’s happening frequently and generally to small thresholds of stress, acknowledging that it’s your biology actually assists with recovery.
Anxiety, anger and depression all have effective treatments, some pharmaceutical and some in the realm of alternative medicine or practices you can do yourself. And they may help with other symptoms like sleep or even fatigue.
Make Feeling Good Your Job
CFS sucks. There can be pain, poor sleep, depression and a constellation of other nastiness to grapple with. But this is still your one precious life to live, and how you feel emotionally plays a massive role in everything from sleep to digestion to hormones to the immune system.
Explore positive psychology or try Superbetter.com. I made a YouTube comedy playlist with hundreds of videos. You have the power to feel calmer and happier right now. Do yourself the favor of making happiness a daily practice.
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