4 ms·

It seems like the most likely answer is that it is just a lot of different things in different people. Fatigue is a symptom in almost any and all illnesses.

• bombcar 3y ago
  We also like to thing that doctors are able to extensively test and determine what is going on - but with many diagnosis and treatment, it's almost entirely based on patient self-reporting. We can test the blood for certain things, we can run other scientific tests, but for lots and lots of problems, we really don't have any scientific way to determine.
• spondylosaurus 3y ago
  I mean, TFA (among others) have made the case that ME/CFS is linked to (if not outright caused by) a number of specific kinds of physical dysfunction... but it's true that fatigue is a symptom of countless illnesses, so it gets difficult to figure out which patients are suffering from which conditions. Hence what happened in this study when they tried to narrow it down to a pool of ME/CFS patients :P
• quickthrower2 3y ago
  CFS is very different. Fatigue as a word alone has different meanings to different people. They use it to describe the effect of driving for too long and you need a rest. Or a poor nights sleep. Or maybe you went hard at the gym or the bar. It is nothing like any of those things. A good tell is that physical effort beyond a point makes it worse, and you need to stay within an energy envelope or you get severe symptoms. All activity is physical effort not just say running. Putting the kettle on for example or refactoring a line of code. You know that nice feeling when you feel better after you’ve been sick. You don’t feel that ever again.
  • 8A51C 3y ago
    Very accurate. The way I try to describe it, like a worn out recharchable battery- only charges to 80%, runs down quickly when you try to use it and takes ages to charge back up again. This is in some way trivialising the suffering, but I find helps people understand a little what it's like. At it's worst whilst I might be able to get out of bed and use the toilet, it takes a level of forethought, planning and effort that is unreasonable. Suffered with fatigue since stem cell transplant in 2011.
    • freedomben 3y ago
      Yes, people don't understand that even very basic self care like brushing your teeth or going to the can be completely overwhelming. Just receiving a text or an email when you're feeling can be crushing
    • quickthrower2 3y ago
      Sorry to hear that. I am embarrassing mild compared to most stories I read on r/cfs (which is why I just lurk) It has taken years to build back up to almost full time work without it being a boom/bust affair. I can’t imagine the more severe cases because you need energy to manage the problem, like a catch 22.
  • qwertox 3y ago
    Thank you for sharing this. I won't tell my situation, but at least I know that exercising does help me, so CFS is very likely not the problem.
    • quickthrower2 3y ago
      If you search you can see the criteria use for CFS. Seeing a doctor or three (second opinions matter) experienced in CFS would help. Sorry that you having something hard to diagnose too as it is frustrating!