We all get tired sometimes, but when the exhaustion never seems to go away, it could be a sign you need something more than just a few extra Zs. If you’ve been sleeping normally but have the symptoms of chronic fatigue, talk to us at The Guyer Institute of Molecular Medicine in Indianapolis, IN about chronic fatigue syndrome treatment.
Top Signs You Should Consider Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment
Chronic fatigue is more than just feeling tired. It’s a complicated condition that has a lot of overlap with other problems, like fibromyalgia and autoimmune diseases. Getting a proper diagnosis is absolutely critical, and if you’re suffering from some or all of the following signs, set up a consultation with us so we can get you the help you need:
You Have Trouble Focusing
We tend to think of energy use in terms of muscles, exercise, and our ability to get up and move around. But in the human animal, the brain is the biggest energy hog. A full 20% of our body’s energy reserves go to power the brain, and our brains are enormous compared to the rest of our body. Brain size doesn’t always equate to intelligence, but it does demand a lot of energy, and the ratio of human body mass to brain size is about 1:50. Compare this with horses and their ratio of 1:600 and you can see why our brains need energy.
One of the biggest signs of chronic fatigue is having difficulty concentrating and remembering. It’s not normal to struggle with short-term memory loss, and even more so when it’s combined with a significant change in your ability to concentrate. When these two symptoms show up, they could be happening because your brain doesn’t have the energy it needs to concentrate and make memories.
You Experience Extreme Post-Workout Fatigue
Again, it’s normal to feel a bit tired after a workout. In fact, we could probably argue that you aren’t working out very well if you’re not tired at the end! But if the feeling seems to go on and on, something is wrong. This is especially true if the tired feeling persists overnight.
Sleep is our time for the body to repair itself. When you exercise, you tear down muscles so they can be rebuilt stronger than before, and if that’s not happening despite getting plenty of sleep, it’s a good idea to set up an appointment with us. This is a classic sign of chronic fatigue syndrome.
You’re Always Getting Sick
We’re all going to be ill sometimes, and some of us have to battle germs a lot more often than others. If you have a couple of small children, you work as a teacher, or you’re always handling money and interacting with people working as a bank teller or a cashier, it’s hard to avoid getting sick sometimes. But if you’re getting sick all the time, this could be a sign of chronic fatigue.
That said, frequent illness isn’t always down to chronic fatigue, and if the problem has to do with your immune system or some other issue, chronic fatigue syndrome treatment won’t help. But if you’re experiencing this sign in conjunction with one or two of the others on this list, then chronic fatigue might very well be the issue.
You Can’t Stay Warm (or Cool)
As with illness, this is a symptom that could point to a number of things, so it’s a good idea to speak to us and get a formal diagnosis. But if you’re experiencing some other signs of chronic fatigue and you also find yourself swinging from too hot to too cold throughout the day, chronic fatigue could be the culprit.
You Have Muscle and Joint Pain
We all get sore muscles at times. Most of the time there’s a clear cause for our aches and pains, such as a session at the gym, a fall, or just playing the weekend warrior too hard on the basketball court. Occasionally, we feel these aches with no clear cause, and it’s possible to wake up sore in the morning after a restless night and wonder what happened. But if you’re constantly feeling this way when there’s no clear explanation for it, the culprit could be chronic fatigue.
You Have Chronic Headaches
There are plenty of possible causes for chronic headaches, and it’s important to rule out sinus issues, stress, and migraines from other causes before rushing to blame chronic fatigue. But if you’re experiencing other symptoms of chronic fatigue or haven’t been able to get a satisfactory answer about the source of your headaches, then chronic fatigue syndrome treatment might help. Chronic fatigue can impair the neural pathways, and when you combine this with a harder struggle to focus, this can be the reason for your headaches.
You’ve Had a Precipitating Event
For many people with chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia, it all starts with an event. You can trace your condition to a significant infection you just never seemed to fully recover from. Since then, life has been more difficult. If that’s been the case for you, chronic fatigue syndrome treatment could be the answer.
It’s also very common to find mineral deficiencies and hormone irregularities in those with chronic fatigue, so if you’ve been told by a doctor that these are an issue and are struggling to get back in balance, it could be because of chronic fatigue.
Getting a Diagnosis
For most of the past, chronic fatigue was not even recognized as a condition. Even after it became more well known, diagnosis and treatment were still sporadic. Today, most mainstream medical practices still treat the symptoms of the disorder rather than trying to get at the root cause. Doctors frequently give patients symptom-management treatment, like anti-inflammatories to help with pain or anti-depressants to elevate the mood or increase energy, and may also prescribe supplements, exercise, and diet changes to help those with chronic fatigue stay functional.
All these interventions are helpful for daily functioning and certainly have their place, but they don’t address the underlying cause. At The Guyer Institute of Molecular Medicine, we practice integrative medicine, and that makes all the difference.
How Integrative Medicine Works
Integrative medicine is all about looking at the body as a whole and understanding that every system and part affects all the others. Instead of treating symptoms or trying to isolate one issue from all the others, we seek to connect them to promote holistic healing. Integrative medicine is a multi-disciplinary, science-based approach to promoting health and vitality: not a way to treat an isolated symptom. The goal is increased well-being in every aspect of life.
That’s why we limit how many patient consultations we take in a day, so we can spend enough time with each person to truly understand their needs. We don’t rush through a checklist and try to get you in and out the door in 20 minutes. We spend time listening to you so we can develop a plan that addresses your unique body and health condition.
Tailoring a Plan to You
Your treatment plan starts with a consultation where we learn about you. Typically, we follow up on this with biochemical testing of cellular function so we can understand your unique biochemical makeup. This enables us to craft a wellness plan that will work for you. Some of what we test can include:
- Hormones levels
- Inflammation levels
- Vitamin and mineral analysis
- Toxic burden
- Immune function
- Neurotransmitters
- Cardiovascular health
- Genetic profile
What No One Talks About
If you have some of the symptoms of chronic fatigue, don’t hesitate to come in for help. Don’t let anyone push you to simply “suck it up” or “try harder” when what you need is medical treatment. Here are a few things you should know about chronic fatigue that often no one talks about:
It’s a Real Disease
The word “syndrome” can be off-putting, and it’s a misnomer. Chronic fatigue is not a syndrome. It’s an actual disease and is classified as such by the Institute of Medicine.
Many People Don’t Know They Have It
The Institute of Medicine estimates that about 2.5 million people in the United States could have chronic fatigue, with close to 85% undiagnosed. The average age for it to show up is 33, but it can happen at any time, especially when it’s triggered by an infection.
Sometimes It Comes and Goes
This is one of the more frustrating things about chronic fatigue. Some people will develop it in their 20s or 30s, but after a while, it may disappear. Later, another infection, a stressful life event, or even a hormonal change such as menopause can bring it all roaring back.
It Can Be Debilitating
Some people struggle every day with their chronic fatigue yet do manage to go out and get at least some things done. But close to 25% of those with this condition rarely leave their homes, and sometimes even their beds, because of the extreme exhaustion that can come with chronic fatigue. You don’t have to be in that 25%: there is help available.
Lots of Doctors Know Little About It
Another frustrating aspect of this condition is that so many mainstream doctors are simply unfamiliar with the disease or with how to treat it. This can make it hard for sufferers to find answers, especially if the first few doctors they visit dismiss the condition or only treat the symptoms.
That’s why it’s important to visit us at The Guyer Institute of Molecular Medicine. We know a lot about these conditions, and we take them seriously. We’re committed to getting you the chronic fatigue syndrome treatment that will be the true answer for the root cause of your condition.
Pacing Yourself Can Help
As you deal with the symptoms of chronic fatigue, especially early on, remember that it’s a problem of lack of energy. Think of your daily energy levels like a glass of water. The people around you have glasses that are completely full, but yours may only be 70% or even 40% full. When all the water is gone, you can’t get any more for a while.
Don’t be afraid to say no to things and preserve your energy by pacing yourself and limiting your physical and mental exertions. This can enable you to get a few more productive hours out of the day than simply trying to push through until you collapse.
Don’t Waste Any More Time: Get the Treatment You Need
Chronic fatigue is difficult to live with, and it’s even more frustrating if you’re not getting any answers or help. Visit The Guyer Institute of Molecular Medicine in Indianapolis, IN today and set up a consultation with us. We can help you understand what’s really going on and plan chronic fatigue syndrome treatment that can get you back to optimal wellness.
