Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Symptoms and Treatments

There are a number of different types of immune disorders that are caused by viruses such as the well known HIV, as well as other types. Sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) experience a wide range of symptoms – one of the most pertinent of which is excessive tiredness and a lessened ability to perform at times even simple tasks due to this overwhelming fatigue. The pathology for this disease has not yet been discovered to its full extent but it is well-known that the immune system can affect neural pathways in a similar way to that which MS sufferers experience and when the immune response has been lowered both CFS and MS sufferers seem to have worsened periods of exacerbated symptoms.

 
Direct correlation
Doctors have been looking into this for years and researchers can show firm statistics that demonstrate a correlation between a weakened immune system and these worsened symptoms. There is no real treatment method that addresses this weakened immune system. The best that medicine can offer are general treatments that try to strengthen the body’s defenses.

 
The dangers of having lowered body defenses may mean that all kinds of other diseases and infections can take a hold and cause all types of complications – a most unwelcome prospect for the sufferer of CFS who probably already has enough on their plate to deal with. The best approach to trying to strengthen a weak immune system for someone who suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome might include Herbal remedies – some of these have shown to help reduce stress and subsequently improve the immune response. One way of doing this is by using taking natural supplements that can boost the immune system. For example, Omega 3-6-9 has been tremendously useful in achieving this goal. This has been one of the methods – in addition to other methods (I also took B12 shots) – I used in order to fight CFS. To receive a free bottle, go here.

 
Stress management
Stress has been shown time and time again to be a relating factor when diagnosing patients have weakened immune responses. Lowering stress levels can have a huge effect on the course of a chronic disease. Getting away from high stress situations can really mean the difference between severe symptoms presenting themselves and a much more gentle form of the illness. If you need ways of combating anxiety, this book suggests a four step useful technique for stopping anxiety. An additional method is described in this book.

 
Supplements
There are many vitamins and minerals are suitable to add to the diet that can help improve the immune function, including vitamins A and E and anything that contains plenty of antioxidants, an important way of removing free radicals which cause inflammation. If there is information present in the body the immune system can be overactive and cause just as much of a problem as an inactive immune system. As stated, B12 shots or Omega 3-6-9 can do this as well.

 
Diet
The food we eat can make a big difference to our health in general; eating food that contains a proper balance of nutrients that our body needs can assist substantially in reducing symptom levels caused by a weak immune system.

 

In recent years, it’s become quite common to read about celebrities such as Madonna taking vitamin B12 injections to get more energy. Is there truth to the matter?

It is a known fact that vitamin B12 helps maintain various parts of the body, including the skin and hair, the nervous system and the liver; more importantly, it has been linked to the function of the immune system – which is often a significant component in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – where it is weakened from one reason or another. Consequently, vitamin b12 deficiency symptoms can definitely result in extreme constant fatigue.

Fortunately, vitamin B12 deficiency can be found out through a simple blood test. If indeed your body does not get enough vitamin B12, which could happen from a variety of reasons: not eating certain foods, inability to absorb it properly, etc, then getting vitamin B12 shot may indeed be helpful for you.

In fact, some doctors consider getting vitamin B12 shots to be a crucial component of a treatment for CFS sufferers regardless of their cause, as it is so frequently helpful. These shots can either be administered in the doctor’s office by a nurse (or the doctor himself), or even at home by yourself, after getting some minimal training.

Vitamin B12 can be taken in many forms. You could get it in Liquid form (Vitamin B12 – Liquid, 4 oz), you could get it in sublingual form – that is, under the tongue (B12 w/B6 Sublingual – 30 tab), you can get it as lozenges (B12 Lozenges – 2000 mcg 100 lozenges). Of course, you can also get it in the form of injections.

Personally speaking, this is another one of the treatments I have tried. I’ve taken B12 injections on a weekly basis (though I’ve read online that a bi-weekly shot is recommended). Though admittedly I never gathered the courage to give the shots myself and preferred to have a nurse perform this every time. In addition, I’ve taken vitamin B12 in sublingual form, twice a day (I never really understood why it must be under the tongue – perhaps for quicker absorption?).

Since my improvement occurred roughly during this time, I can only conclude that this is one of the few treatments that has been helpful for me. My own B12 deficiency was pretty bad according to the blood work – probably it was some kind of poor absorption issue.

Although I cannot say I’m cured, my condition has definitely improved. However, I wouldn’t recommend that you just start giving yourself B-12 shots. Discuss this with your doctor and find out whether you have a B12 deficiency. And in this case, work out a plan to treat it – preferably with a specialist who is very familiar with these issues.

On a final note, if you live in New York City, I’ll be more than happy to give you the name of the doctor who treated me (or you can just search for him on the web, you’re likely  to locate him the same way I did).

As always, please keep me – and the readers of this blog – updated whether this has been successful for you.

Summary of options in case you are interested in getting Vitamin B12

• Get Vitamin B12 – Liquid, 4 oz
• B12 w/B6 Sublingual – 30 tab
• B12 Lozenges – 2000 mcg 100 lozenges