As someone who has ME/CFS, you may find yourself exhausted from even small activities. This is because ME/CFS is a neurological condition that causes the body to be more sensitive to any type of exertion. It can cause you to have trouble thinking clearly, as well as having a hard time with pain, dizziness, and other issues.
The exact cause of ME/CFS is unknown. However, there is evidence that certain infections can trigger the illness. These include glandular fever (EBV), herpes viruses, including the herpes simplex virus and herpes zoster virus that causes chickenpox and shingles, coxsackievirus A16, hepatitis A, B, and C, Q fever from Coxiella burnetii, Ross River virus in Australia, and possibly others. It is also possible that ME/CFS could be triggered by stress or physical trauma, but this is less common.
People who have ME often have one or more additional diseases (comorbidities). These can include fibromyalgia, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS, increased heart rate when you stand up), gastroparesis and irritable bowel syndrome, secondary depression, Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome, mast cell disorders, and others. People with ME can also become more sensitive to light, sound, smells and medicines.
Many people with ME/CFS have relapses, or periods of worsening of their symptoms. These relapses can last days, weeks or months. The relapses are usually triggered by activity, but can be caused by other things as well, such as a stressful event or a viral infection.
A hallmark symptom of ME/CFS is post-exertional malaise, or PEM. This is a severe worsening of the person’s functioning and symptoms after any activity, even a minimal amount of physical or cognitive exertion. The severity of the PEM can vary greatly from person to person. Some may feel it after a long run, while others might feel it after reading a book or brushing their teeth.
ME/CFS can have a huge impact on your life and career, as you might be unable to work, and many people with the illness find themselves bedridden or homebound. Living with this type of fatigue can be extremely difficult, and you might find that your family and friends don’t always understand how much the illness is affecting you. There are a number of ways you can cope with this, and there are also ways to help your family and friends. You can also get support online, through social media, and from groups for people with ME/CFS.