Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
If you’ve never experienced Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) you really can’t realize how devastating this condition truly is.
Just try and imagine what it would feel like to be totally exhausted, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
It wouldn’t matter how early you went to bed, or how long you slept (if you could)… the mere act of getting up in the morning wears you out.
Showering, dressing, getting ready for work or family just about does you in – and the day has hardly begun.
No matter how trivial the exercise or movement, it feels like someone has injected your joints with crazy glue. Your stamina is practically non-existent. Even walking down a flight of stairs has you wanting to crawl back into bed and rest.
Constant Flu-Like Symptoms
Your joints and muscles always ache, and your lymph nodes are constantly tender to the touch. Even being hugged by your husband and children causes you pain.
Your throat is frequently sore – and it seems you just can’t get rid of the perpetual headaches plaguing you.
You experience bouts of chills and night sweats, sensitivity to heat or cold, and often feel like you have a low-grade fever or even too low a body temperature.
It’s like having the flu – but never getting any better.
If you try to exercise, thinking to ‘burn’ whatever you have out of your body, your afflictions only get worse.
A Host Of Other Complaints
From out of nowhere your limbs start tingling – just like the feeling you get when your arm or leg “falls asleep.” Or you hear ringing in your ears (tinnitus) that drives you crazy.
Many CFS patients complain of gastric-intestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation and intestinal gas.
Many women experience gynecological problems, such as PMS and endometriosis.
Emotional and Mental Anguish
These physical symptoms are horrendous enough – but the emotional ones are just as awful. It seems you just can’t think clearly anymore – as if your mind was engulfed in a thick, grey mist – what sufferers call the brain fog.
Concentrating on anything is a constant battle, and your short-term memory seems to be short-circuited. You have your glasses or keys in your hand one second, and the next you haven’t a clue where you left them. You walk into a room with a specific purpose in mind, then totally forget what it was once you get there.
Simple calculations are practically impossible to do in your head, and all too often it seems you can’t even find the right words to use when talking.
Perhaps most frustrating of all, your friends, co-workers and even your family can’t understand what you’re experiencing. To them it seems you’re just always pooped without a reason, or even worse – you’re making it all up to gain attention or sympathy.
This is the living hell CFS patients experience – day in and day out.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia
By now you’ve probably noticed the extremely close similarities between CFS and FMS. In fact, in my opinion Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is just a variation of Fibromyalgia – caused in part by hypothyroidism (a low functioning thyroid).
These problems include:
- Brain Fog – The mental and concentration difficulties
- Temperature problems
- Poor sleep & insomnia
- Parasthesia (tingling, numbness, burning)
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
The other part of the equation is adrenal deficiency.
The thyroid – adrenal connection is very closely tied together. Almost everyone who is hypothyroid is also extremely hypoadrenal - adrenal deficient. To a person, all will recount a past of “severe stress.”
Why is this a factor? Because the adrenal glands (the adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla) are responsible for managing long and short term physiologic stress.
- Long term stress management is done by cortisol hormone production,
- Short term stress management is done by the catecholamine hormones –“fight or flight” hormones like adrenaline (also known as epinephrine).
People with CFS/FMS have simply exhausted and worn out their adrenal cortices. Whatever miniscule amount of these hormones are still trickling through their system is used up by mid morning.
That’s why those with CFS are likely to crash in the afternoons – living off endless cups of coffee and cokes for the caffeine effect - giving them the temporary energy boost so sorely needed.
The Thyroid – Adrenal Balancing Act
The human body is enormously complex – with intricate and often subtle inter-relationships of the various hormones happening at every level.
Adjust one – and the body compensates somewhere else.
Treating the thyroid while neglecting the adrenal glands can cause problems.
Getting the thyroid levels up is important, but there is a consequence: Doing so further runs down the adrenal glands. It’s almost like trying to drive your car with the parking brakes partially engaged. You’ll go forward, but not very efficiently – and you wear out the brakes in the process.
This is why supporting the adrenals with the over the counter glandular Raw Thyroid is crucial. Containing both thyroid and adrenal extracts, it balances the body’s need for both essential substances.
If you’re suffering from CFS, it’s time to say enough is enough. Your health is ultimately your responsibility and no one else’s.
Do you truly want to live the rest of your life on anti-depressants and powerful prescription drugs?
If not, then stop masking the symptoms – and start treating the disease!