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Page 7
| Symptoms |
| Debilitating fatigue is only one of many unpleasant symptoms that afflict Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers. Unrelenting insomnia, low-grade fever, general pain, headaches, poor memory and concentration are landmark signs. These are usually accompanied by a sore throat and swollen lymph glands. Emotional breakdown, depression and feelings of despair are not uncommon, and the list of potential problems goes on and on. |
| Some people with CFS lose their sense of balance, space and timing so much that they tend to misjudge distances. Simply closing their eyes while standing can make them lose their balance. Bright light strains and hurts their eyes, but it can be equally difficult to see in dim light. As you can imagine, driving at night against oncoming headlights is particularly hard for them, if driving is possible at all. There is also a tendency to put on weight; some people gain as much as 20 pounds when they get sick. At first it was assumed that this was because they were so physically inactive, but it now appears that several metabolic imbalances are responsible. Other possible problems are digestive upsets, recurring bladder infections, leg jerks during the day or nightall contributing to poor sleep. |
| Some days are worse than others; the fevers come and go and, although they never rise very high, they |
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