The Long-Range Plan for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

You may not be able to cure your chronic fatigue, but you can help control it. The first step is to recognize you have the disorder. The media labelled chonic fatigue the "yuppie flu" a few years ago because most reported cases involved well-educated, middle class women. Many peo­ple, including some doctors, believed it was not a legiti­mate illness.

Although CFIDS is becoming a more accepted (and more common) diagnosis, it is sometimes still taken very lightly. However, CFIDS can change your life, making you unable to work or function as well as before. If you realize you have CFIDS, you can take steps to make sure this syndrome doesn't take over your life as well as your energy.

1. Regular, mild exercise. Many people who have CFIDS find their energy level sometimes rises. When this happens, they tend to work or play very hard to make up for lost time and to take advantage of their fleeting energy. However, they often pay for their overexertion with sore muscles. Exercise can help the symptoms of CFIDS, but you need to exercise a little restraint as well. Don^t overdo it when you're feeling well, and try to keep up with mild exercise even when you're tired. Ask your doctor to help you choose exercis­es that are appropriate for your abilities and ener­gy level.
2. Write it down. Keep track of your daily activities and note the times you seem to have the most energy. If you have peaks and valleys of fatigue at regular times, you may be able to plan your day around the times when you are most likely to be feeling well.
4. Get some support. Chronic fatigue can be drain­ing, not only physically, but emotionally as well. Check into local support groups for CFIDS, try some counseling, or just lean on your family and friends. Because CFIDS is so difficult to diagnose, some people need to be reassured that their ill­ness is not "just in their heads." Diet right. While there is no magical dietary for­mula for CFIDS, a few dietary guidelines may help you become more energized. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates. Many people with CFIDS are prone to allergies, so iden­tify foods you may be sensitive to, and avoid them. You should also avoid or limit your intake of alcohol, caffeine, sugar, nicotine, and aspar­tame (Nutrasweet).
6. Increase your vigor with vitamins. When you are ill for a long time, your body often uses up extra amounts of vitamins, creating a deficiency. This could be the case in CFIDS. A multi-vitamin sup­plement may provide you with the extra vitamins you need, especially the B vitamins, which help your body turn protein and other nutrients into energy.
8. Lysine may lighten your load. Lysine is an amino acid supplement that may help clear up cold sores from the herpes virus. It may prevent your body from absorbing another amino acid called arginine, which helps the herpes virus reproduce. Since most people with CFIDS carry some form of the herpes virus, lysine may control the virus and make you feel better. One to two grams of lysine daily is the recommended dosage. If you decide to take lysine supplements, be sure to avoid foods that contain arginine, such as nuts, chocolate, raisins, whole wheat, brown rice, and cereal. They'll work against your efforts to control the herpes virus.