Physician here. Imo CFS is best understood as the endpoint of an evolution within the nervous system that is increasingly called "central sensitization syndrome." (CSS) This syndrome is caused by a chronic dissociative or avoidant stress response, usually having it's origin in early childhood adversity. Prior to developing CFS, most individuals have other manifestations of CSS, such as IBS, chronic pain, TMD, etc. Every new stress, be it a viral syndrome, a grief event, a difficult move of house, what-have-you, can cause CSS to further evolve, eventually arriving at CFS. The average CFSer has 5 other CSS syndromes. Treatment is pacing and mindfulness. This treats the underlying issue of chronic avoidance/dissociation. See cfsselfhelp.org.
Chronic fatigue syndrome may have a post-viral infection origin
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Re: Chronic fatigue syndrome may have a post-viral infection origin
#22I've battled with CFS/ME multiple times in my life, each triggered by different ailments. First, it was Epstein-Barr at the end of my tenth grade, leading to two solid years of chronic CFS. Then, at 31, Chicken Pox knocked me out for roughly 18 to 24 months. More recently, from January to August 2021, I experienced "Long Covid," and this July, a bout with RSV left me grappling with CFS once again. My symptoms include…
Try some aspirin as a control and see if you get the same result.
I forgot to add a potentially relevant detail: garlic contains a compound called allicin, which has blood-thinning properties akin to aspirin. Intrigued by this similarity, I decided to run an N=1 experiment. I bought some aspirin from the pharmacy and tried it out. The results were astonishing — almost euphoric — and I felt like a new person.
Re: Chronic fatigue syndrome may have a post-viral infection origin
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
Depression may not be psychosomatic. It may be somatopsychic. Some physical ailments have psychological and emotional side effects. Depression may be rooted in physical ailments negatively impacting mood and brain function.
It could easily be both, though there certainly is research indicating depression causes physical pain. However since many of these studies only found correlations it's only clear that they come together and not whether one causes the other. One way of isolating that issue would be to determine the rates of depression in people with unambiguously diagnosable chronic pain disorders due to a root physical cause vs both…
Chronic pain definitely negatively impacts mood.
Except for phantom pain, I think it's generally best to assume pain has a physical cause and pain negatively impacts mood, not the other way around.
And I've had phantom pain. I think even there, it's likely a physical cause, but mirror therapy is still known to help for some cases.
Re: Chronic fatigue syndrome may have a post-viral infection origin
#24I've battled with CFS/ME multiple times in my life, each triggered by different ailments. First, it was Epstein-Barr at the end of my tenth grade, leading to two solid years of chronic CFS. Then, at 31, Chicken Pox knocked me out for roughly 18 to 24 months. More recently, from January to August 2021, I experienced "Long Covid," and this July, a bout with RSV left me grappling with CFS once again. My symptoms include…
Adult onset chicken pox is brutal. It can permanently change you.
Honestly, it was the worst 6 weeks of my life. I would not wish it on my worst enemy. Three weeks of incubation, two weeks of breakouts and a week of recovery. My employer terminated my employment two weeks after that. In retrospect, I should have pursued legal action.
Re: Chronic fatigue syndrome may have a post-viral infection origin
#25I've battled with CFS/ME multiple times in my life, each triggered by different ailments. First, it was Epstein-Barr at the end of my tenth grade, leading to two solid years of chronic CFS. Then, at 31, Chicken Pox knocked me out for roughly 18 to 24 months. More recently, from January to August 2021, I experienced "Long Covid," and this July, a bout with RSV left me grappling with CFS once again. My symptoms include…
To what extent does your regimen relieve your symptoms?
I feel clear headed, no longer require naps in the day time and just seem to have higher energy levels. I got out this weekend and completed some long overdue garden maintenance.
Re: Chronic fatigue syndrome may have a post-viral infection origin
#26I've battled with CFS/ME multiple times in my life, each triggered by different ailments. First, it was Epstein-Barr at the end of my tenth grade, leading to two solid years of chronic CFS. Then, at 31, Chicken Pox knocked me out for roughly 18 to 24 months. More recently, from January to August 2021, I experienced "Long Covid," and this July, a bout with RSV left me grappling with CFS once again. My symptoms include…
Where can I find out more about the garlic that isn't a homeopathic or alternative medicine site?
Would ginger have a similar effect? As I understand it, they share many properties.
Re: Chronic fatigue syndrome may have a post-viral infection origin
#27Largely unrelated, but the thing which leaves me feeling most wiped-out is playing (modern) computer games. I've cut them out completely, as they have no positive benefits and leave me listless and unmotivated.
Re: Chronic fatigue syndrome may have a post-viral infection origin
#28Physician here. Imo CFS is best understood as the endpoint of an evolution within the nervous system that is increasingly called "central sensitization syndrome." (CSS) This syndrome is caused by a chronic dissociative or avoidant stress response, usually having it's origin in early childhood adversity. Prior to developing CFS, most individuals have other manifestations of CSS, such as IBS, chronic pain, TMD, etc. Ev…
You could be completely right in some cases, but the way you present this is completely disregarding a professional researcher, peer reviewed and published paper, and honestly quite decent pop sci writeup.
I don't think that level of dismissal is fair or respectful unless you accompany it with a relevant criticism of the research itself.
Re: Chronic fatigue syndrome may have a post-viral infection origin
#29Physician here. Imo CFS is best understood as the endpoint of an evolution within the nervous system that is increasingly called "central sensitization syndrome." (CSS) This syndrome is caused by a chronic dissociative or avoidant stress response, usually having it's origin in early childhood adversity. Prior to developing CFS, most individuals have other manifestations of CSS, such as IBS, chronic pain, TMD, etc. Ev…
What is meant by TMD? If it’s “Temporomandibular disorders” do you consider those a manifestation of “css”?
Re: Chronic fatigue syndrome may have a post-viral infection origin
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
Try some aspirin as a control and see if you get the same result.
I forgot to add a potentially relevant detail: garlic contains a compound called allicin, which has blood-thinning properties akin to aspirin. Intrigued by this similarity, I decided to run an N=1 experiment. I bought some aspirin from the pharmacy and tried it out. The results were astonishing — almost euphoric — and I felt like a new person.
Could you please elaborate, are you saying taking aspirin was better than the garlic?