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Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Overview
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is described as a severe, debilitating fatigue, lasting at least six months (of new and definite onset), associated with at least four of the following symptoms: impaired memory or concentration, sore throat, lymphadenopathy, muscle pains, joint pains, new headaches, unrefreshing sleep, and post-exertion malaise. Other medical and psychiatric conditions that can produce fatigue should be ruled out, including Lyme's disease. After demanding physical exercise, chronic fatigue syndrome patients show impaired cognitive processing.
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a pain disorder associated with multiple tender points, sleep disturbances (insomnia and non-restorative sleep), and fatigue. Hypothalamic dysfunction, immune dysfunction, and nutritional inadequacies can all cause or perpetuate this sometimes severe syndrome.
CFS and FMS may be opposite ends of the same disorder. With CFS the emphasis is on fatigue; with FMS the emphasis is on the pain.
Causes and Development; Contributing Risk Factors
No single causative agent has been found. Many viruses have been considered and may play a role in CFS including the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV). Human herpes virus 6 is under investigation.
Fibromyalgia develops slowly over many years, making the condition very difficult to diagnose in the early stages. It usually is well advanced before it is suspected. Educating yourself about this condition is the best way to catch it early. If any other family members have it, your chances of having it are increased. This is an important clue, for successful early diagnosis and treatment.
Based on a study by the University of Washington of over 1,400 individuals, it was found that those who drank well water on a regular basis during childhood were 10 times more likely to develop fibromyalgia than those who did not. Since many wells contain environmental toxins such as pesticide run-off, we feel there could be a definite link, especially since fibromyalgia seems to be a central nervous system disease.
In one study, 75% of urine specimens obtained from CFS patients contained elevated levels of 5-HIAA, (5-hyroxyindole acetic acid), a breakdown product of serotonin. This recent finding also showed that 70% of those taking NADH returned to normal levels of 5-HIAA, while 70% of placebo patients continued to show elevated or increasing levels of 5-HIAA. The urinary measurement of 5-HIAA may help predict which CFS patients respond to NADH therapy. However, if a person is taking guaifenesin, levels of 5-HIAA may be falsely elevated.
Signs and Symptoms
The key symptoms are disabling fatigue, diffuse achiness that is worse with exercise, disordered sleep, brain fog (decreased memory and/or concentration), and perhaps increased thirst, all for more than six months. If these symptoms are persistent and not caused by other untreated organic problems such as anemia, cancer, diabetes, lupus, polymyalgia rheumatica, or a chronic infection such as sinusitis or Lyme’s disease, then a comprehensive treatment approach will likely help. CFS and fibromyalgia are not "all or nothing" problems. Like arthritis and many other illnesses, they occur in varying degrees of severity.
Diagnosis and Tests
Both CFS and FMS can be difficult to diagnose. There are currently no lab tests to confirm what remains a clinical diagnosis. Many doctors encourage a comprehensive approach.
Treatment and Prevention
There are many treatment choices available in alternative medicine so it is necessary to find what works best for you.
The following is a summary of important areas that may require treatment in CFS and FMS.
Hormone Imbalances: Consider and treat as necessary hypothyroidism, low or borderline adrenal function, and sex hormone deficiencies. DHEA and 7-Keto DHEA may be useful; routine endocrine tests are normal in suspected cases of fibromyalgia. Current research is focusing on growth hormone irregularities. Insulin-related growth factor-1 (IGF1) is secreted mainly by the liver in response to growth hormone release. Growth hormone deficiency in adults has been associated with many symptoms that are similar to those described by fibromyalgia patients: low energy, poor general health, reduced exercise capacity, muscle weakness, cold intolerance, impaired cognition, dysthymia and decreased lean body mass. IGF1 levels are often found to be low in FMS patients and the few studies done so far have found symptomatic improvement of CFS and FMS patients with growth hormone injections.
It is likely that the problem in cases of FMS is a "physiologic growth hormone deficiency". Evidence of this was provided by a study in which FMS patients were exercised to voluntary exhaustion on a treadmill; this is a standard test of growth hormone secretion. Unlike healthy controls, FMS patients were unable to mount a growth hormone response to exercise despite reaching an anaerobic threshold (an indication of an adequate exercise workload). However, when fibromyalgia patients were given pyridostigmine 1 hour prior to exercising, they were able to mount a reasonable growth hormone response. As pyridostigmine is known to reduce somatostatin tone in the hypothalamus, this result is compatible with the notion that growth hormone deficiency in fibromyalgia cases is a potentially reversible problem that has a physiologic basis i.e. increased hypothalamic somatostatin tone. [Eduardo S. Paiva, Atul Deodhar, Kim D. Jones, Robert Bennett; Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland (press release)]
Immune Dysfunction: Immune dysfunction has been documented in cases of CFS and CFS has been called chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS). The immune dysfunction may result in recurrent infections, often with normally non-pathogenic organisms such as Candida albicans or bowel parasites. Treat any bowel infections or imbalances and any sinusitis or nasal congestion.
Nutritional Inadequacies: Nutritional deficiencies, especially of the B-complex vitamins, magnesium or iron may be aggravated by malabsorption or increased utilization. Treat any magnesium deficiency preferably with magnesium malate. Sometimes magnesium by injection or IV is used.
Do not consume any sweets, alcohol or caffeine for three to six months, and then limit them to moderate amounts. Expect withdrawal symptoms during the first week.
Consider vitamin B12 injections at higher doses (2,000-5,000mcg) at least once per week and possibly more for at least eight to ten weeks. Consider treating persistent fatigue with CoQ10, evening primrose oil and possibly fish oil.
Liver detoxification and hidden food allergy management can be important and should not be overlooked. Get as much sleep as you need, or at least eight hours per night. Be sure to exercise, slowly at first and more with improvement, but be cautious about over-exertion. Seek to resolve unconscious life conflicts.
All underlying problems should to be treated simultaneously or a vicious cycle can be kicked into action in which each problem can trigger the others. Some call this the "fatigue cycle".
Diagnosis and treatment are combined in the use of the decongestant guaifenesin (often called "guai" by users). Dr. St. Amand in his book What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia gives an excellent presentation on the subject with full details of "guai" use. He does not distinguish between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia or Candida, using "guai" for them all. This protocol requires the careful avoidance of all salicylates and a hypoglycemic diet if low blood sugar is a factor. There are extensive web sites on its use.
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Signs, symptoms & indicators of Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome: | | | | | Lifestyle |  Poor recovery from exertion |
Symptoms - General |
 Having a CFS diagnosis
Chronic fatigue for over 3 months
Constant fatigue
 Fatigue induced by light exertion
Dizziness when standing up
Counter-indicators:
 History of CFS diagnosis
Not having constant fatigue
Chronic fatigue now resolved
 Past/no history of being fatigued (confirmed) |
Symptoms - Glandular |
(Frequent) cervical node swelling | The lymph nodes involved in CFS are small, moveable, not tender and most commonly involve the neck, axillary region or inguinal region. A single lymph node that is very large, tender or immovable suggests a diagnosis other than CFS. Similarly, generalized adenopathy suggests a diagnosis other than CFS. |
(History of) swollen axillary nodes | The lymph nodes that are associated with CFS are small, moveable, not tender and most commonly involve the neck, axillary region or inguinal region. |
(Often) swollen inguinal nodes | The lymph nodes that are associated with CFS are small, moveable, not tender and most commonly involve the neck, axillary region or inguinal region. |
Counter-indicators:
 (Often) painful inguinal nodes
(History of) painful axillary nodes
(Frequent) painful cervical nodes |
Symptoms - Head - Eyes/Ocular |
Irritated eyes
Vision disturbances |
Symptoms - Head - Mouth/Oral |
(Very) dry mouth
Metallic taste in mouth
Abnormal tastes in mouth |
Symptoms - Head - Nose |
Nasal congestion |
Symptoms - Metabolic |
Low energy/stamina
Afternoon headaches
Temple-based headaches
Occassional/frequent 'chills'
Counter-indicators:
High energy/stamina |
Symptoms - Mind - General |
Short-term memory failure |
Symptoms - Muscular |
Tender muscles
Tight/rigid muscles
Leg/foot cramps
Counter-indicators:
Absence of muscular problems |
Symptoms - Nails |
Brittle fingernails |
Symptoms - Nervous |
Numb/tingling/burning extremities |
Symptoms - Reproductive - Female Cycle |
Hot flashes between/hot flashes during & after period |
Symptoms - Skeletal |
(Severe) diffuse bone pain
Joint pain/swelling/stiffness
Morning stiffness |
Symptoms - Skin - Conditions |
Tender lumps |
Symptoms - Sleep |
Being a light sleeper
Unsound sleep
(Frequent) difficulty falling asleep
Counter-indicators:
Being a deep sleeper |
Symptoms - Urinary |
(Not) having foamy urine
Strong-smelling urine
Dark urine color |
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Conditions that suggest Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome:
Risk factors for Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome:
Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome suggests the following may be present: | | | | | Circulation | Hypercoagulation (Thickened Blood) | Studies show that 79-92% of CFS/FMS patients have a hypercoagulation defect. |
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Hormones |
Low HGH (Human Growth Hormone) | It has been known for 25 years that FM patients have an abnormal sleep pattern involving stages 3 and 4 of non-REM sleep. As GH is secreted predominantly during stages 3 and 4 of non-REM sleep, it was originally hypothesized that FM patients may have impaired GH secretion. IGF-1 levels are abnormally low in some fibromyalgia patients.
In an analysis of IGF-1 levels in 500 female FM patients and 152 age matched non-FM subjects the mean IGF-1 level in the FM patients was 137 +/- 58ng/ml versus 216 +/- 86ng/ml in controls. Eighty-five percent of the FM patients had IGF-1 levels below the 50th percentile of the control population and 56% fell below the 20th percentile. |
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Immunity |
Immune System Imbalance (TH2 Dominance) | CFS patients are Th2 activated. This means they over-respond to toxins, allergens, normal bacteria and parasites, and under-respond to viruses, yeast, cancer and intracellular bacteria. |
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Organ Health |
Liver Detoxification / Support Requirement | In one evaluation of 200 Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia patients it was found that 80% had a significant impairment of liver detoxification function.
Patients suffering from toxic burdens may experience a wide range of symptoms, among them fatigue and poor tolerance for exercise. These processes have been postulated to be a central factor in the development of CFS. Oxidative damage to mitochondria and the detoxification process itself is being considered as a fundamental mechanism in the development of CFS. [1 Bland JS, HealthComm Inc., 1997; Int Clin Nutr Rev 1988;8(4): pp.173-5] |
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Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome can lead to: | | | | | Mental | Depression | 70% to 100% (different studies show various numbers) of fibromyalgia patients are found to have depression, though many consider that this is more likely to be a result of the muscular pain rather than part of the cause.
A sample of 69 patients with FM underwent a standardized tender point examination and a semistructured psychological interview and completed a set of self-report inventories. Of the sample, 39 met criteria for depressive disorder and 30 did not. [Evaluation of the Relationship Between Depression and Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Why Aren’t All Patients Depressed? Akiko Okifuji, Dennis C. Turk, Jeffrey J. Sherman] |
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Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome could instead be:
Recommendations and treatments for Chronic Fatigue / Fibromyalgia Syndrome: | | | | | Dental |  Dental Metal Removal | Hypersensitivity to dental metals and nickel is frequent in patients with CFS and MCS-like syndromes. Ongoing metal-induced inflammation can be present in the oral cavity and/or in any other place of metal deposition. Metal-driven chronic inflammation may affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis) and trigger a myriad of non-specific symptoms characterizing CFS, MCS and other related diseases. The removal of metallic restorations can reduce lymphocyte sensitization and improve the health of patients. [Neuroendocrinology Letters, 20: pp.289-298, 1999] |
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Diet |
 Raw Food Diet | In one study, the effect of a strict, low-salt, uncooked vegan diet rich in lactobacteria in 18 fibromyalgia patients both during and after a 3-month intervention period was evaluated. 15 patients continued their omnivorous diet as controls. The results revealed significant improvements in pain reduction, joint stiffness, quality of sleep, and overall scoring in all 3 questionnaires which were used. The majority of patients were overweight to some extent at the beginning of the study and shifting to a vegan food caused a significant reduction in body mass index. Total serum cholesterol showed a statistically significant lowering and urinary sodium dropped to 1/3 of the beginning value indicating good diet compliance. It can be concluded that a raw vegan diet has beneficial effects on fibromyalgia symptoms at least in the short run. [Scand J Rheumatol 2000;29(5): pp.308-13]
In another study, thirty people participated in a dietary intervention using a mostly raw, pure vegetarian diet. The diet consisted of raw fruits, salads, carrot juice, tubers, grain products, nuts, seeds, and a dehydrated barley grass juice product. 19 of 30 subjects were classified as responders, with significant improvement on all measured outcomes, compared to no improvement among non-responders. This dietary intervention shows that many fibromyalgia subjects can be helped by a mostly raw vegetarian diet. [BMC Complement Altern Med 2001;1(1): p.7] |
Plant-Based Nutrition
 Vinegar | May be an effective aid in the destruction of lipid-enveloped viruses, such as HIV, HHV-6 (strains A and B), EBV, CMV, and herpes. |
Aspartame (Nutrasweet) Avoidance
Coconut
Therapeutic Fasting |
Drug |
Guaifenesin
GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate) | GHB has been reported to help decrease pain and improve sleep amongst fibromyalgia patients. |
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Habits |
Not recommended:
 Aerobic Exercise | Exercise is often a problem for people with CFS because physical activity can worsen symptoms. Medical opinion has been divided on whether CFS patients should attempt regular exercise or not - some believe that gentle exercise is helpful, while others caution against any form of aerobic activity at all. However, a study published in the British Medical Journal found that patient education on CFS and a graded exercise program can greatly improve CFS symptoms in many cases.
Some people with CFS, especially in the weeks or months following onset, are unable to perform the most basic activities, such as showering or walking from one room to another. In such cases of extreme exhaustion and pain, the person may be confined to their bed. As time passes, they may feel a little better and attempt regular exercise. However, aerobic activity can cause a relapse of symptoms that forces the person back to their bed again. The added problem for CFS sufferers is that a sedentary lifestyle causes a range of other health problems including muscle wastage, loss of bone mass, and increased risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease.
A person with CFS needs a gentle approach to physical activity and should only make tiny increases in the frequency, duration and intensity of their exercise program. General suggestions include:- Aim for no more than three exercise sessions per week.
- Experiment to find the type of exercise that works best for you. Choose from a range of gentle activities such as stretching, yoga, Tai Chi, walking and light weight training.
- Stretching seems to be well tolerated by people with CFS. You may prefer to perform your stretching program while lying down in bed.
- Aerobic exercise seems to cause relapses for many people with CFS. If this is true for you, try non-aerobic forms of exercise like weight training with one-kilogram dumbbells.
- Learn from past relapses. For example, if walking for 20 minutes worsened your symptoms, try walking for five minutes and see how that goes. It may be helpful to keep a diary to keep track of what works and what doesn't.
- Stop the physical activity well before you feel tired.
- Remember that your exercise tolerance will differ from one day to the next.
- Listen to your body - if you don't feel up to exercising on a particular day, don't.
- Only increase the intensity, time spent or frequency of exercise when you know you can cope with it. For example, if you can exercise for five minutes without suffering a relapse, try for six minutes.
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Hormone |
DHEA |
Lab Tests/Rule-Outs |
Test Thyroid Function
Test Adrenal Function
Test for DHEA
Bacteria / Pathogen Testing by PCR |
Mineral |
MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane) | According to Dr. Stanley Jacobs, MD, MSM can be helpful in most musculoskeletal pain and inflammation conditions, including fibromyalgia. |
Magnesium | Fatigue is sometimes reduced with magnesium (and potassium) supplementation. The many enzyme systems that require magnesium help restore normal energy levels. |
Colloidal Silver |
Nutrient |
TMG (Tri-methyl-glycine)
Meyer's Cocktail
DMAE | DMAE increases the body's release of energy. |
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Oxygen / Oxidative Therapies |
Ozone / Oxidative Therapy |
Physical Medicine |
Calming / Stretching Exercises | Studies from Texas Tech University found that the yoga postures helped increase circulation to the limbs and decreased physically related anxiety. FMS sufferers frequently complain about decreased energy, but the Tech subjects reported that the yoga exercises actually increased energy levels. |
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Surgery/Invasive |
Surgery | Some dentists report treating chronic fatigue and arthritic pain by removing infected bone in the third molar area. These problems disappear in many patients after removing dental infections. |
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Vitamins |
Vitamin B-Complex |
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KEY | Weak or unproven link: may be a sign or symptom of; may suggest; may increase risk of; is very occasionally misdiagnosed as | | Strong or generally accepted link: is often a sign or symptom of; often suggests; often increases risk of; often leads to; is sometimes misdiagnosed as | | Definite or direct link: is a sign or symptom of; suggests; is often misdiagnosed as | | Weakly counter-indicative: may contraindicate | | Strong counter-indication: often contraindicates | | Definitely or absolutely counter-indicates: strongly contraindicates | | May be useful: may help with | | Moderately useful: often helps with | | Very useful: is highly recommended for | | Caution: is sometimes not recommended for |
Last updated: Apr 08, 2012
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