myalgic encephalomyelitis
Do you know what myalgic encephalomyelitis is?
Have you ever encountered the term post-viral fatigue syndrome?
If you want to know more about the above syndrome, we recommend that you read more.
What you will read next:
Introduction
People who have had viral infections, including Covid 19 infection, have had a long-term condition called post-viral fatigue syndrome.
The director of the American Institute of Infectious Diseases, a senior official at the US Covid 19 Office, acknowledged that the above syndrome was very common in those recovering from Covid Nineteen. In this article, we want to focus more on this syndrome, which doctors call myalgic encephalomyelitis.
This syndrome can occur at any age, but it is said that adult women, as well as people with poor hygiene, will suffer more and longer from this syndrome.
Fatigue syndrome after virus or myalgic encephalomyelitis
It is said that this syndrome has symptoms such as fatigue and brain fog. These manifestations may be related to chemicals and cytokines that cross the blood-brain barrier of the infected person during a viral infection, leading to abnormalities in brain tissue.
The person's sleep-wake cycle may also change, causing cognitive problems and severe fatigue. Cytokine levels refer to protein compounds or proteins attached to compound sugars that play an important role in the path of inflammation and its management.
There is no approved treatment for this syndrome and doctors say it will improve over time.
We will talk more about this syndrome in the following:
Definition
Chronic Encephalomyelitis, or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, abbreviated ME / CFs, is a debilitating set of a number of ailments and illnesses. People with the condition often will not be able to perform their normal activities. Few people with this complication have excessive fatigue that does not improve even with rest and sleep.
This complication has a weakness and fatigue that is aggravated after any activity, even mental.
The symptoms of this complication are called post exertional malaise (PEM).
signs
The signs and symptoms of this disorder can be very similar to other illnesses. Therefore, it is very difficult to determine whether a person has a boredom of the organ and the organism or has this syndrome.
Boredom can be really unpredictable, symptoms can be intermittent, and can sometimes get worse from day to night. The doctor should be able to have this diagnosis in the corner of his mind and use special tests to rule out other causes. If other causes are ruled out, this complication can be one of the main reasons that can explain the person's fatigue and boredom. For example, the doctor should ask questions about the patient's health history and illness and recent viral illnesses, it is also best to ask about the symptoms of recent illnesses.
The doctor should also ask the patient how much he or she feels bored and how long he or she has had this boredom.
The patient should also be discussed about how these symptoms affect his or her quality of life.
Symptoms and manifestations are called primary symptoms, sometimes called core symptoms, and are necessary for diagnosis:
A decrease in a person's ability to perform activities that he / she has done well before. This inability greatly changes the level of activities of the affected person. Also, this disability can last for six months or more than six months, and people with the condition have weakness and fatigue that is very different from physical fatigue and it does not go away with sleep and rest, and the fatigue in this complication has the following characteristics:
The first characteristic is that it is very severe, and the second characteristic is that it is not the result of a hard and abnormal activity, and the third characteristic is that rest does not resolve with sleep, and the fourth characteristic is that a previous problem is the cause of the disease, and the person has not had this complication before.
The second and foremost symptom is the worsening of the symptoms of this complication due to mental and physical activities that do not follow a disease. This condition is called PEM and people who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome after a viral illness, describe it as a very difficult condition.
This condition can cause some patients to stay indoors or become completely dependent on bed. People with this condition are unable to participate in many social issues, for example, children may not be able to attend school activities and stay home, or they may not be able to do their homework for a few days.
Shopping as a physical activity that is essential to a person's life may be limited due to general weakness and the person may need a short nap and a car during the shopping process. It may be very difficult for some people to take a shower, it will also be very difficult to get up to go to work, and in these people another symptom is sleep problems in a person who suffers from this chronic fatigue syndrome. Despite fatigue, a person may not be able to sleep well or people may still feel tired after a very full sleep, and people with this condition may experience drowsiness and fatigue throughout the day.
In addition to the above symptoms, which are called the core symptoms, one of the following two symptoms should be present so that the doctor diagnoses this complication. The first sign is problems in memory and thinking. The second symptom is worsening of symptoms when a person stands or sits and is called orthostatic intolerance.
Other common symptoms include:
Pain and aches are very common symptoms in people with fatigue syndrome. There is usually variation in this pain from person to person, the types of pain that these people experience can include the following:
Muscle aches and pains, joint pain without inflammation, swelling or redness and headache
Some people with post-viral fatigue syndrome may have the following symptoms, for example, may experience digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, may have night sweats or chills, and may have sore throat without infection and inflammation in the throat. Lymph nodes in the neck or armpits may be torn, and during these periods there may be allergies to food and perfumes, light, sound, as well as advanced chemicals.
Some people may experience muscle weakness. shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeat are other accompanying symptoms.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of this complication depends on the skill and knowledge of the doctor and the treatment team. The treatment team must ask about the history of recent illnesses of the person, as well as the family history, and a complete mental and physical examination must be performed. also blood and urine tests must be requested for better diagnosis. To better diagnose boredom, some centers sometimes use a list of questions. Some of these questions include:
the first question: how long have you had this boredom?
The second Question: Do you have the ability to do your daily tasks?
How much has your strength and power to do everyday things changed compared to before?
Can you do your mental activities well?
Are your thoughts and judgments as clear and sound as in the past?
What symptoms do you have that make you unable to perform your daily tasks?
treatment
There is currently no cure for this complication, but some symptoms can be better controlled and managed with some symptomatic therapies. These symptoms may improve or relieve in some patients with supportive treatments, but in some patients they may still remain. Physicians need to find new strategies to discover better ways to manage this complication. Patients and their families and treatment teams should work together to improve the patient's condition and relieve symptoms.
These people and this group should be in touch with each other about the patient's response to treatment plans and programs, and the patient and his family should be supported by the treatment team.
- Therapeutic strategies to improve sleep
People with this complication usually feel that they are not tired after a good night's sleep and still feel tired.
A common problem with sleep disorders is that these people fall asleep poorly or are unable to maintain their sleep continuity when they fall asleep. Sometimes they may be too drowsy and may oversleep, or they may have difficult dreams and nightmares. These people experience restless legs syndrome and problems such as muscle spasms in sleep more than others. When these people go to the doctor with these problems, in the first step, it is often recommended to use OTC drugs that improve sleep. If these do not help, doctors may prescribe certain medications for the temporary period of time, which is very limited.
- Strategies to improve pain
As we have said, these people experience different pains. Headaches, which are generally sharp, sore throats as well as skin sensitivities. When the patient talks to the treatment team about these pains, the first recommendation is that to use OTC analgesics such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. If these are not accountable, a pain specialist may need to see the patient and prescribe a special prescription for his pains.
Massage therapy, the use of stretching exercises and sometimes movement therapy as well as acupuncture may help, they are advised to undergo hydrotherapy and contact a doctor who has sufficient experience in managing these patients.
Managing mood swings such as: Depression, stress and anxiety in these people is important. Some patients really need to be prescribed anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drugs, so they should contact a specialist. Some of these people may use techniques such as deep breathing, massage and yoga muscle relaxation techniques as well as stretching exercises. All of these can reduce stress and anxiety in people and make them feel better.
- Therapeutic strategy for lightheadedness
People with this complication often experience some manifestations following sitting and standing for long periods of time, including the following: Weakness, lightheadedness, and feelings such as increased heart rate. In these people, in the first step, the doctor should check the cardiovascular health through examinations. Also, in these people, it is necessary to see a neurologist. These people may not have any vascular disease, but this must be confirmed by a specialist doctor. If cardiovascular health is confirmed, more fluids are recommended for these people. If they do not have a problem, they should take a little more sodium salt, and if the problem does not go away, they should be helped with medication.
- Solutions to improve memory and concentration
most well-known abilities of people may undergo many changes. These people may have attention and concentration problems. These people need to receive a specialist doctor's prescription to improve their condition. Some doctors prescribe medications that is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to increase their focus and attention.
Other problems that must be managed in these people should be mentioned problems such as fatigue after mental or physical activity, these people experience symptoms in the range and forty-eight hours after this activity or exposure to light and sound.
How can we live with this complication?
If you are a person who suffers from this complication yourself or those around you, you should know that following some strategies can make the situation easier for you.
The first solution is to be sure to consult with a specialized team. Having a therapy will help you find the right strategy to manage your boredom and weakness. This expert will also introduce you to people like you so that you can better share solutions to improve the situation in the working groups.
The second solution is to eat a balanced and healthy diet, and your diet should include all nutritional groups and contain the least amount of artificial substances and harmful fats.
Taking nutritional supplements: Your doctor may recommend that you take certain supplements and nutrition based on the laboratory tests they have received from you.
And remember that it is better not to go for supplements without a doctor's prescription.
Some therapies that can be helpful include gentle massage, deep breathing, relaxation therapy, and acupuncture, which may help some of these people.