It seems that for many, the twin sister of fibromyalgia is chronic fatigue syndrome.  I am blessed that I only have to deal with one sister.  I know my mother has had to deal with both of these degenerative deseases, and so being a bit familiar with them both, I thought I would provide some basic information on CFS.  This is going to be two parts.  The first part will be the background and diagnosis.  The second part will deal with symptoms.

Experts believe that as many as one million people in the United States alone may be suffering from what is commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This debilitating illness can vary in severity from the mild to the extreme, and for many, it may disrupt every aspect of their lives.

The issue of defining Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is one that's been subject to much debate amongst the medical community. In the early 1980s, CFS was dubbed "the yuppie flu" and then referred to as chronic EBV, for the Epstein-Barr virus, which was named for scientists who discovered the herpes-type virus in 1964.

A diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

People of all ages, race, and gender can be affected by CFS, but the illness is more commonly diagnosed in women who are in the 40 to 50 year age range. Since there are no outward physical signs or specific, standard tests for CFS, a true diagnosis can only be made through a careful evaluation by physicians who are both familiar with the illness, and who also have a willingness to make an ongoing effort to treat and understand the disease.

In order for one's fatigue and tiredness to be considered severe, it must meet or exceed the following criteria:

- Fatigue is not relieved or does not improve after resting
- Being tired is not the result of strenuous activity or physical labor
- Fatigue interferes with your ability to function properly in your daily life
- Fatigue worsens during or after an illness and increases with both mental and physical exertion

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