Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a profound, incurable fatigue. Sleep or rest does not cure or relieve it. The fatigue is not associated with long hours at work or excessive exercise. CFS substantially impairs a person’s ability to function normally at home and work. Usually, people with this syndrome cut back severely, or entirely, on their social life. Frequently, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome co-exists with Fibromyalgia.
        People who develop CFS usually report a flu-like illness at its onset, including “ordinary” flu-symptoms such as runny nose, fever, muscle aches, etc. Most don’t perceive the flu-like symptoms to be particularly severe. In ordinary infections, the symptoms go away in a few days. But in CFS related illness, the terrible and pervasive fatigue that follows can persist for months or even years.
        According to the most recent criteria for diagnosing CFS, 4 or more of the following must be present for at least six months before a diagnosis of CFS is given.

• Short-term memory loss or severe inability to concentrate where work, school or other normal day-today activities are affected • Sore throat • Swollen lymph nodes in the neck or armpits • Intense or changing pattern of headaches • Unrefreshing sleep • After exertion, weariness that lasts for longer than a day

        CFS is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning that all other explanation for the above symptoms have been ruled out.