I know you’re tired, and you might be having difficulty staying focused, so I will try to be as brief as possible. If you don’t have much time, just skip to the detox section of this article. It’s the literary money shot. In this article, I want to share a little about treatments that worked for me, and to encourage others to share their stories and, more importantly, their successes in treating this condition.
For My Fellow CFSers…
Anyone with CFS will recognize the following interaction: Me: I have CFS. Other person: Oh, I have that too! I’m always tired, ha haha! No! Unless they have a clinical diagnosis, your friend or colleague doesn’t have CFS, and they likely can’t relate to how truly disruptive it is to your everyday life. When this conversation occurs, I usually end up holding my tongue, and deciding (and failing) never again to reveal I have CFS. Just as an aside, a clever rejoinder, if that’s your style, would be to prompt them “ya, I bet you really sleep well when you get to sleep, am I right?” Your interlocutor will likely agree and go on about how they could sleep all day. That’s when you go for the kill and explain that CFS is characterized by chronic insomnia. Folks with CFS are tired all the time, yet sleep is the elusive enemy. That’ll shut them down, right? Maybe, maybe not, but maybe this ending will give you some measure of catharsis. The frustration of that simple interaction pales in comparison to the daily struggles endured by sufferers of this syndrome.
A few Symptoms
Yes. CFS sufferers are tired most days, and spend nights tired but unable to get to that quality sleep they so desperately crave. Your energy is perpetually low, and throughout the work day you may enjoy one of a spectrum of symptoms including:
- Headaches;
- Muscle and joint pain;
- Sudden and severe tiredness;
- Fever;
- Lack of concentration (known as a “fog”);
- Mood swings and depression.
It’s not solely if you have ever had a fever or headaches, or were tired and depressed, everyone has, of course. A CFS diagnosis is made when there is a pernicious cluster of these symptoms constantly interferes with daily functioning. Personally, I feel one of the major symptoms of my condition is a compulsion to read the internet and find out just what the heck is wrong with me and how to fix it! I’ll try not focus on negatives, but I want to submit some positive suggestions for fellow desperate sufferers. Where I have found the most success is with detoxes, so next I’ll recommend a variety of detox tools and options.
Detox Tools and Options
I’ll jump at anything, no matter how hokey it sounds, to try to find some measure of relief. I’ve taken many supplements like magnesium or Omega-3 fatty acids, and I’ve tried antidepressants, loading up with legal amphetamines like caffeine, vitamins D and B12, and I have tried several detox programs. Some detoxes work, and some have no effect. When starting your detox journey, a Google search will usually land you on the most popular options for detox, and they’re worth trying. For example, here are two that I’ve tried:
- The colon cleanse – Using supplements or a DIY recipe, the colon cleanse simply helps along the body’s natural detoxifying systems. It’s not just what you put in, but getting what’s in you out. This cleanse (on its own) raised my energy levels and led to a greater sense of wellbeing.
- The liver cleanse – This one is best done yourself from scratch and not with supplements. What I did here was simply follow the advice at this website, and it led to an overall improvement in my health and wellbeing. The fatigue abated, and that was what allowed me to write my thoughts today.
Aside from detoxes you can try at home, there are other detox-related tools and helpful habits that I have had success with. For example:
- Mindfulness meditation – It’s the practice of noticing what your mind and body are doing, thereby gaining distance from them. It is amazing that quiet contemplation can so dramatically affect one’s psyche and physical wellbeing. There are tons of guided session available on YouTube to get you started.
- Detox patches – They’re from Japan and they are a supplement to your supplement. Detox patches enhanced the effects of every detox I’ve tried. They go on your foot. I used these ones.
- Exercise – Take it from me, I know how difficult it can be to motivate yourself to exercise when chronically fatigued. But, when you come out the other end of 15 minutes of daily low impact cardio, you are better. Everything is better.
- Baking soda – A scoop of safe, natural baking soda in every bath has some sort of a positive overall effect on my energy levels. I’ll go where I need to go to get well!
- Kratom powder – This one is controversial and not a long-term cure, but a temporary natural energy and mood boost that you should use only when necessary. Currently, it’s a legal herbal supplement, but its legality is being challenged by the DEA.
- Detox Foot Pads – read more about these detoxification pads here.
Moving Forward
Will these options work for you? I don’t know. But, they work for me. It is key that you have an open mind when considering treatment options. You need to follow the evidence to where it leads, and you need to be results-oriented in your search. That’s something else no one without CFS seems to get. We need to take a scientific, trial and error approach to our treatment options. Rather than only consulting the existing body of scientific literature on our condition, we must also be our own scientists. Experiment with a variety of CFS treatments and report on the results. That’s also key; sharing. I encourage all my readers, right now, to start sharing their stories and specifically their reports on what worked. Let’s create our own community where we share our knowledge and experience of effective ways to surmount the challenges presented to us by the roll of the genetic dice. This is your call to action. Let’s work together!
