Healthy Healing: CFS Diet Plan

Healthy Healing: CFS Diet

 

You have probably heard the cliché "You are what you eat". Diet effects not only CFS patients, but everyone. Processed foods cause a burst of energy from sugar surges, followed by drowsiness and fatigue. I'm sure you can recall the tired, full feeling after a large meal of Chinese takeout. Although a great sleep remedy, Chinese food does not provide the body with the sufficient nutrients needed for energy conversions. Nutritious foods are specifically important in a CFS patient's diet. A healthy diet helps eliminate fatigue by producing natural energy that lasts all day. The first step to eliminate fatigue is to develop a healthy diet plan including nutrient rich organic foods and avoiding processed foods.


Foods to Avoid

It is important to avoid processed carbohydrates, such as the sugar or white flour found in white bread, crackers, cakes, cookies, and soda. Kent Holtorf, MD, a board-certified endocrinologist reported, “Sugar has multiple detrimental effects in CFS patients. It suppresses the immune system, increases inflammation, and stimulates yeast overgrowth in the intestines,” But that's not all... Sugar also causes a rapid rise in blood sugar, known as hypoglycemia. This causes symptoms of anxiety, fatigue, and even sugar cravings. Sugar tastes so good but feels so bad.

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Healthy Foods

CFS patients should develop a diet plan based on a low-carb diet of organic and unprocessed foods. John Salerno, MD, specialized on CFS and states that this diet improves CFS symptoms. Some foods that are tolerated well by CFS patients are wild-caught fish, grass-fed meats, organic vegetables and eggs, and full-fat cheeses. To satisfy the sweet senses, add dark colored fruit like berries. 

In addition, increasing salt, water, and protein intake is also recommended. Some CFS patients become dehydrated by inadequate adrenal hormone levels and need to increase their salt and water intake. Consuming more proteins tend to help stabilize blood sugar and prevent hypoglycemia. 

So, next time you order Chinese take out, remember that input equals output. Even people without CFS should consider a healthy diet plan. Eating right is the first step to living healthy and feeling healthy and full of natural energy. Before taking prescription medications, CFS patients should try a low-carb diet to eliminate fatigue. Don't let unhealthy food stand in the way of living your life.

 



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Resource:

 

Myers, Wyatt, MD. "Fighting Chronic Fatigue Syndrome With a Natural Energy Diet." EverydayHealth.com. N.p., 4 Mar. 2010. Web. 29 Nov. 2014. Retrieved from: http://www.everydayhealth.com/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/healthy-diet.aspx

 

 

Living and Managing Life With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Managing CFS

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Managing CFS can be as difficult as diagnosing CFS. There is no cure, no prescription drugs specifically for CFS, and symptoms vary greatly among patients. To manage this syndrome, communication with the doctor and monitoring one's health is very important. Notified the doctor of any change in health. In turn, the doctor should alter treatment strategies accordingly. If adequate communication between the patient and doctor exist, together they can design the best treatment program for the patient. The program should consists of a combination of therapies that address coping techniques, symptoms, and managing daily activities. A team of doctors and other medical professionals may benefit the patient, as CFS has an array of diverse symptoms. This team may include rehabilitation specialists, mental health professionals, and physical or exercise therapists. Relief of the patient's symptoms is the main goal of the program.

 

Living With CFS
Living with CFS can be very difficult and frustrating as the patient learns to cope with new life styles based around monitoring and suppressing unpredictable symptoms. Coping with inefficient stamina and memory and concentration problems effect work, school, and daily life. Stressed relationships cause anxiety, anger, and worry. In some cases, patients must learn to rely on other, losing their independence, livelihood, and economic security. Additional stress cause symptoms to worsen. The faster patients cope with these daily life changes, the sooner they will find relief.

Take Action
To begin managing CFS, doctors recommend to treat the most disruptive symptoms first, including pain, sleep deprivation, dizziness, depression, and memory and concentration problems. Patients' over the counter use of medicines are closely monitored. Developing activity programs allow patients to return to their daily lives. To avoid over exhaustion, councilors and therapist help develop a limitation plan to help patients realize when to stop or take breaks. Most importantly, Cognitive behavioral therapy, professional counseling, and support groups help patients improve their health and over all quality of life. Learning to manage these aspects can vastly improve the lives of patients with CFS. There may not be a cure, but there is a way to improve CFS symptoms. The patient can control CFS instead of CFS controlling the patient.

http://shiftingselfdevelopment.com/

Resource
"Management of CFS." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 May 2012. Web. 23 Nov. 2014. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/management/

Picture 1 retrieved from: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/26529085274658639/

Picture 2 retrieved from: http://shiftingselfdevelopment.com/

How CFS Affects the Body Systems

How CFS Affects the Body Systems

Chronic Fatigue affects several body systems including the immune, endocrine, hematological (formation of new red blood cells), and the nervous system. Cell receptors of each of these systems are shared so it is difficult to have a problem with one and not the rest of them. CFS also effects the Gastrointestinal Tract (GI)- basically every system in the body. This is part of the reason why CFS is hard to detect. 

The Nervous System (the brain)

There is a deficit in the regional cerebral blood flow in CFS  patients. Hypotension is linked to CFS, which is an abnormality in the way the body regulates blood pressure. This occurs with the CNS's autonomic portion controlling heart rate and blood pressure and lowers and slows down blood pressure which is the opposite of what the body needs at in this situation (CFS Nervous). The decrease in blood pressure can be triggered simply from the subject standing up (CFS Maryland). The CNS is involved in the functioning of all other systems of the body so, this can turn into a rather large problem.

This system controls important functions like stress response, sleep, and depression (CFS Maryland).

Common CNS symptoms include neurocognitive impairments, like difficulties processing information and concentration, confusion, slowed thought, disorientation, cognitive overload, slow decision making and speech, dyslexia, dyscalculia, short-term memory loss, word retrieval problems, poor information recall, and impaired working memory. 

There's also neurosensory and perceptual impairments, like difficulty focusing, depth perception, and sensitivity to light, noise, vibration, odor, taste, and touch. 

Motor systems like weak muscles, twitching, poor coordination, and balance loss are also related to the CNS disfunctions.

Immune System 

CFS has been referred to as "chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome." Sometimes the immune system overreacts and other times it under reacts but there is no evidence that CFS is an immune disease. 

Allergies to food, pollen, and metals such as nickel are common to CFS patients. Allergies may cause a cascade of immune abnormalities which lead to the development of CFS, although, this is simply a theory. 

Autoimmune Abnormalities may be present as well, but it is not known for sure. What is know is that patients have similarities with many of the same risks for autoimmune diseases (CFS Maryland).

Endocrine System

Compared to a healthy subject, patients with CFS have abnormalities of the hypothalamic-pituitary axes. For example, there is a deficiency in the hypothalamic production of corticotrophin releasing hormone, leading to inefficient ACTH released by the pituitary, which in turn, leads to hypocortisolism. The adrenal gland is half the size of healthy subjects. The blunt ACTH response means that the HPA activation by serotonin is defective in patients with CFS with effects the release of CRH from the hypothalamus. Also, hormonal irregularities have been found.

These three system are all linked --  The CNS releases neurochemicals that regulate the nervous system; the immune system releases cytokines that regulate the nervous system; the endocrine system releases hormones that affect the nervous and immune system, and so on.

Resources 

"Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." University of Maryland Medical Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2014. Retrieved from http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/chronic-fatigue-syndrome

"Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Nervous System Involvement." Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Nervous System Involvement. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2014. Retrieved from http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro02/web3/ngjivoje.html

Retrieved from 

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Personal CFS Story: Denise La Clair

Though out my blogs, I have defined and described Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia. Instead of listing more definitions about this syndrome, I am writing about Denise La Clair's battle with CSF/FMS. Sometimes, as college students, it is difficult to apply text book material to real life situations. Denise La Clair's story helped me truly grasp the hardships and difficulties of CFS, but it also displayed her discipline and determination to live with her disability.

Denise La Clair is a mother of three children and has a full time job as a teacher at Creighton University. She believes she first developed CFS when she fell down concrete stairs at the age of 17. "After the fall, I started having serious problems getting solid sleep, and over the following years, experienced increased fatigue, terrible headaches, and an inability to walk without pain or with endurance." She blamed this on laziness which significantly lowered her self esteem. Denise lived in pain with no explanation for over two decades until she was diagnosed with CFS at the age of 40. "Not having a medical explanation for my symptoms, I felt a sense of shame. I tried to find reasons for my inability to keep up: I must be out of shape physically, or stressed from being a college student, then a new mother, and finally teaching while running a household." This all turned around with the proper treatment and counseling from her doctor. She was prescribed over the counter medication, including sleep medication, and began weekly physical therapy. With the assurance that she was not a "faker" she redeemed her self esteem and learned a verity of strategies to keep up with the world.

Denise learned to manage all perspectives of her life to accommodate for her hidden disorder. Acceptance was first on the list. Since her CFS could not be cured, the next best option is to learn to live with it. She learned to plan how she spent her energy because every little bit was so valuable.  Instead of becoming overwhelmed, she began to listen to her bodies reaction and modify as needed. Doing less in the day allowed more energy to enjoy spending time with her family and participating in outings with friends. She was willing to make the necessary life changes, so now, she is back to enjoying HER life. 

Denise states, "My adaptations have not cured me of FMS. I still have bad flares and I still get discouraged, but I have learned how to manage the disorder, so I am no longer overwhelmed." A good diet, quality sleep, daily, planned rests, and careful pacing along with some medications (both prescription drugs and supplements) have been vital for her improved health. The medical community had little understanding of CFS/FMS so most of her initial success was due to trial and error. Now that doctors realize this is a real condition, more beneficial treatment is available. So many patients with CFS/FMS lack the motivation to be proactive and take control of their syndrome. Life may be difficult with CFS, but it is still worth living.

Reference

"Learning to Manage Fibromyalgia." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2014.

How is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Acquired?





This week, I will dive into the debate of the development of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The cause of CFS is unknown, although, multiple factors may be simultaneously involved in the development of CFS. Age, previous illnesses, stress, genetics, and environmental factors may play a role its development. Inflammation in the nervous system due to malfunctioning immune system response or human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6) may also play a minor role (CFS, 2014).

"Recent research is finding strong links with food malabsorption, food intolerance and gut dysbiosis" (What is ME/CFS, 2014). CFS commonly follows Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, which is characterized by low tolerance for everyday chemicals causing headaches and asthma.

As previously mentioned, many CFS patients are suffering from one or more of the conditions listed above. Having CFS is like enduring the flu for six months. CFS is linked to a wide variety of conditions which makes it difficult to pin point a specific cause. More research is needed in order to determine how this syndrome is acquired.

 References

"Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2014.

"What Is ME/CFS." What Is ME/CFS. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2014.

The Symptoms, Prognosis, and Treatment for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

We have all had days when the sun comes too soon and bedtime does not come soon enough. Now, imagine if you felt like this everyday. Patients with CFS struggle daily with responsibilities in the house or at the office. CFS causes drowsy moods and memory loss, ergo, victims usually cannot work more than part-time jobs. In some cases, even part-time jobs are too much to handle and often results in being laid off. "Most patients say that while fatigue is the most incapacitating symptom, mental impairment, such as an inability to concentrate or remember, is the most distressing symptom" (CFS, 2012). 

Symptoms

Chronic fatigue syndrome is defined as exactly what the name implies, fatigue. CFS can be identified by eight official symptoms: 

• Fatigue
• Loss of memory or concentration
• Sore throat
• Enlarged lymph nodes in your neck or armpits
• Unexplained muscle pain
• Pain that moves from one joint to another without swelling or redness
• Headache of a new type, pattern or severity
• Unrefreshing sleep
• Extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours after physical or mental exercise
  ("CFS" Symptoms, 2014).
  
  
  
  Treatments
  
  

Some treatments for CFS include:

1. Home remedies and lifestyle changes
2. Therapy
3. Medications
4. Alternative Medicine 

The treatment for CSF vary because there is no cure and the symptoms vary with each patient. Some have tried home remedies and lifestyle changes such as regulating or eliminating caffeine intake to help with insomnia. Regular sleep routines also help with the insomnia. 

There are two types of therapy known to help with CFS patients: psychological counseling and physical therapy. Psychological counseling can help patients deal with the symptoms of CFS and physical therapy help patients maintain a steady pace throughout the day so they will not become fatigued or overwhelmed.

Depression, restless nights, and pain are common symptoms of CFS. Doctors may prescribe medications that aid or numb these symptoms. No medication can cure CFS but they can help the patient feel more comfortable. Some alternative medication include acupuncture, tai chi, yoga, and messages to relieve pain (DiMaria, 2012). 

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Feeling tired or fatigued every now and then is normal but if this drowsiness occurs day after day, it may be time to visit the doctor. People do not have to live with the symptoms and signs of CFS. There may not be a cure but there is help.

References 

"Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." Symptoms. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Sept. 2014. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/basics/symptoms/con-20022009

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome." N.p., 7 Feb. 2012. Web. Retrieved from
http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/prognosis.html

DiMaria, Christine. "CSF (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)." Healthline. N.p., 18 July 2012. Web. Retrieved from http://www.healthline.com/health/chronic-fatigue-syndrome#Symptoms5

Welcome to my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Blog!

Welcome to my blog on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). I am a senior student at Francis Marion University and over the next 13 weeks I will dive deeper into this syndrome. I became interested in this topic over the last year as I watched my aunt experience frequent persistent bouts of fatigue. After many doctor visits a diagnosis of CFS was made. In researching this topic, I discovered a genetic component and as a bit of a hypochondriac I want to be prepared just in case. Each week I will focus on a different aspect of CFS. Please feel free to comment and I will respond to your questions. I know I am not alone in my hypochondria so stay tuned.....

Let's get started on a brief pathophysiology of CFS. I found a great You Tube Video that covers the basics of CFS and I have included the link for your viewing.

"CFS is defined as at least 6 months of severe fatigue and disabling musculoskeletal and cognitive symptoms (impairment in short-term memory or concentration, headache, tender lymphadenopathy, muscle or joint pain, unrefreshed sleep, and post-exertional malaise lasting > 24 h) without another explanation" (Katz & Jason, 2013). 

In a study by Cho, Skowera, Cleare, & Wessely, 2006, CFS is defined as a functional somatic syndrome possibly involving the central nervous syndrome, serotonergic system, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, immune system, genetics and psychological factors. Sounds like a lot, but do not worry I will break this down into understandable bite size pieces next week.

References

Cho, H., Skowera, A., Cleare, A., & Wessely, S. (2006). Chronic fatigue syndrome: an update focusing on phenomenology and pathophysiology. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 19(1), 67-73.

Katz, B., & Jason, L. (2013). Chronic fatigue syndrome following infections in adolescents. Current Opinion In Pediatrics,25(1), 95-102. doi:10.1097/MOP.0b013e32835c1108


The Physiology of Pathophysiology

Trying to write about the pathophysiology when experts in the field can not agree on a true pathophysiology or etiology of CFS is a daunting task. There really is no definitive pathophysiological explanation for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. There is a differentiation of trigger between adolescents versus adults. According to a study by Katz and Jason (2013) 10% of adults and up to 90% of adolescents can relate a trigger  to development of CFS. Presence of pathogens or a biological cause have been cited as a cause of CFS by some, others claim a psychological component. Either way it is real. In adults, 75% have symptoms indicative of autonomic dysfunction (Katz, and Jason 2013). Adolescence tend to have orthostatic intolerance. It is questionable if the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis abnormality is an issue which may cause CFS.

"CFS is identified by symptoms and has no confirmatory physical signs or laboratory abnormalities. The etiology and pathophysiology remain unknown and there is an amazing lack of consensus in the findings of many well-conducted studies" (CDC 2010). Even though there is no confirmatory, Van Houdenhove et al, (2007) hypothesized the CFS decrease in motor performance involved physical deconditioning, perceptional disturbance, and the neurobiological stress system. In other words, CFS is frequently misdiagnosed and put off as basically just being tired.

Basically what's not working are the neurotransmitters in the brain, immunological issues, and possibly neuroendocrine dysfunction (Van Houdenhove et al 2007). Patients who do not have CFS do not exhibit decreased motor function or exercise intolerance, two common signs of CFS.

References

Carlisle, S., & Thompson, J., (2014). Image: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Retrieved from http://www.bing.com/images/searchq=images+of+chronic+fatigue+syndrome&id=0BDA08CF9CC7003F0BBDC1124066E3D8A5998A84&FORM=IQFRBA#view=detail&id=0BDA08CF9CC7003F0BBDC1124066E3D8A5998A84&selectedIndex=0

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/programs/cdc_research/program_update_2002-2003.html


Katz, B., & Jason, L. (2013). Chronic fatigue syndrome following infections in adolescents. Current Opinion In Pediatrics,25(1), 95-102. doi:10.1097/MOP.0b013e32835c1108

Van Houdenhove, B., Verheyen, L., Pardaens, K., Luyten, P., & Van Wambeke, P. (2007). Rehabilitation of decreased motor performance in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome; should we treat low effort capacity or reduced effort tolerance?. Clinical Rehabilitation, 21(12), 1121-1142.