ME/CFS
‘‘Despite having ME/CFS for 18 years, I am now able to work sustainably by applying self management skills and making adaptations to my role’’
Vitality360 employee
ME/CFS
What is ME/CFS?
According to NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) Guidelines, ME/CFS:
is a complex, chronic medical condition affecting multiple body systems and its pathophysiology is still being investigated
affects everyone differently and its impact varies widely – for some people symptoms still allow them to carry out some activities, whereas for others they cause substantial incapacity
is a fluctuating condition in which a person's symptoms can change unpredictably in nature and severity over a day, week or longer
can affect different aspects of the lives of both people with ME/CFS and their families and carers, including activities of daily living, family life, social life, emotional wellbeing, work and education.
All of these symptoms should be present:
Debilitating fatigue that is worsened by activity, is not caused by excessive cognitive, physical, emotional or social exertion, and is not significantly relieved by rest.
Post-exertional malaise after activity in which the worsening of symptoms:
is often delayed in onset by hours or days
is disproportionate to the activity
has a prolonged recovery time that may last hours, days, weeks or longer
Unrefreshing sleep or sleep disturbance (or both), which may include:
feeling exhausted, feeling flu-like and stiff on waking
broken or shallow sleep, altered sleep pattern or hypersomnia
Cognitive difficulties (sometimes described as 'brain fog'), which may include problems finding words or numbers, difficulty in speaking, slowed responsiveness, short-term memory problems, and difficulty concentrating or multitasking
What are the symptoms of ME/CFS?
There is no diagnostic test for ME/CFS and it is recognised on clinical grounds alone.
ME/CFS is likely to be suspected if:
You have had all of the persistent symptoms for at least 6 weeks (4 weeks in children/young adults)
Your ability to engage in work, education, social or personal activities is significantly reduced from before you were feeling ill
Your symptoms have not been explained through tests for any other conditions
ME/CFS Symptoms Profile
What causes ME/CFS?
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the causes are still under investigation. Possible triggers could be:
Virus/infection
Stress affecting body chemistry
Changes in energy production
Possible genetic link
How is it diagnosed?
If you have been experiencing 4 or more of the core symptoms, then we recommend that you make an appointment to discuss this with your GP.
They may conduct a series of blood tests to rule out other possible causes of fatigue.
How is it treated?
Some NHS authorities have ME/CFS clinics which you could be referred to for specialist input, but service provision varies across the country.
Our comprehensive assessments and bespoke rehabilitation programmes get the best outcomes because:
We offer a multi-disciplinary team approach, whereas most models use a single disciplinary intervention
Our approach is based on the evidence of optimum intervention from the Pain Society & NICE guidelines. Read the evidence base that underpins our work here.
Rehabilitation may be a combination of
activity management including physical, cognitive, and social activities
sleep analysis, sleep management advice, rest, and relaxation training
dietetic assessment and advice
specific psychological interventions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Read our relevant blogs
