If you suffer with fatigue, count yourself among millions of Americans who suffer right along with you. In fact, fatigue is among the most prolific complaints of people going to the doctor. That begs a question... are they merely tired or are they severely fatigued? Often the degree of fatigue provides some indication of the actual, underlying problem causing it. (Hint: Fatigue, other than that from direct physical and mental exertion or related to the hours you've been awake, is not normal. If you have fatigue for no apparent reason, it may point to an underlying problem that deserves your attention.)
Example:
- Some fatigue may mean your sleep pattern is being interrupted or your body is weakened from anemia (a low red blood cell count). In your less than optimal state, you might come down with a cold, etc.
- A moderate amount of nagging fatigue could point to an unrelenting psychological or emotional problem or the onset of a bigger physical problem (like the beginning stages of a chronic illness.)
- Continuing, large volume, life-altering fatigue is the variety where you encounter such illnesses as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, cancer and the like.
As we delve deeper into the word fatigue, we realize that it's a hallmark symptom of many illnesses. Because of that fact, the word is much too common a term to be used in the name of an actual illness like "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)." This causes confusion among patients and professionals alike. Even saying the term, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, makes CFS sound like its sufferers are merely tired all the time (i.e. chronic). Unfortunately, that is only a part of the story.
Back in the early days of CFS, doctors and scientists should have picked a clearer, more definitive name for the illness before the term Chronic Fatigue Syndrome became so entrenched in society. Plus, because the medical profession has not been able to find a single causal factor for CFS, the name has become a thornier issue. People who suffer with it don't want such a trivial sounding name used to describe the catastrophic event that completely turned their lives upside down. This author knows of no perfect name that suits.
For further study, I recommend you look up Chronic fatigue no longer seen as yuppie flu, by David Tuller of Science Times. This article popped up on Co-Cure and offers a useful discussion about the name dilemma and the term, "fatigue."
But before you go, tell us what you think about the term "fatigue" as being part of the name of your illness. Does it help your cause or hurt it? Does it give legitmacy to your suffering or demean people with this horrible illness?
Thanks for your input, Cinda Crawford, host of the Health Matters Show
