Bit confused

Ive read so many different contradicting reports. Is CFS the same as M.E? What is the difference?

Thanks for clearing that up for me :o)

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Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in March and now looking for friends to help me in my fibro journey :o)

Yes, ME & CFS are exactly the same thing which is why you will see in articles as M.E./CFS. ME (Myalgic Encephlomyelitis) is a name that people who suffer with this illness have been promoting because CFS is such a vague name & doesn't really show the full illness, it just says fatigue. Hugs, Denise

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Fibromyalgia-dx'd: 2006, ME/CFS-dx'd: 2006, Holt-Oram Syndrome dx'd 1975, reduced lung capacity dx'd 2009, nasal allergies, food allergies, depression (lifetime problem) IBS, neuropathy in hips

I have 4 children & 7 grandchildren.

As apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time for it. Prov. 25:11

thanks...I read one report that said they are not the same M.E is inflammation of the spinal cord and brain and can cause damage to all of the major organs in the body...Most people with M.E have CFS, But not necessarily everyone with CFS has M.E?

I also have a friend who had M.E back in the 90s and she is now in remission...she said they are not the same even though they share a lot of the same symptoms.

But most places you read, say they are the same...including PVFS...Thats why I was confused and wanted to hear what everyones experiences were.

xx

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Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in March and now looking for friends to help me in my fibro journey :o)

While a lot of people and organisations call them the same, it's still up for debate if it truly is.

There's a lot of people who have chronic fatigue, but have it caused by other issues or illnesses, whether explained or not. More of a syndrome.

ME is a distinct disease.

The best comparison between the two is found on this website

http://www.hfme.org/comparisonchart.htm

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Newly registered contributer/member, but long time lurker/reader.

Kayla, I have CFS which is not chronic fatigue, it is an illness. I am not just chronically fatigued, I have many symptoms that go along with it, I feel like I am exhausted all the time but I also have flulike symptoms that can keep me down for days. I have body aches, memory & cognative problems, swollen glands, nausea & a malaise that has me in bed for days after exertion. I don't get true refreshing sleep & somedays feel like I didn't sleep at all. This is exactly why we have been pushing for a name change for years, it is why we are not listened to by doctors, it is why our families think it is all in our heads & we just have to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps & get on with life. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is not just fatigue but an illness that is now looked at as possibly an auto immune disease not of the T cells like others but of the B cells. My daughter has Lupus, Scleraderma, Myocitis & RA, one of her symptoms is chronic fatigue but we see a major difference in our fatigue even though both of them are chronic, the syndrome is definitely a separate illness. Another thing researchers are looking at is mitochondrial disfunction & this research is looking promising. There is a lot of confusion about CFS & we have been trying to get the truth out there so we will be heard. I hope this helps, a lot of the old articles on the web do say they are the same but that is old school thinking & quite a bit has changed since, hugs, Denise

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Fibromyalgia-dx'd: 2006, ME/CFS-dx'd: 2006, Holt-Oram Syndrome dx'd 1975, reduced lung capacity dx'd 2009, nasal allergies, food allergies, depression (lifetime problem) IBS, neuropathy in hips

I have 4 children & 7 grandchildren.

As apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time for it. Prov. 25:11

Yes there is certainly a difference between chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Just as there are many causes of chronic fatigue, and many causes of chronic fatigue syndrome.

ME is a step up from CFS.

Someone with chronic fatigue (not CFS) cant say they have ME.

Just as someone wth chronic fatigue syndrome cant say they have ME if it is infact caused by other things that havent been investigated as possible causes.

Im all for CFS and ME, certainly not siding with doctors and doubters. Just saying that there's different levels of severeness.

Jewelrylady/ Denise - Did u ever get tested for lyme and coinfections?

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Newly registered contributer/member, but long time lurker/reader.
Full time researcher and freelance writer.

Kayla, thanks for the link, very helpful

Kayla, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you, I have been really sick for awhile now & am just starting to come back around to having some energy. This is usually when I can post & I am getting tired of my bed & couch, LOL. I have never been tested for Lyme but I had never felt the need to check. I have read alot about it but just don't feel it fits me. I am going to talk to my Dr about it & also check into adrenal fatigue. I would like to be tested for both now. I would love to find something that I can maybe do something about, not much but feel like I can have some control. Right now I feel like my life is out of control, the only thing I can control is how I handle each day. Hope you are feeling good today, hugs, Denise

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Fibromyalgia-dx'd: 2006, ME/CFS-dx'd: 2006, Holt-Oram Syndrome dx'd 1975, reduced lung capacity dx'd 2009, nasal allergies, food allergies, depression (lifetime problem) IBS, neuropathy in hips

I have 4 children & 7 grandchildren.

As apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time for it. Prov. 25:11

Jewerlylady,

hmmmm this is interesting - never heard of parathyroid...I have too much calcium, it showed on my blood tests, they had to do a corrected one as it was over normal. I also get all of those symptoms.
Which specialist do you need to go and see for that? Im in UK...

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Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in March and now looking for friends to help me in my fibro journey :o)

Good morning Wackers34

ME is becoming the standard name pretty rapidly. CFS is a name that lacks credibility and is associated with laziness and depression. We all know that laziness and depression is not what caused this. in fact, many of us were highly motivated and happy people.

You are not lazy or depressed, but there is a way to relieve these symptoms. Check out the booklet, Everything is a Distraction by SCusick. It really helped me.