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Patients: Long-term Patients
People who have had chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction
syndrome
(CFIDS), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), for several years often consider themselves
"veterans" of the chronic disease battle. The great majority likely have learned to manage CFIDS by adjusting
their lifestyle with the "ups and downs" of the illness and have found it necessary to adapt to the physical
and emotional challenges that confront them each day. They also are strong advocates for finding
a cause (and cure) and serve
as valuable support and information resources for the newly diagnosed or those yet-to-be diagnosed.
CFIDS is an illness that presents
with many symptoms. For this reason, the person with long-term CFIDS may tend to blame every symptom on
CFIDS.
By doing this, it is possible that a coexisting illness could be overlooked. To avoid
potentially serious consequences, a safe course of action is to inform the primary health care provider
of all new symptoms
and/or changes in those already present.
Facing a
chronic, painful and potentially disabling illness, CFIDS patients may
be at risk for depression. Often disbelieved by the medical community, the
public, family and friends, people with CFIDS (PWCs) can be isolated. Further,
the severe pain experienced by some PWC's
and the chronicity of the illness play a role in the
potential onset of
depression. For people who are severely depressed, the risk of suicide is
often present. It is critical that depression be detected and treated. A frank talk with the primary
health care provider is necessary when people feel hopeless and helpless and in despair.
Knowledge is essential to help PWC's
overcome
the challenges of
the illness. To stay informed on the latest CFIDS news, visit t
he
CFIDS Association of America's Web site often.
Learning how to effectively talk with health care providers, reviewing the latest
in treatment
and research, obtaining information about other diagnoses that overlap with CFIDS and making decisions
about pregnancy are just a few examples of the many topics available on the CFIDS Association of
America's
Web site.
Related Information
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