

The purpose of this webpage is to provide clear and correct information on what is known about ME today.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), commonly referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS, is a widely misunderstood disease. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ("Chronic Fatigue Syndrome") All Health Care Professionals & Patient Safety.Clinical Guidelines, Standards & Quality of Care.Health & Safety in the Home, Workplace & Outdoors.Birth, Death, Marriage & Divorce Records.Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).Contact a local university medical school, research center, or one of the resources listed below for help finding a doctor who treats people with ME/CFS.įor more information on ME/CFS, call the OWH Helpline at 1-80 or contact the following organizations: Federal Government If disbelief or doubts continue, consider seeing another doctor for a second opinion. If you feel your doctor has doubts about it being a "real" illness, share this document and the links to resources found at the end. Your doctor may also need to learn more about ME/CFS to help you. While these tests are being done, talk to your doctor about ways to ease your symptoms. It is usually best to develop a relationship - and follow up often - with one doctor so that he or she can get to know you and see how you respond to treatment over time. The process to make a final diagnosis of ME/CFS can take a long time, so try to be patient. You and your doctor cannot find another explanation for your symptoms.You have had the extreme fatigue and other symptoms for 6 months or longer (3 months or longer for children and adolescents) AND.You have the main symptoms of ME/CFS, including extreme fatigue or exhaustion that does not go away and that prevents you from doing the things you want and need to do for you and your family exhaustion that comes after mental or physical exercise sleep problems and pain AND.Order tests that check for problems found in people with ME/CFS.Order lab tests based on your symptoms, such as urine and blood tests, which will tell your doctor if something other than ME/CFS might be causing your symptoms.Ask you about your physical and mental health.If you think you may have ME/CFS, see your doctor. There are no standard lab tests to diagnose ME/CFS. If you think you may have ME/CFS, talk to your doctor.īecause many symptoms of ME/CFS are also symptoms of other illnesses or side effects of medicine, your doctor will need to do physical exams and tests to help determine if you have ME/CFS. Most symptoms are invisible to others, which can make it hard for friends, family members, and the public to understand the challenges a person with ME/CFS faces. Symptoms of ME/CFS vary widely from person to person and may be serious or mild.

