Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
Overview
Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also called chronic fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS, is a long-term conditionthat can affect different parts of the body. The most common symptom is extreme tiredness. The cause of ME/CFS is unknown.
Symptoms
The 4 main symptoms of ME/CFS are: feeling extremely tired all the time (fatigue), which can make daily activities like taking a shower, or going to work or school, difficultsleep problems, including insomnia, sleeping too much, feeling like you have not slept properly and feeling exhausted or stiff when you wake upproblems with thinking, concentration and memory (brain fog)symptoms getting worse after physical or mental activity, and possibly taking weeks to get better (also called post-exertional malaise, or PEM) Some people with ME/CFS may also have pain in different parts of the body or flu-like symptoms, such as high temperature, headache and aching joints or muscles. The symptoms of ME/CFS are similar to the symptoms of some other illnesses, so it’s important to see a GP to get a correct diagnosis. Find out more about the symptoms of ME/CFS