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== Symptoms == [[List of symptoms in ME CFS|Symptom presentation varies enormously]] between individuals. Symptom presentation also varies within individuals, as individuals often report that symptoms change over time (increasing or decreasing) and new symptoms may appear while others disappear.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/symptoms-diagnosis/index.html| title = Symptoms and Diagnosis of ME/CFS {{!}} Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome | date = 2019-01-18 | website = [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]]|language=en-us|access-date=2019-02-01}}</ref> There are many symptoms which people with ME/CFS experience, though those listed below are the core symptoms found in all patients. [[File:Cfs woman sketch.jpg|435x435px|thumb|[[Post-exertional malaise]] (PEM) is a [[post-exertional malaise|worsening of ME/CFS symptoms]] after minimal [[Exertion#Exertion in ME.2FCFS|physical, mental or emotional exertion]]. Worsening symptoms may include [[chronic fatigue]]; [[flu-like symptoms]], [[brain fog]]/[[cognitive dysfunction]], [[word-finding problems]], [[unrefreshing sleep]], [[headache]]s and [[migraine]]s, [[chronic pain]], [[Myalgia|muscle pain]] and [[muscle fatigability]], [[orthostatic intolerance]], [[neurally mediated hypotension]], or [[Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome|POTS]], and more. The [[Delayed onset of post-exertional symptoms|onset of PEM can be delayed 24-72 hours]] and depending on ME/CFS severity can last days, weeks, or even months.<ref name="symptoms"/>]] [[File:Rosa SEID.JPG|400px|thumb|left|Rosa age 25 in 1986 and mildly ill with [[Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease#Diagnostic criteria|ME/CFS's core symptoms]]. In 2015 the [[SEID]] criteria were released. Rosa read about [[Post-exertional malaise|PEM]] and how it is delayed and makes [[List of symptoms in ME CFS|ME/CFS symptoms]] like [[Chronic fatigue|CF]], [[Orthostatic intolerance|OI]], and [[Cognitive dysfunction|cognition]] worse. Her life since [[Pediatric myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome|age 17]] fell into place as she never connected her worsening symptoms with increased [[Exertion#Exertion in ME.2FCFS|physical or mental exertion]] 24-72 hours prior. She believes not understanding PEM made her illness worsen over the years and is now disabled meeting the [[Canadian Consensus Criteria|CCC]] with PEM.]] [[File:Brian vastag.png|thumb|left|[[Brian Vastag]] is an American and award-winning journalist and an ME/CFS patient; he won a disability benefit case against Prudential, proving that PEM is a severe symptom that keeps him from gainful employment.]] [[File:PEM1.JPG|300px|thumb|right|I think [https://twitter.com/hashtag/twofacesofme?f=tweets&vertical=default&src=hash #TwoFacesofME] is a really important hashtag. We’re only out and about at our best, and our (more frequent) worst often remains hidden. I’m convinced it’s why #[[ME/CFS|MEcfs]] research funding is so low - the problem isn’t visible enough. I’m seriously ill in both these photos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/JackCroxall/status/1085900441328803840| title = I think #TwoFacesofME is a really important hashtag. We’re only out and about at our best, and our (more frequent) worst often remains hidden. I’m convinced it’s why #MEcfs research funding is so low - the problem isn’t visible enough. I’m seriously ill in both these photos.pic.twitter.com/hNjK5140kv | last = Croxall | first = Jack | date = 2019-01-17 | website = @JackCroxall|language=en|access-date=2019-01-17}}</ref>]] [[File:PEM4.JPG|300px|thumb|right|First photo, me in my [[Severe and very severe ME|wheelchair on a rare trip out]]. Second photo, the inevitable crash. Eye half closed, [[Speech difficulties|slurred speech]], [[Dizziness|dizzy]], weak, etc. #TwoFacesofME<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/hopeforMEyet/status/1085909800766980096| title = First photo, me in my wheelchair on a rare trip out. Second photo, the inevitable crash. Eye half closed, slurred speech, dizzy, weak, etc. #TwoFacesofMEpic.twitter.com/P2OPnnpQvF | last = Karen | date = 2019-01-17 | website = @hopeforMEyet|language=en|access-date=2019-01-17}}</ref>]] [[File:PEM5.JPG|300px|thumb|right|#TwoFacesofME First photo from the morning, the other one from the afternoon ( when I failed to nap 30-60 minutes). I am Not [[Severe and very severe ME|severely ill]], and my life is ok, even [so] I wish that one day science will help me & all the #MeCfs sufferers around the globe.<ref>{{Cite web| title = #TwoFacesofME First photo from the morning, the other one from the afternoon ( when I failed to nap 30-60 minutes). I am Not severely ill, and my life is ok, even do I wish that one day science will help me & all the #MeCfs sufferers around the globe.pic.twitter.com/wmhfHcfP0p | url = https://twitter.com/Authorportrait/status/1085815918846832640 | website = @Authorportrait | date = 2019-01-17|access-date=2019-01-17|language=en | first = Henry | last = Köhler}}</ref>]] *[[Post-exertional malaise]] (PEM) is the hallmark symptom of ME/CFS. After physical, mental or emotional [[exertion]] (which for some patients can be a shower or making out a to-do list, others grocery shopping, socializing or reading a news article, while some just walking to the mailbox, getting to the doctor or mentally following a T.V. program)<ref name="whatis">{{Cite web|url=https://www.omf.ngo/what-is-mecfs/| title = What is ME/CFS? | last = | first = | date = |website=[[Open Medicine Foundation]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date= | authorlink = |publisher=Open Medicine Foundation}}</ref><ref name="symptoms"/><ref name="Cairns2005" /> there is a payback of ''worsening'' [[List of symptoms in ME CFS|ME/CFS symptoms]] which can be delayed 24-72 hours or more<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.whathealth.com/awareness/event/internationalcfsmeawarenessday.html| title = International CFS/ME Awareness Day - 12th May 2019 | last = Hartley | first = Simon|website=whathealth.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-16}}</ref><ref name="Linderheimer2017">{{Cite journal | last = Lindheimer | first=Jacob B. | last2 = Meyer | first2=Jacob D. | last3 = Stegner | first3 = Aaron J. | last4 = Dougherty | first4 = Ryan J. | last5 = Van Riper | first5 = Stephanie M. | last6 = Shields | first6 = Morgan | last7 = Reisner | first7 = Amanda | last8 = Shukla | first8 = Sanjay K. | last9 = Light | first9 = Alan R. | date = 2017-04-03| title = Symptom variability following acute exercise in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a perspective on measuring post-exertion malaise|url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21641846.2017.1321166|journal = Fatigue: Biomedicine, Health & Behavior |language=en|volume=5|issue=2 | pages = 69–88|doi=10.1080/21641846.2017.1321166|issn=2164-1846}}</ref><ref name="Yoshiuchi2007">{{Cite journal | last = Yoshiuchi | first = Kazuhiro | last2 = Cook | first2 = Dane B. | last3 = Ohashi | first3 = Kyoko | last4 = Kumano | first4 = Hiroaki | last5 = Kuboki | first5 = Tomifusa | last6 = Yamamoto | first6 = Yoshiharu | last7 = Natelson | first7 = Benjamin H. | date = 2007-12-05| title = A real-time assessment of the effect of exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17655887|journal=Physiology & Behavior|volume=92|issue=5 | pages = 963–968|doi=10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.07.001|issn=0031-9384|pmc=2170105|pmid=17655887}}</ref> and can last 24 hours and even days, weeks, or months.<ref name="VanNess2010">{{Cite journal | last = VanNess | first = J. Mark | last2 = Stevens | first2 = Staci R. | last3 = Bateman | first3 = Lucinda | last4 = Stiles | first4 = Travis L. | last5 = Snell | first5 = Christopher R. | date = Feb 2010| title = Postexertional malaise in women with chronic fatigue syndrome|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20095909|journal=Journal of Women's Health (2002)|volume=19|issue=2|pages=239–244|doi=10.1089/jwh.2009.1507|issn=1931-843X|pmid=20095909}}</ref><ref>[https://www.fda.gov/downloads/forindustry/userfees/prescriptiondruguserfee/ucm368806.pdf The Voice of the Patient.] A series of reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA's) Patient-Focused Drug Development Initiative. September 2013</ref> The patient will experience even greater fatigue as well as exasperate the [[flu-like symptoms]] and body [[pain]]. Every patient experiences different symptoms and symptom severity from different activities and exertion output according to how sick he or she is with the disease.<ref name="whatis" /><ref name="prognosis" /><ref name="Cairns2005" /> Regarding PEM the [[CFIDS Association of America]] states: <blockquote>This is a term which describes a symptom in which exercise or exertion can bring on [[malaise]] (illness). In the case of people with ME/CFS, malaise often occurs during a period some 24-72 hours after exertion. For example, in some cases, a short walk can worsen ME/CFS symptoms two days later. This lack of understanding about the delayed onset of symptoms has, in the past, made it harder to test for ME/CFS. Follow up tests, taken less than 24 hours after an initial exercise test, may show that the patient can still perform activities at the same level (before post exertional malaise has a chance to take hold).<ref>[http://www.whathealth.com/awareness/event/internationalcfsmeawarenessday.html What Health - International CFS/ME Awareness Day 2017 - CFIDS Association of America]</ref></blockquote> *[[chronic fatigue]] *[[cognitive dysfunction]] *[[orthostatic intolerance]] (OI) such as [[postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome]] (POTS) or [[neurally mediated hypotension]] (NMH) *[[unrefreshing sleep]]/[[sleep dysfunction|sleep disturbance]] <ref name="Algorithm" /><ref name="guide" /> ==== Other possible symptoms ==== *[[chronic pain]] *[[immune system]] *<span class="plainlinks">[[:Category:Neurological signs and symptoms|neurological signs and symptoms]]</span> See also: [[neuroinflammation]]. *[[List of symptoms in ME CFS|List of symptoms in ME/CFS]] === Comorbids === *[[fibromyalgia]] (FMS) *[[irritable bowel syndrome]] (IBS) *[[multiple chemical sensitivity]] (MCS) *[[temporomandibular joint disorder]] (TMJ)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://solvecfs.org/what-is-mecfs/| title = Get the Facts about ME/CFS|website=Solve ME/CFS Initiative|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-10}}</ref> === Government guides on symptoms === '''US Government guides on symptoms''' *[http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2015/MECFS/MECFScliniciansguide.pdf Clinicians Guide] via The [[Institute of Medicine report]] *[https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/symptoms-diagnosis/symptoms.html CDC - ME/CFS Symptoms] '''Canada guides on symptoms''' *[http://linkis.com/org/tUheh Alberta Clinicians Guide]
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