Fatigue can sometimes not be taken seriously and yet it can be totally debilitating. Some common fatigues can arise from a virus, Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS and the latest to add to the list Long COVID
COVID has been at the front of the headlines for the past 18 months and long COVID keeps being talked about constantly. According to Woman & Home, a government study estimates that two million Brits have experienced or are still experiencing ongoing symptoms and support groups are popping up for long COVID sufferers.
The NHS writes that common long COVID symptoms include:
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- shortness of breath
- chest pain or tightness
- problems with memory and concentration (“brain fog”)
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- heart palpitations
- dizziness
- pins and needles
- joint pain
- depression and anxiety
- tinnitus, earaches
- feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach aches, loss of appetite
- a high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste
- rashes
The NHS writes that common symptoms of Fibromyalgia include –
- increased sensitivity to pain
- widespread pain
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- muscle stiffness
- difficulty sleeping
- problems with mental processes (known as “fibro-fog”), such as problems with memory and concentration
- headaches
- irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a digestive condition that causes stomach pain and bloating
The NHS write that the symptoms of CFS/ME are –
- The main symptom of myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), is feeling extremely tired and generally unwell
- you do not feel refreshed after sleeping – like you have not had a proper good night’s rest
- you keep waking up during sleep
- you feel stiff, tired or have flu-like symptoms when waking up
- you feel very tired and sleepy during the day
- problems remembering certain words, names or numbers
- difficulty concentrating or difficulty focusing on more than one thing at a time
- muscle or joint pain
- headaches
- a sore throat or sore glands that are not swollen
- flu-like symptoms
- feeling dizzy or sick
- fast or irregular heartbeats (heart palpitations)
There are many similarities to the above conditions which are sometimes missed or not even taken seriously when a sufferer tries to explain how tired they feel.
Because there are far more people suffering from chronic fatigue it is hopeful that with the spotlight on long COVID, it will be looked at more clearly. The Government has even announced a £100 million plan to expand support, diagnosis and care for long COVID patients. This can only be great news for Fibromyalgia, CFS/ME and Post Viral Fatigue sufferers.
Until new treatments are available they suggest you rest properly, try light exercise, limit your thinking time, reduce screen time, eliminate sugar and processed and package foods, and fuel up.
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