Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia: The First Symptom -
Sleep
"If you don’t get a good nights sleep you’re not going to get well. It really
is that simple". Dr. Murphee
Sleep
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'The First Symptom' - Chronic fatigue syndrome
(ME/CFS) doctors
appear to be in universal agreement of the importance of getting as good a
nights sleep as possible. Dr. Bested simply says "Restoring sleep is
essential for improving your health." Dr. Murphee states "If you don’t get a
good nights sleep you’re not going to get well. It really is that simple".
Dr. Bateman, Dr. Bested, Dr. Klimas and Dr. Teitelbaum are all in agreement that
sleep is the first symptom they treat. Dr. Bested points out that "Improving
sleep, even a little, can make a tremendous difference to a persons……quality of
life" and emphasizes "You need to do
everything possible to encourage your body to get the best sleep it can every
night". Dr. Teitelbaum says "The most effective way to eliminate fatigue
and pain in CFS/FMS is to get eight to nine hours of solid, deep sleep each
night on a regular basis".
Many of the problems associated with chronic fatigue syndrome such as body pain,
fatigue, depression, irritability, headache and gastrointestinal problems are
classic symptoms of sleep deprivation. We know that chronic fatigue syndrome is
not simply a sleep disorder – its far more complex than that - but it’s also
clear that many ME/CFS symptoms are exacerbated by poor sleep.
Studies have shown that a few nights of poor sleep result increases sensitivity
to pain and increased fatigue, two key elements of CFS and FM. This suggests
that poor sleep could set the stage for both disorders.
Resources
Nancy Klimas, MD., June, 2000.
The Journal of Women's Health & Gender-Based Medicine
Roger Murphee, MD., 2003, Treating and Beating Fibromyalgia and
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Harrison and Hamptom Publishing
Jacob Teitelbaum, 2007. From Fatigued to Fantastic. Avery Publishers.