Chronic Fatigue Syndrome vs. Feeling Tired: 3 Key Differences

Modern life is busy and hectic and can leave even the most energetic of us completely run down and fatigued from time to time. In very general terms, fatigue affects 30% to 50% of the general population at any given point.

An estimated 1.3% of all American adults have chronic fatigue syndrome, which is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The fatigue associated with this disorder is another matter entirely, as it involves neurological, immunological, autonomic, and energy metabolism dysfunctions.

To help you figure out where your fatigue falls, the team here at HealthFirst, led by Dr. Jonathan Singer, dives into three key differences between just feeling tired and chronic fatigue syndrome.

1. The fatigue lasts for 6 months or more

As we’ve already mentioned, most of us experience periods when we’re more tired or fatigued than normal. As well, fatigue is an extremely common symptom of many other illnesses, from a common cold to cancer.

One of the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS is fatigue that lasts for 6 months or more. And this fatigue is severe — at least one-quarter of people with chronic fatigue syndrome are homebound or bedbound.

So, the fatigue associated with ME/CFS is both long-term and debilitating, limiting your activities and your life considerably.

2. Any effort brings on fatigue

The next point of differentiation between feeling exhausted and ME/CFS is what we call post-exertional malaise (PEM). This type of fatigue occurs after any activity, and this isn’t confined to physical activity, but mental, too. 

With PEM, you make an effort to do something, even something as minor as taking a shower or going grocery shopping, and, afterward, your symptoms worsen and you, “crash.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this crash can include difficulty thinking, problems sleeping, sore throat, headaches, feeling dizzy, and/or severe tiredness.

3. Sleep doesn’t help with the fatigue

Another key difference between feeling tired and ME/CFS is that sleep isn’t a remedy for the fatigue that you're experiencing. When you have chronic fatigue syndrome, you can sleep for 12 hours every night, but you feel exhausted when you wake up, and you have no more energy than when you went to bed.

There are other symptoms that come with ME/CFS that can help with the diagnostic process, such as:

• Memory issues
• Brain fog
• Pain
• Feeling unsteady on your feet
• Blurry vision
• Sore throat
• Chills

In fact, to diagnose ME/CFS, we often look for these three symptoms, plus one (or more) from this bullet point list directly above.

The best way to figure out whether your fatigue is related to ME/CFS or some other condition is to come see Dr. Singer for an extensive evaluation. Whatever Dr. Singer finds, rest assured, you’re in good hands, and he works with you until he finds a suitable solution for your symptoms.

For top notch care of chronic fatigue syndrome or just general fatigue, we invite you to contact one of our offices in Greenwood Village, Colorado, or Cheyenne, Wyoming, to schedule a consultation with Dr. Singer.