Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Blog

Recently a study was conducted in the UK that showed a problem with an overactive negative hpa axis feedback loop in chronic fatigue patients. The UK researchers used dexamethasone to observe changes to the feedback loop over 6 hours. The drug dexamethasone is a glucocorticoid similar to cortisol. If a person takes dexamethasone their body should make less ACTH (a hormone that causes the release of cortisol). In normal people the amount of ACTH and cortisol should fall to a certain range.

The CFS patients in the study had lower than normal levels of cortisol and ATCH after the dexamethasone test.

Ive always had a favorable response to B12. It improves all of my symptoms, especially brain fog. I finally got to try my first Hydroxocobalamin B12 shot (after having to convince my Dr.) and within a couple hours my brain fog feels much improved. My genetic test results from amy yasko showed that i have a mutation in the gene MTRR that recycles b12.
So these shots may be very beneficial me.
From what i have read, b12 is very helpful to most cfs patients. The reasons that it might help is that b12 is a scavanger for the free radicals nitric oxide and peroxynitrite. Nitric oxide can caused decreased barin fuction and also can

Cymbalta is an antidepressant that blocks the reuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline. It was first used to treat depression, but also may help to reduce chronic pain. This week is was approved to treat fibromyalgia, but has been prescribed off label to FMS patients for a while now.

A paper out of the university of San Francisco says that noradrenaline is a key component in inhibiting pain. They have found that low levels of noradrenaline make the use of opiates less effective.

There is no shortage of theories about CFS. Doctors like Amy Yasko and Rich Van Konyenberg, believe that chronic fatigue patients may have defects in their methylation cycle. Six months ago i had a genetic test done to see how my methylation cycle was functioning.
My test results showed that i had a defect in sulfur metabolism. The gene SUOX S370S was +/-. I believe this means that my body converts sulfites into sulfates very quickly. And it may lead to a buildup of sulfates which are removed from the body by B12 and molybdenum.

A recent study shows that like Ritalin may improve cognitive function in CFS patients. This small study showed that there were positive results in concentration and memory when using immediate release methylphenidate (Ritalin).
Other stimulants like Provigil have also been used in CFS patients to improve symptoms. Provigil is most often used with diseases like narcolepsy and ADHD. This drug works by affecting the chemical glutamate and can have less side effects than other stimulants.
I have personally tried Ritalin, Adderall, and Provigil. Even though some people with CFS had improvements, for me they were very overstimulating. I didnt feel much improvement in cognitive function or memory. I also had alot of side effects, like insomnia, loss of appetite, and nervousness.

Systemic enzyme supplements have many benefits for chronic fatigue patients. They can improve blood flow by removing fibrin (protein involved in blood clotting) from the blood, reduce inflammation, and help digest food.
Certain doctors like Dr. David Berg believe that CFS patients are in a hypercoagulable state. And that people with CFS and FMS have a genetic predisposition towards a hypercoagulable state. So, a reduction in coagulation by the use of systemic enzymes could help improve blood flow.

A recent study found that a certain subgroup of CFS patients may have a disordered breathing pattern, and might benefit from breathing retaining. 5 out of the 20 subjects that they studied had an asynchronous breathing pattern and could correct it with retraining. The study did not say whether there was any improvement in symptoms once this correction was made.

Recently ive seen a doctor who has recovered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

It turned out that he had an Epstein Barr infection and once he was treated antiviral drugs, he felt somewhat better, but was still sick.

A recent study corollated certain immune system markers to the severity of fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome patients. It showed that those who had increased RNase L activity, RNase L cleavage, and Elastase activity had greater fatigue. CFS researchers found patients to have an abnormality in an antiviral pathway. This led them to have abnormal size molecules of an enzyme called RNase L. This causes the enzyme to not be an effective antiviral.

Insomnia is a major problem for many CFS and FMS patients.

It can be difficult for CFSers to keep a normal sleep schedule. They tend to have shifted sleep patterns which lead them to fall asleep and wake up much later than healthy people.