Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group

People with CFS are limited in these four ways:
1/ physically active
2/ cognitive exertion
3/ sensory input
4/ orthostatic stress

When I was first diagnosed with CFS I was under the impression that my relapses occured
only when I exceeded my physical limitations.
Now I relize that the combination of these 4 limitations are what causes us to feel sicker and or go into relaspe? I personally believe that is what happens.
Why because it seems like it is just not happening when I physically overdo it..and sometimes I get sicker when I am not physically exerting myself at all. I have noticed that if I pace myself cognitively and physically I do better.

I have noticed when my body is reacting to noises, smells, light, touch and other sensory inputs I have to rest or tap a nap. If I dont I become easily irritated, grouchy, and feel increased anxiety. I have also found that if I take a short walk and I come in and lay on the couch awhile and meditate in quietness, I get refreshed, vs. going to another task and then another. I believe this stops the "electrical activity" in the brain from going full force and eliminates symptoms.

Heres what I read:
The bodies of people with CFS respond inappropriately to anything that forces the body to have to react in some way or work harder in some way, in order to maintain internal homeostasis. It should not also be assumed that a person with CFS will necessarily react more severely to (or have greater limits on) physical activity than with cognitive exertion, sensory input or orthostatic stress.

Some patients find that their most severe relapses come from orthostatic stress, while others will have to be more careful with thier levels of sensory input or cognitive exertion as compared to physical activity. Other patients might be equally limited with each of these activities or stimuli, and so on. It varies from patient to patient and can also change over the course of the illness.

Interesting facts:
Not only physical effort, but also cognitive efforts, requires additional resources a CFS patient might not have.

The brain contains some 100 billion neurons connected to some 10,000 relay stations and this enormous electrical activity creates a masssive need for energy and other bodily resources.

The brain uses 25% of the entire bodys oxygen supply. (Blood supplies nutrients like glucose, protien, trace elements, and oxygen to the brain.) So of course, every exta second of "electrical activity" - every thought, feeling, noise heard or sight seen, requires additional cardiac output, makes additional oxygen and glucose demands, and so on...in just the same ways as does a physical activity such as walking : if not more so.

When a patient exceeds any of these four limits the results end in:
tiredness
fatigue
exhaustion
worsening of symptoms
headaches, nausea, joint and muscle pain ect....
Posted on 07/03/09, 12:07 am