There is not definitive test for CFS/ME. It is a diagnosis determined by excluding many other illness with similar symptoms. I will try to name a few of the illness that can cause similar symptoms. The doctors will need to check your thyroid levels. If you TSH levels are high, you might be hypothyroid. They will also check to make sure you don't have Lupus. They may ask about your sleeping habits. They may want to make sure you don't have Lyme disease. There are probably more that I can't think of right now.
If you truly have CFS/ME, there are no medicine treatments. It is more about changing your lifestyle, learning to pace yourself, and maybe some supplements to support your system. Many of us have good days or weeks and then have relapses or crashes as we call them. Too much mental exertion and/or stress, as well as physical exertion can bring on a crash or relapse.
I hope you don't have this illness, but if you do you have come to the right place to get helpful hints about learning how to manage the symptoms.

There is no single test for CFS, but they can eliminate some possibilities like Lupus and RA. There are two illnesses that often accompany CFS. They are NMH and POTS. Those illnesses ARE diagnosed through a specific test called a tilt table test. I went to Johns Hopkins and had mine done. If you have those illnesses along with CFS, then you can get a definitive diagnosis. Even if you don't have NMH or POTS, Johns Hopkins still is one of the leading hospital studying CFS. It's always good to go somewhere where they understand fatigue-based illnesses. Usually going to your local PCP first is a waste of time. I wish you all the best. May you find answers and peace. Much love.

Hi! Welcome.
Just to add, if being is exhausted all the time, and thryoid, hep A, B, C, Lymes, cancer, etc have all been ruled out as the root cause, you could also possibly have a sleep disorder. Sleep apnea is very comong among those of us with CFS. Is it also a very common problem to lots of others as well!

Basically, to rule out all the things your exhaustion COULD be, is the real key here. Don't be discouraged! It can be done. You need the proper doctor that is educated in CFS/ME to give that to you. Most often, they will want to hand you antidepressants and tell you you are anxious/depressed and need counseling. If that happens to you and you are continuing to present with physical symptoms, please know that you are in the wrong office.

We are here to help you. I'm sure we are all hoping that you have something that is treatable and will be able to go on with your life feeling much better than you do now! xo

I'll throw in anemia of all sorts.

Essentially the "test" is a very conclusive blood workup to start and then other testing, sometimes with a neurologist, cardiologist and rheumatologist....

Have you had a bad virus recently? Did this hit suddenly? Do you have a new kind of headache for you? Ever had Epstein Barr?
These are questions a good doctor will ask as very often this illness hits suddenly after a bad virus (you just never "get better") and has new symptoms for you other than being exhausted.
Wish we could just point out a blood test (believe me!) but it hasn't changed much in the 23 yrs since I was DX. (diagnosed)

Now, see, there's another issue... I read your original post carefully but utterly neglected to answer the second part...

Treatments -
Back in the day = graded exercise - result = utter crash for months
Back in the day = advise to "ignore it and it will go away" - result = pushed too hard too long, now disabled.

Now = what works = Pacing! doing a little until you just feel like you are barely getting tired and then taking a break. Everyone feels this differently and it generally takes some serious time to figure it out. For me its something like sit on my rolling chair and do dishes for about 20 min, then rest for the other 40 of the hour (about 1:2 activity to rest). Pacing is so important I have it on my license plate to remind me!
Also, keeping a journal so you can see what foods, meds, vitamins, etc help and don't help. You may (will) not remember 6 mo from when you try something if it helped or not. A journal is very helpful. I use an excel workbook with tabs for activity, meds and "other" (massage, talk therapy, PT). Then I can search it easily. (excel nerd)
There is so much more but until you get a DX it's better to not overwhelm you.
Hope you can find a doc to work with you!
Wishing you peace

Hi Nina!

So - am I reading your post correctly? The Graded Exercise caused a flare? How awful!

Hi Mariposa :) I can't tell if you are being sarcastic/ironic? Hard without hearing a voice. Don't most of us get a flare with graded exercise? But yes, in case it's confusing I went to the pool and worked up slowly to 1/2 hr three times a week and then it started to be harder to even get dressed to go to the pool and one day I literally was stuck in and needed help to climb the stairs (like regular stairs, not a ladder). I've tried other exercise as well, like walking, and it happens the same. I slowly build up to a few times a week and then my body says uh, uh, not happening. So now I save my energy for the activities of daily living as they say...

Wasn't being Ironic, (although I live in the capital of Hipsterism in Brooklyn)....

I just started reading about graded Exercise and it seemed so perfect a solution....

How disappointing!!!

Well hey you never know it could work for you :-)

There's always hope, eh?

I am right now only doing yoga and treadmill. Going to try to get back to weights this weekend. I am careful never to go beyond a level 3 or slightly elevated heart rate... but WOW does that ever feel like "failure" for someone who used to do 60 pushups at a time....

The emotional toll is just beyond comprehension.

Here's a link to a video about exercise and ME/CFS. Dr. Mark VanNess has proven with VO2 testing that graded exercises make us worse, not better.

He recommends resistance training for strength, not aerobics. I've been doing that for the past couple of years and it has helped me. It's not a cure, it does however give you more capability in your everyday life.

The video is an hour long. Watch the whole thing, the second half gets better. You can leave a video on Youtube and it remembers where you left off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_cnva7zyKM

It's called part one, but so far nobody has found a part two.

I personally put more trust in doctors who do research rather than those who just give us assurances that they know what they're doing.

Here's another link...the latest buzz on testing...

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2016/s4415928.htm

May I just add, that cognitive behavior testing, and graded exercise therapy have been tossed aside as BAD IDEAS. They are not cure-alls and often don't help at all ( some folks may have done well with tthe cognitive stuff, but not the exercise)!.

We need to move slowly and every step has to count. Our energy is minimal and the more we push with exercise and aerobic type activity, the sicker we're going to get. We usually say on this board, that what works for one may not work for another....and that's true. But I think we've had sufficient discussion in the past about how pushing our heart rate up with exercise does us nothing but harm. I can provide you with a thousand links on this....or you can just take my word.

I hate to see people dive into supplements, and aerobics, and "do more, do more" kinds of things when those ideas are suggested by people who either do not have this illness, or are reading a book by some Doctor who doesn't know how to treat this illness.

Self care, rest, good nutrition. Pacing, stretching and light yoga possibly. But no aerobics!! That's the best way I've found in nine years to keep from crashing.

Moderation in EVERYTHING!!!! xo

Excellent video with Dr Mark VanNess.Thanks Richie.Due to my memory impairment , I had forgotten that I had watched this video quite a while back.I managed to absorb more the second time round.
As for the second link , I have to say..Good old Aussie scientists to the rescue. I was going to offer myself as a guinea pig to the Griffith Uni when they first opened their research centre, but of course couldn't make it there.

Going to watch the video this weekend - BEFORE I go to the gym... LOL.

Thank you all so much for being "here!"