Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) | NHS

What is ME/CFS?

ME/CFS stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

It is a health problem that makes people feel very tired and weak all the time.

This tiredness does not go away with sleep or rest.

If you need help understanding, you can:

• Ask someone to explain it to you.
• Use a computer or phone to read the text out loud.
• Look for videos about ME/CFS.

What signs show you might have ME/CFS?

How do doctors know if someone has ME/CFS?

Doctors use special tests to see if a person has ME/CFS. ME/CFS makes people feel very tired and sick. It is hard to know if someone has ME/CFS because these problems can happen in other illnesses too.

Doctors will:

• Listen to how the person feels.
• Ask many questions about tiredness and other feelings.
• Do some tests to make sure they do not have other illnesses.

If you find reading hard, it can help to:

• Ask someone to read with you.
• Use a ruler or finger to follow the words.
• Take breaks and read in a quiet place.

Who can get ME/CFS?

Anyone can get ME/CFS. Kids and grown-ups can have it.

If you want help to understand more, you can:

• Talk to a doctor.
• Ask a family member to help explain.
• Use pictures or videos to learn.

What causes ME/CFS?

ME/CFS stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It is a sickness that makes people feel very tired and unwell.

Doctors do not know exactly what causes ME/CFS. Some people get it after they have been sick with a virus. Others might get it after a lot of stress or worry.

Here are some ideas of what might cause it:

• Having a virus or an illness that does not go away.
• Feeling too much stress or worry for a long time.
• Problems with how the body fights sickness, called the immune system.

If you feel very tired and sick for a long time, it is important to talk to a doctor. They can help and give advice.

Is there a cure for ME/CFS?

Right now, there is no cure for ME/CFS. But doctors are working hard to find one. ME/CFS is a sickness that makes you very tired and can give you pain. It is important to rest and stay relaxed. You can talk to your doctor to help feel better.

Tools that can help:

• Use a notebook to track how you feel every day.
• Listen to relaxing music.
• Use guided relaxation or meditation apps to help calm your mind.

What can help someone with ME/CFS?

ME/CFS can make people very tired and hurt sometimes. Here are some ways to help:

• Rest: It’s important to get plenty of rest and not do too much.
• Healthy Food: Eating good food like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help.
• Doctor’s Help: Doctors can help make a plan that is right for each person.
• Meds: Sometimes doctors give medicine to help with pain or sleep.
• Talking to Someone: Talking to a therapist or in a group can make things easier.
• Keeping Track: Writing down how you feel each day can help you see what makes you feel better or worse.

Remember, it's okay to ask for help and take things slowly. You don’t have to do it all at once!

How can people with ME/CFS manage their energy levels?

People with ME/CFS often feel very tired. Here are some ways to help them save energy:

• Plan Your Day: Make a simple plan for what you want to do. Do not try to do too much at once.
• Rest Often: Take lots of short breaks. Resting helps your body to recover.
• Do Easy Activities: Choose activities that do not use too much energy, like reading or drawing.
• Ask for Help: It is okay to ask others for help with things.

Using a timer or alarm can be a helpful tool to remind you to rest.

Can food change how you feel with ME/CFS?

Does what you eat change your ME/CFS symptoms?

Eating well can help you feel better. Try eating healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Keeping a food diary might help you see what foods make you feel good or bad. You can write down what you eat and how you feel afterwards.

Ask a grown-up, like a doctor or a dietitian, for help with your food choices. They can give you good advice on what to eat.

Can people with ME/CFS find groups for help?

Yes, there are groups to help people with ME/CFS.

ME/CFS is a health problem. It can make you very tired.

Joining a group can make you feel better. You can talk to others who understand.

Here are some ways to find these groups:

• Ask your doctor or nurse.
• Look online for ME/CFS support groups.
• Check local health centers or community boards.

It’s good to talk to people who know how you feel.

What is it like to live with ME/CFS?

ME/CFS is a sickness that makes people very tired. It can make it hard to do things every day. People might feel very tired even after sleeping. It's like running out of energy quickly. This can make going to school, playing, or working hard.

If you know someone with ME/CFS, it’s good to be kind and patient. Sometimes, they need to rest more than others. Using a calendar or making a list can help them remember things they need to do. Talking to a grown-up or a doctor can also help.

Can doctors say if kids have ME/CFS?

Doctors can check if a child has ME/CFS. ME/CFS makes you feel very tired and weak. It can also make it hard to do school or play. Parents and teachers can help. Doctors can give advice too.

If you are worried, talk to a doctor. They can find out what's wrong. It might help to use a diary. Write down when you feel tired. This can help the doctor understand.

Does ME/CFS last forever?

ME/CFS is a sickness that makes you very tired.

For some people, this sickness does not go away.

But other people feel better after some time.

If you have ME/CFS and want help, you can:

• Talk to a doctor. They can help you understand your sickness.
• Rest a lot. This can help your body feel better.
• Write down when you feel very tired. This can show any patterns.
• Ask friends or family for help with things you find hard to do.

Remember, it is okay to ask for help.

What do doctors and nurses do to help people with ME/CFS?

Doctors and nurses help people who have ME/CFS feel better.

Here are some ways they help:

• Listen to how you feel and what problems you have.
• Help you find ways to feel less tired.
• Teach you how to do things in a way that doesn't make you too tired.
• Give you medicine if you need it.

If you have trouble understanding, ask someone to explain in a way that you can understand.

What are people learning about ME/CFS?

Many smart people are studying ME/CFS. They want to understand it better.

Here are some ways they are learning:

• They look at what is happening inside the body.
• They see how it changes the way people feel and do things.
• They try different medicines to see if they help.
• They talk to people with ME/CFS to learn from their stories.

These studies help doctors help people feel better. We can learn from others and share our own experiences, too.

What is ME/CFS?

ME/CFS stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

It is a health problem that makes people feel very tired and weak all the time.

This tiredness does not go away with sleep or rest.

If you need help understanding, you can:

• Ask someone to explain it to you.
• Use a computer or phone to read the text out loud.
• Look for videos about ME/CFS.

What signs show you might have ME/CFS?

How do doctors know if someone has ME/CFS?

Doctors use special tests to see if a person has ME/CFS. ME/CFS makes people feel very tired and sick. It is hard to know if someone has ME/CFS because these problems can happen in other illnesses too.

Doctors will:

• Listen to how the person feels.
• Ask many questions about tiredness and other feelings.
• Do some tests to make sure they do not have other illnesses.

If you find reading hard, it can help to:

• Ask someone to read with you.
• Use a ruler or finger to follow the words.
• Take breaks and read in a quiet place.

Who can get ME/CFS?

Anyone can get ME/CFS. Kids and grown-ups can have it.

If you want help to understand more, you can:

• Talk to a doctor.
• Ask a family member to help explain.
• Use pictures or videos to learn.

What causes ME/CFS?

ME/CFS stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It is a sickness that makes people feel very tired and unwell.

Doctors do not know exactly what causes ME/CFS. Some people get it after they have been sick with a virus. Others might get it after a lot of stress or worry.

Here are some ideas of what might cause it:

• Having a virus or an illness that does not go away.
• Feeling too much stress or worry for a long time.
• Problems with how the body fights sickness, called the immune system.

If you feel very tired and sick for a long time, it is important to talk to a doctor. They can help and give advice.

Is there a cure for ME/CFS?

Right now, there is no cure for ME/CFS. But doctors are working hard to find one. ME/CFS is a sickness that makes you very tired and can give you pain. It is important to rest and stay relaxed. You can talk to your doctor to help feel better.

Tools that can help:

• Use a notebook to track how you feel every day.
• Listen to relaxing music.
• Use guided relaxation or meditation apps to help calm your mind.

What can help someone with ME/CFS?

ME/CFS can make people very tired and hurt sometimes. Here are some ways to help:

• Rest: It’s important to get plenty of rest and not do too much.
• Healthy Food: Eating good food like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help.
• Doctor’s Help: Doctors can help make a plan that is right for each person.
• Meds: Sometimes doctors give medicine to help with pain or sleep.
• Talking to Someone: Talking to a therapist or in a group can make things easier.
• Keeping Track: Writing down how you feel each day can help you see what makes you feel better or worse.

Remember, it's okay to ask for help and take things slowly. You don’t have to do it all at once!

How can people with ME/CFS manage their energy levels?

People with ME/CFS often feel very tired. Here are some ways to help them save energy:

• Plan Your Day: Make a simple plan for what you want to do. Do not try to do too much at once.
• Rest Often: Take lots of short breaks. Resting helps your body to recover.
• Do Easy Activities: Choose activities that do not use too much energy, like reading or drawing.
• Ask for Help: It is okay to ask others for help with things.

Using a timer or alarm can be a helpful tool to remind you to rest.

Can food change how you feel with ME/CFS?

Does what you eat change your ME/CFS symptoms?

Eating well can help you feel better. Try eating healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Keeping a food diary might help you see what foods make you feel good or bad. You can write down what you eat and how you feel afterwards.

Ask a grown-up, like a doctor or a dietitian, for help with your food choices. They can give you good advice on what to eat.

Can people with ME/CFS find groups for help?

Yes, there are groups to help people with ME/CFS.

ME/CFS is a health problem. It can make you very tired.

Joining a group can make you feel better. You can talk to others who understand.

Here are some ways to find these groups:

• Ask your doctor or nurse.
• Look online for ME/CFS support groups.
• Check local health centers or community boards.

It’s good to talk to people who know how you feel.

What is it like to live with ME/CFS?

ME/CFS is a sickness that makes people very tired. It can make it hard to do things every day. People might feel very tired even after sleeping. It's like running out of energy quickly. This can make going to school, playing, or working hard.

If you know someone with ME/CFS, it’s good to be kind and patient. Sometimes, they need to rest more than others. Using a calendar or making a list can help them remember things they need to do. Talking to a grown-up or a doctor can also help.

Can doctors say if kids have ME/CFS?

Doctors can check if a child has ME/CFS. ME/CFS makes you feel very tired and weak. It can also make it hard to do school or play. Parents and teachers can help. Doctors can give advice too.

If you are worried, talk to a doctor. They can find out what's wrong. It might help to use a diary. Write down when you feel tired. This can help the doctor understand.

Does ME/CFS last forever?

ME/CFS is a sickness that makes you very tired.

For some people, this sickness does not go away.

But other people feel better after some time.

If you have ME/CFS and want help, you can:

• Talk to a doctor. They can help you understand your sickness.
• Rest a lot. This can help your body feel better.
• Write down when you feel very tired. This can show any patterns.
• Ask friends or family for help with things you find hard to do.

Remember, it is okay to ask for help.

What do doctors and nurses do to help people with ME/CFS?

Doctors and nurses help people who have ME/CFS feel better.

Here are some ways they help:

• Listen to how you feel and what problems you have.
• Help you find ways to feel less tired.
• Teach you how to do things in a way that doesn't make you too tired.
• Give you medicine if you need it.

If you have trouble understanding, ask someone to explain in a way that you can understand.

What are people learning about ME/CFS?

Many smart people are studying ME/CFS. They want to understand it better.

Here are some ways they are learning:

• They look at what is happening inside the body.
• They see how it changes the way people feel and do things.
• They try different medicines to see if they help.
• They talk to people with ME/CFS to learn from their stories.

These studies help doctors help people feel better. We can learn from others and share our own experiences, too.