Help put fatigue to rest

[Damien Tonkin]

wanneroo times, tusday, august 30, 2005
page 65

Help put fatigue to rest
CHRONIC fatigue syndrome can affect people of all ages but how it affects children and ado-lescents is not widely known, says Curtin University psychology honours student and CFS sufferer Jane Robinson.
She said there were many different theories about whether the illness was an immunological or psychological problem.
"Personally, I think it's a combination," she said.
"A lot of people get CFS after having the flu or glandular fever.
"Some people will be sick for two years, then recover and some may have it for six or seven years."
Symptoms include tiredness, disturbed sleep patterns, headaches, muscle and joint aches, and "brain fog", which Jane says is the technical term for dizzy behaviour.
"For me personally, I get memory and cognitive problems," she said.
"The latest from a study done overseas is that there may be a genetic marker in the blood to indicate CFS but they are still not sure how it works. When I was 13 I had all sorts of tests and it took two years to put a finger on what I had."
Jane said it was better now that CFS was more widely recognised and people did not "look at you funny".

Current research aims to understand chronic fatigue syndrome.
She said there was no specific treatment and that different things worked for different people. "A good diet is essential and graded exercise also helps," she said.
As part of her honours degree, Jane is researching the way children and adolescents cope with CFS and how it affects their lives.
To assist with her study, Jane is looking for volunteers who are aged up to 18 years who suffer from CFS.
She said participants would fill in a short questionnaire, which would remain anonymous. Phone [phone].

[artistography]

I feel that her research will conclude with positive results. What i have found interesting is that most of the people i have met who have had CFS were in fact "high achievers" at school. in fact a couple like myself became ill after VCE. It's as if our bodies burnt out. Most CFS sufferers are in fact very modivated achieveers people who put their heart and soul into everything they do. In fact before CFS led a very healthy and extroadinarily busy life.

[Damien Tonkin]

if anyone would like to participate in this research please let me know even if you are over 18, every little bit helps

[artistography]

Hi i'd love to get involved and help participate in the research....How do i gte started?

[nickkar]

artistography said:

I feel that her research will conclude with positive results. What i have found interesting is that most of the people i have met who have had CFS were in fact "high achievers" at school. in fact a couple like myself became ill after VCE. It's as if our bodies burnt out. Most CFS sufferers are in fact very modivated achieveers people who put their heart and soul into everything they do. In fact before CFS led a very healthy and extroadinarily busy life.

I know someone who related a similiar story of getting CFS after studying for university exams. Where these factors involved in the study periods , sleep deprivation, excessive caffeine usage, mental exhaustion, or long periods of anxiety.