Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating disorder characterised by extreme fatigue or tiredness that doesn’t go away with rest and can’t be explained by an underlying medical condition.

CFS can also be referred to as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) or systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID).

The signs and symptoms

A person with CFS may experience the following symptoms:

• Fatigue after physical or mental activities. This can last for more than 24 hours after the activity and is severe enough to interfere with daily activities.
• Chronic insomnia and other sleep disorders and feeling unrefreshed after a night’s sleep
• Loss of memory or difficulty concentrating.
• Muscle pain, multi-joint problems without redness or swelling, frequent headaches and sore throats, tender and swollen lymph nodes in the neck and armpits.

People are sometimes affected by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in cycles, with periods of feeling worse and then better again. To manage their condition a person with CFS will need to manage their exertion (physical and mental) throughout the day and week to ensure they rest accordingly and respond to how they are feeling.

Ideas to support inclusion

• Be aware of the person’s syndrome and make allowances, where possible, for attendance, no completion of work and fatigue
• Plan for rest periods during the day or plan the day to fit with the person’s support needs. A person with CFS may find mornings or long days more challenging.
• Employees’ may need support with note taking and handouts provided, to reduce the exertion of note taking.
• Be open to the idea of combining the workplace and home learning and alternative delivery methods the employee can access in their own time when they are feeling well.
• Offer and encourage the use of organisers, and other tools for time management and organisation.