MASSACHUSETTS CFIDS ASSOCIATION

P.O. Box 690305
Quincy, MA 02269-0305
Volunteer Info Line 617-471-5559
Website: www.masscfids.org

CHECKLIST OF CFIDS SYMPTOMS

 

MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS

q       Exhaustion, made worse by physical exercise (100%)

q       Low-grade fever in early stages
(60-95%)

q       Recurrent flu-like illness (75%)

q       Frequent pharyngitis (50-75%)
(sore throats)

q       Joint and muscle pain (65%)

q       Severe muscle weakness (40-70%)

q       Stiffness (50-60%)

q       Post-exertional fatigue & flu-like symptoms (50-60%)

q       Multiple sensitivities to medicines, foods, and chemicals (40-60%)

q       Severe nasal & other allergies (40-60%) (often worsening of previous mild allergies)

q       Frequently recurring, difficult to treat respiratory infections (40-60%)

q       Dyspnea on exertion
(labored breathing or hunger for air)

q       Painful lymph nodes (30-40%)
(especially on neck and under arms)

 

NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS

q       Sleep disorders & unrefreshed sleep (50-90%)

q       Headaches (35-85%)

q       Visual blurring (50-60%)

q       Intolerance of bright lights

q       Parasthesias (30-50%)
(numbness or tingling feelings)

q       Dizziness/ Light headedness (30-50%)

q       Ringing in the ears

NEUROCOGNITIVE SYMPTOMS

q       Impaired cognition (50-85%)

q       Attentional difficulties

q       Calculation difficulties

q       Memory disturbance

q       Spatial disorientation

q       Saying the wrong word

 

OTHER SYMPTOMS

q       Worsening of premenstrual symptoms (70% of women)

q       Nocturia (50-60%)
(excessive urination during the night)

q       Tachycardia (40-50%)
(abnormal rapid heart action)

q       Chest pain (25-40%)

q       Cough (30-40%)

q       Weight gain (50-70%)

q       Nausea, especially in earlier stages (50-60%)

q       Diarrhea, intestinal gas or irritable bowel (50%)

q       Intolerance of alcohol

q       Night sweats (30-50%)

q       Dry eyes (30-40%)

q       Dry mouth (30-40%)

q       Rash (30-40%)

q       Frequent canker sores (30-40%)

q       Herpes simplex or shingles (20%)

q       Symptoms worsened by extremes in temperature

Statistics compiled from data by: Paul Cheney MD, Anthony Komaroff MD, Charles Lapp MD, Daniel Peterson MD

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Last Updated on: 11/14/2002

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