By MARY WILLIAMS
BYU students who experience persistent flu-like symptoms that never seem to go away may have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is often called the 'yuppie flu,' and is closely associated with Epstein-Barr virus. The symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are constant fatigue or exhaustion, headaches, short term memory loss, light-headedness, difficulty concentrating and depression.
'I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome about a month ago. With this syndrome came fatigue problems and loss of memory and now my immune system is so deficient that I catch everything that goes around,' said Jean-Luc SansFaute, a junior from Paris majoring in biology and French.
Even though Chronic Fatigue sufferers should keep exercise to a minimum, SansFaute said he still tries to exercise a lot.
'I need to exercise, otherwise if I only sleep and stay inactive, I'll become depressed,' SansFaute said.
Many of the symptoms associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are often blamed on depression, according to Charles W. Lapp, M.D. But, depression associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is reactive or secondary to other persisting symptoms.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a virus for which there is no cure readily available. Sufferers are recommended to get adequate rest, a nutritious diet, minimal exercise and vitamin supplementation.
Also, depending on the severity of the case, medication is prescribed for certain symptoms, such as Prozac in small doses for fatigue and Diamox for headaches.
SansFaute said he takes tonic supplements every morning and is on a special diet.
'I have a lot of juices in my diet -- mainly different types of soups like cabbage soup -- to help clean out my system,' SansFaute said.
Being tired does not necessarily mean you have the syndrome. The syndrome causes such unrelenting fatigue that sufferers sometimes cannot get out of bed for days at a time.
Students who think they might be experiencing symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome should contact Dr. Beales at the McDonald Health Center.