Glossary Added to Fighting Fatigue

I had created another site that was an offspring of this one that lists all of the terms and phrases associated with CFS and Fibromyalgia.  I decided to combine the Glossary into this site here so that everything is easily found in one place.

You can click here to go to the Glossary.  Once you are on that page, you will see three links that lead to all of the terms and definitions of commonly used words and phrases for us patients!  If you see anything that needs added that I have missed, please leave me a comment so I can fix it!

Glossary

When I first became sick with CFS and Fibromyalgia, I felt as though I needed a medical license in order to understand all of the words and phrases used that surround these illnesses. Last year I had created a site that was an offspring of this one that offers definitions for many of the terms and phrases us patients use. I have since decided to include that information so that everything is together on one site.

If there are any terms, words and phrases I do not have included here that you would like to see added to our Glossary, please leave a comment.

Alphabetical Listing:

A – H

I – Q

R – Z

Glossary: R – Z

remission of symptoms
Disappearance of the signs and symptoms of a disease. When this happens, the disease is said to be “in remission.” A remission can be temporary or permanent.

relapse of symptoms
The return of signs and symptoms of a disease after a patient has enjoyed a remission.

research
The methodical investigation into a subject in order to discover facts, to establish or revise a theory, or to develop a plan of action based on the facts discovered.

restless leg syndrome
Restless leg syndrome is a sleep disorder characterized by leg discomfort during sleep, which is only relieved by frequent movements of the legs.

rheumatologist
A doctor who specizlizes in the branch of medicine dealing with the study and treatment of rheumatic diseases.

Secondary Fibromyalgia
Secondary Fibromyaglia is found in association with another condition, i.e. Lupus, or Fibromyaglia following a tragic event (car accident, etc.)

shortness of breath
Breathlessness, difficulty breathing. CFS patients may have shortness of breath as a symptom, especially during a flare.

short-term memory impairment
Short term memory loss. See “Fibro Fog”.

sick
Ill; affected by an illness.

skin sensations
Another symptom of CFS. Weird feelings on the skin: itching, tingling, numbness.

Social Security Disability
Federal program that provides financial assistance to people with disabilities who have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.

sore throat
Pain in the throat. Sore throat may be caused by many different causes, including inflammation of the larynx, pharynx, or tonsils. One of the main symptoms of CFS is sore throat.

stabbing pain
Fibromyalgia patients will often refer to their pain as “stabbing pain”; sharp.

stiff joints
See “morning stiffness”.

stress
A person’s physical and emotional reaction to external events taking place around us and within us. Studies have shown that there are actual physical changes occurring in our bodies when we are stressed.

substantial impairment
A considerable weakening or effectiveness of something. For example, CFS & FM patients often have a substantial impairment with short-term memory and energy.

swollen lymph glands
The enlargement of one or more lymph nodes.

swollen lymph nodes
Lymph nodes can become swollen from infection, inflammatory conditions, an abscess, or cancer. Other causes of enlarged lymph nodes are rare. The most common cause of swollen lymph nodes is infection.

sympathetic nervous system
The part of the autonomic nervous system that is active during stress or danger and is involved in regulating pulse and blood pressure, dilating pupils, and changing muscle tone.

symptom
An indication of illness felt by patient: an indication of a disease or other disorder, especially one experienced by the patient.

syndrome
A group of signs and symptoms that together are characteristic or indicative of a specific disease or other disorder0

tender lymph nodes
Lymph nodes are glands that play an important part in your body’s defense against infection. When the lymph nodes are swollen, they become sore. CFS patients have tender lymph nodes.

tender point
Fibromyalgia causes generalized soreness or pain spread over many places in the body. When touched even lightly, a body part might feel very tender. These hypersensitive spots are called tender points. Tender points hurt where they are touched, but do not cause pain elsewhere. They often occur in pairs with a matching tender point on both the right and left side of the body. In FM, tender points can occur anywhere, however the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has identified 18 tender points that are most consistent among fibromyalgia patients. These 18 points are helpful in the diagnosis of FM and in fact, 11 out of 18 points are necessary to be included in a scientific study involving fibromyalgia patients. A specific amount of pressure (4 kg, or about 9 pounds, per unit area of force) must be applied when testing tender points. Pressing with a thumb until the fingernail blanches white produces the correct force. A special instrument called a doliometer can measure the pressure with greater accuracy.

tingling sensations
Abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but are often felt in your hands, feet, arms, or legs. Numbness, tingling.

trigger point
A tight band in muscle or supporting structures, such as skin, ligaments, and fascia (tough linings that support and separate internal body parts). Trigger points are often described as lumps, bumps or ropes. When compressed, these points can make a muscle jump or twitch. Pain from a trigger point can be experienced at the site of the trigger or referred to a distant part of the body. Trigger point activity can be continuous or just occur when touched. Even when it is not actively painful though, a trigger point causes trouble. The tight contraction squeezes blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerves causing symptoms that might not be recognized as coming from a trigger point.

viral infection
Infection caused by the presence of a virus in the body. Depending on the virus and the person’s state of health, various viruses can infect almost any type of body tissue, from the brain to the skin. Viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics; in fact, in some cases the use of antibiotics makes the infection worse. The vast majority of human viral infections can be effectively fought by the body’s own immune system, with a little help in the form of proper diet, hydration, and rest. As for the rest, treatment depends on the type and location of the virus, and may include anti-viral or other drugs.

virus
A submicroscopic parasitic particle of a nucleic acid surrounded by protein that can only replicate within a host cell. Viruses are not considered to be independent living organisms.

visual disturbances (blurring, sensitivity to light, eye pain)
Abnormalities of sight. CFS & FM patients may have visual disturbances as a symptom.

weak
Lack of strength.

weight gain
Gaining weight.

weight loss
Loss of weight.

wellbeing
a contented state of being happy and healthy.

yuppie-flu
This is what CFS was initially referred to in the 1980s. It was considered a psychosomatic illness restricted to members of the young middle and upper classes.

Glossary: I – Q

immune system
The system that recognizes and opposes disease: the interacting combination of all the body’s ways of recognizing cells, tissues, objects, and organisms that are not part of itself, and initiating the immune response to fight them.

immunologic dysfunction
When the immune system is not functioning at a normal level.

infectious agents
Bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, etc. that cause disease and/or illness.

infectious disease
A disease caused by biological agents, which can be transmitted to others, rather than by genetic, physical or chemical agents.

infectious mononucleosis
See “Epstein Barr Virus”. Infectious mononucleosis, or “mono”, is an infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. The virus spreads through saliva, which is why it’s sometimes called “kissing disease.” Mono occurs most often in 15 to 17-year-olds. However, you can get it at any age. Symptoms of mono include fever, sore throat, swollen lymph glands. Sometimes you may also have a swollen spleen. Serious problems are rare.

inflammation
Swelling, redness, heat, and pain produced in an area of the body as a reaction to injury or infection.

insomnia
Difficulty in sleeping: inability to fall asleep or to remain asleep long enough to feel rested, especially when this is a problem that continues over time. See “disrupted sleep”.

irregular heartbeat
Abnormal heart rhythm, heart palpitations, racing heart.

irritable bowel syndrome
A painful bowel condition: a condition of the bowel in which there is recurrent pain with constipation or diarrhea or alternating attacks of these.

isolation
Separation from others: the process of separating somebody or something from others, or the fact of being alone and separated from others.

CFS & FM patients often go through isolation from friends and family, as it is difficult for others to understand the severity of the illness.

Lake Tahoe/Incline Village
Where CFS made headlines in the late 1980s after a major outbreak. This is where it first became known as the yuppie flu. See “yuppie flu”.

low body temperature
When the body’s temperature drops below 98.6 degrees. In CFS patients, it is common for them to have low body temperatures. Mine has been as low as 95 degrees.

low-dose tricyclic antidepressants
Tricyclic agents may be prescribed for CFS patients to improve sleep and to relieve mild, generalized pain. Examples include doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon, Limbitrol, Triavil), desipramine (Norpramin), and nortriptyline (Pamelor). Effective dosages are often much lower than those used to treat depression. Some adverse reactions include dry mouth, drowsiness, weight gain, and elevated heart rate.

low-grade fever
A continuous or fluctuating low fever, typically defined as never 101 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a non-specific finding, but occurs in many diseases.

mitochondria
The power-producing part of the cell.

morning stiffness
Stiffness in the joints that occurs upon wakening in the morning and usually lasts for the first hour the person is up. CFS & FM patients often complain of morning stiffness as a symptom.

multiple chemical sensitivities
refers to a broad range of adverse symptoms brought on by an even more broad array of everyday chemicals. These symptoms are often provoked at exposure levels far below those that seem to affect the rest of the population — levels virtually always present in our homes, workplaces, and social venues. They commonly include severe headaches, food intolerances, difficulty breathing, nausea, irritation of the eyes, ears, nose, throat, and skin, and disorientation or confusion. Many CFS & FM patients have MCS.

muscle pain
Muscle pain is most frequently related to tension, overuse, or muscle injury from exercise or physically-demanding work. In these situations, the pain tends to involve specific muscles and starts during or just after the activity. It is usually obvious which activity is causing the pain.

Muscle pain also can be a sign of conditions affecting your whole body, like some infections (including the flu) and disorders that affect connective tissues throughout the body (such as lupus). One common cause of muscle aches and pain is fibromyalgia,

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
This is what Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is known as in the United Kingdom. See “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”.

mycoplasma infection
In studies using polymerase chain reaction methods, mycoplasma blood infection has been detected in about 50% of patients with CFS and/or FMS, including patients with Gulf War illnesses and symptoms that overlap with one or both syndromes.

The mycoplasma are a very large group of bacteria. There are more than 70 types. Mycoplasma hominis and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are among the dozen types of mycoplasma that occur in humans. Mycoplasma pneumoniae can infect the upper respiratory tract and the lungs. It is a major cause of respiratory infection in children of school age and young adults. It is also a common cause of pneumonia in persons with HIV.

National Fibromyalgia Association
A nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop and execute programs dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with fibromyalgia.

National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
A nationwide campaign launched each year on May 12th to raise awareness and funding for Fibromyalgia research.

NIH
National Institutes of Health – The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting medical research.

natural killer cells
One of the main types of white blood cells which work as part of the human immune system.
Natural killer cells are being found to play a primary role in preventing and removing cancer cells in the body, removing many types of viruses (including herpes and measles).

nausea
The unsettling feeling in the stomach that accompanies the urge to vomit

neurally mediated hypotension
Condition where not enough blood is reaching the brain. Can cause dizziness and passing out.

night sweats
Severe hot flashes which occur at night and result in a drenching sweat. Night sweats can have many different causes including medications, infections, and cancers. CFS patients report night sweats as a symptom of their illness.

non-restorative sleep
Difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep. When the body does not complete all of the stages of sleep properly.

nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
Drugs used primarily to treat inflammation, mild to moderate pain, and fever. NSAIDs vary in their potency, duration of action, and the way in which they are eliminated from the body. Another important difference is their ability to cause ulcers and promote bleeding.

nutritional deficiency
A lack or shortage of nutrition that is essential for good health.

overexertion
In CFS and FM, this refers to overdoing it, doing more than what the body is physically able to handle; excessive activity.

pathology
The study and diagnosis of disease through examination of organs, tissues, cells and bodily fluids. The term encompasses both the medical specialty which uses tissues and body fluids to obtain clinically useful information, as well as the related scientific study of disease processes.

patient
Somebody who receives medical treatment.

pleurisy
Inflammation of the membrane pleura surrounding the lungs usually involving painful breathing, coughing, and the buildup of fluid in the pleural cavity.

postexternal malaise
The majority of people with CFS are affected by postexertional malaise, which is an exacerbation of symptoms following physical or mental exertion, with symptoms typically worsening 12-48 hours after activity and lasting for days or even weeks.

Primary Fibromyalgia
Primary Fibromyaglia is FM alone and is not caused by, or related to, another condition.

“push-crash” phenomenon
Characterized by overexertion during periods of better health, followed by a relapse of symptoms perhaps initiated by the excessive activity.

PWC
Abbreviation for People With CFS.

Glossary: A – H

abdominal pain
Pain that is felt in the abdomen. Abdominal pain is one of the many symptoms of CFS and FM.

acetamininophen
A type of pain reliever that does not contain aspirin and does not need a prescription.

acupressure
The application of pressure with the thumbs or fingertips to the same discrete points on the body stimulated in acupuncture; used for therapeutic effects to relieve tension or pain.

acupuncture
An ancient Chinese practice of inserting fine needles through the skin at specific points especially to cure disease or relieve pain.

acute
Sudden or severe. Acute symptoms appear, change or worsen rapidly.

adrenal insufficiency
The inability of the adrenal gland to product adequate amounts of cortisol in response to stress. See “cortisol“.

allodynia
A condition in which you have a painful reaction to a stimulus, such as a light touch on your skin, when you shouldn�t.

American College of Rheumatology
Created the 1990 criteria for the classification of Fibromyalgia. They are an organization of and for physicians, health professionals, and scientists that advances rheumatology through programs of education, research, advocacy, and practice support that foster excellence in the care of people with arthritis, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.

analgesic
A drug that helps reduce or eliminate the perception of pain.

antibiotics
Powerful medicines that fight bacterial infections. Used properly, antibiotics can save lives. They either kill bacteria or keep them from reproducing.

Antibiotics do not fight infections caused by viruses such as colds, flu, coughs and sore throats (unless caused by strep).

antidepressant
A prescription medication that is prescribed to relieve moodiness and depression. Some antidepressants can also promote sleep and help relieve pain.

anxiety
An unpleasant state that involves a complex combination of emotions that include fear, apprehension and worry. It is often accompanied by physical sensations such as heart palpitations, nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath or tension headache.

autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a regulatory structure that helps people adapt to changes in their environment. It adjusts or modifies some functions in response to stress. The ANS helps regulate…

• blood vessels’ size and blood pressure
  the heart’s electrical activity and ability to contract
  the bronchium’s (BRON’ke-um) diameter (and thus air flow) in the lungs

The ANS also regulates the movement and work of the stomach, intestine and salivary glands, the secretion of insulin and the urinary and sexual functions. The ANS acts through a balance of its two components, the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system.

bedridden
When someone is confined to their bed: forced to remain in bed because of illness, injury or weakness.

biological clock
A physiological timing mechanism. The set of mechanisms within living organisms that link physiological processes with daily, monthly, or seasonal cycles or with stages of development and aging.

People with CFS and FM often refer to their “biological clock” being messed up when they are wide awake at night and want to sleep during the day. See “circadian rhythm“.

bloating
Any abnormal general swelling, or increase in diameter of the abdominal area. As a symptom, the patient feels a full and tight abdomen, which may cause abdominal pain sometimes.

CDC Criteria
This is a set of “guidelines” set forth by the CDC that the medical profession is to use and follow to diagnose illnesses such as CFS. The problem with CDC criteria is that every person is not going to “fit” a certain mold set by the CDC.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC is one of the major operating components of the Department of Health & Human Services. The mission of the CDC is to To promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability.

central sensitization
The increase in the excitability of neurons within the central nervous system where normal inputs begin to produce abnormal responses. In Fibromyaglia patients, if someone just walks up to them and lightly lays a hand on them it can cause extreme pain and this is what is referred to as central sensitization.

central nervous system
The central nervous system refers to the brain and spinal cord. These serve as the main “processing center” for the whole nervous system and controls all the workings of the body. The central nervous system does not include the peripheral nerves in the arms, legs, muscles, and organs.

CFIDS Association of America
The largest and most active charitable organization dedicated to conquering chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), which is also known as chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS). Since this organization was founded in 1987, the Association has invested more than $18.4 million in initiatives to bring an end to the pain, disability and suffering caused by CFS.

CFS Awareness Day
May 12th of each year has been designated as CFS Awareness Day worldwide. Leading up to May 12th, and the week after, awareness for CFS is heavily promoted throughout the world.

CFS Lobby Day
Each year the CFIDS Association leads Lobby Day, where people with CFS, their family and friends canvas Capitol Hill, meeting face-to-face with lawmakers about the effects of CFS and the needs of CFS patients.

chest pain
Discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen. Chest pain in Fibromyaglia patients is typically referred to as costochondritis. See “costochondritis”.

chlamydia pneumoniae
Chlamydia pneumoniae is a bacterial organism first described in 1988 that is most commonly contracted by breathing droplets floating in the air after a person who carries it has coughed – as with the organism that causes tuberculosis. Cpn can then infect the “mucous-moving” cells lining the airways. It can paralyze those cells because it survives by stealing their energy, and may cause a serious respiratory infection. Then, if the body’s immune response is unable to kill the invading Cpn bacteria, they can be disseminated via “mononuclear cells” in the bloodstream to infect other cells in the body, such as those that line the blood vessels, nerve tissues, brain, muscles, and even immune cells. There again Cpn bacteria metabolize and damage these cells by “stealing” energy. Further, the Cpn bacteria are drawn to newly formed mononuclear blood cells, which tend to be generated where there is inflammation in the body – and where the Cpn can cause a secondary infection. And finally, Cpn passes through three forms in its life cycle, so that research indicates a combination of antibiotics may be necessary to kill it off in all forms.

Studies and research have shown that many CFS & FM patients have chronic chlamydia pneumoniae infection that shows up in their blood work.

chronic
An illness or medical condition that lasts over a long period and sometimes causes a long-term change in the body.

Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS)
Another name used for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). See “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)”.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a complex and debilitating chronic illness that affects the brain and multiple body systems.

CFS is characterized by incapacitating fatigue (experienced as profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina) and problems with concentration and short-term memory. It is also accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as pain in the joints and muscles, unrefreshing sleep, tender lymph nodes, sore throat and headache. A distinctive characteristic of the illness is post-exertional malaise, a worsening of symptoms following physical or mental exertion occurring within 12-48 hours of the exertion and requiring an extended recovery period.

The symptoms of CFIDS are highly variable and fluctuate in severity, complicating treatment and the ill person’s ability to cope with the illness. Most symptoms are invisible, which makes it difficult for others to understand the vast array of debilitating symptoms with which people with the illness must contend.

Other Common Symptoms
Additional symptoms are reported by sufferers such as word-finding difficulties, inability to comprehend/retain what is read, inability to calculate numbers and impairment of speech and/or reasoning. PWCs (see “PWC”) may also have visual disturbances (blurring, sensitivity to light, eye pain, need for frequent prescription changes); psychological problems (depression, irritability, anxiety, panic attacks, personality changes, mood swings); chills and night sweats; shortness of breath; dizziness and balance problems; sensitivity to heat and/or cold; alcohol intolerance; irregular heartbeat; irritable bowel (abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, intestinal gas); low-grade fever or low body temperature; numbness, tingling and/or burning sensations in the face or extremities; dryness of the mouth and eyes (sicca syndrome); gynecological problems including PMS and endometriosis; chest pains; rashes; ringing in the ears (tinnitus); allergies and sensitivities to noise/sound, odors, chemicals and medications; weight changes without changes in diet; light-headedness; mental fogginess; fainting; muscle twitching; and seizures.

chronic pain
Chronic pain persists over a longer period of time than acute pain and is resistant to most medical treatments. It can-and often does-cause severe problems for patients. Pain management is an integral part of treating chronic pain.

circadian rhythm
The daily rhythm that you body adjusts to in order to carry out essential biological functions. See “biological clock“.

clinical diagnosis
When a qualified medical professional identifies a condition, disorder or disease from its signs and symptoms.

clinical trial
Studies that have direct applicability to patients and their care, or are carried out in patients, rather than in a laboratory.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy
A psychotherapy based on modifying everyday thoughts and behaviors, with the aim of positively influencing emotions. The particular therapeutic techniques vary according to the particular kind of client or issue, but commonly include keeping a diary of significant events and associated feelings, thoughts and behaviors; questioning and testing assumptions or habits of thoughts that might be unhelpful and unrealistic; gradually facing activities which may have been avoided; and trying out new ways of behaving and reacting. Relaxation and distraction techniques are also commonly included.

cognitive dysfunction
Problems with concentration/attention, memory impairment, poor word-finding ability, decreased information-processing speed, motor slowing and mental exhaustion. Studies have shown that 50% – 85% of people with CFS & FM report cognitive difficulties. This is commonly referred by CFS & FM patients as “Fibro Fog”. See “Fibro Fog”.

comorbidity
The existence of two chronic diseases in one person at the same time.

concentration impairment
See “cognitive dysfunction”. Patients with CFS & FM report a frequent inability to concentrate.

constipation
Condition of the digestive system where a person (or animal) experiences hard feces that makes it difficult to have a bowel movement and can be very painful. CFS & FM patients often experience bouts of constipation and diarrhea. See “Irritable Bowel Syndrome”.

cortisol
An important hormone in the body, secreted by the adrenal glands and involved in the following functions and more:

• Proper glucose metabolism
  Regulation of blood pressure
  Insulin release for blood sugar maintanence
  Immune function
  Inflammatory response

Normally, it’s present in the body at higher levels in the morning, and at its lowest at night. Although stress isn’t the only reason that cortisol is secreted into the bloodstream, it has been termed “the stress hormone” because it’s also secreted in higher levels during the body’s fight or flight response to stress, and is responsible for several stress-related changes in the body.

costochondritis
An inflammation of the cartilage that joins the ribs to the chest bone. It is this inflammation that causes the sharp chest pains inside the chest wall.

The pain of costochondritis often mimics the pain of cardiac problems, including heart attacks and stroke. This can be quite scary for some sufferers; however, costochondiritis rarely causes any physical complications. Costochondritis affects about 50-80% of FM patients. See “chest pain”.

cyclical course
In CFS and FM, this is where the patient alternates between periods of illness and relative well-being.

debilitating
Weakening, reducing someone’s strength or energy.

deconditioning
To lose physical fitness through lack of exercise and/or illness.

depression
Everyone at one time or another has felt depressed, sad, or blue. Being depressed is a normal reaction to loss, life’s struggles, or an injured self-esteem. But sometimes the feeling of sadness becomes intense, lasting for long periods of time and preventing a person from leading a normal life. Depression that has these characteristics is a treatable medical condition called major depressive disorder, one of a number of depressive illnesses. Types of depression include: Major depression, chronic depression (dysthymia), bipolar depression, and seasonal depression (seasonal affective disorder or SAD).

Depression is common in CFS & FM patients as a secondary factor to their illness. CFS & FM are not caused by depression but patients often feel depressed because of being chronically ill.

diagnosis of exclusion
Refers to a medical condition whose presence cannot be established with complete confidence from examination or testing. Diagnosis is therefore by elimination of other reasonable possibilities.

diarrhea
Frequent, watery, loose bowel movements. CFS & FM patients tend to experience periods of diarrhea and constipation. See “irritable bowel syndrome”.

disabled
When someone is unable to perform particular activities. Refers to somebody with a condition that makes it difficult to perform some or all of the basic tasks of daily life

disease
A medical condition that results in pathological symptoms and is not the direct result of physical injury. A disorder with recognizable signs and often having a known cause.

disorder
A medical condition/illness involving a disturbance to the usual functioning of the mind or body.

disoriented
To cause somebody to feel lost or confused, especially with regard to direction or position.
Dazed, bewildered, confused. CFS & FM patients tend to feel disoriented, especially when experiencing a flare.

disrupted sleep
Inadequate or poor-quality sleep because of one or more of the following: difficulty falling asleep; waking up frequently during the night with difficulty returning to sleep; waking up too early in the morning; or unrefreshing sleep.See “insomnia”. Disrupted sleep is a common complaint among Fibromyalgia and CFS sufferers.

dizziness
Lightheadedness, dizzy, loss of balance. CFS & FM patients often have dizziness as one of their symptoms.

dopamine
A chemical compound occurring in brain. A neurotransmitter that is also a precursor of epinephrine. Dopamine is similar to adrenaline. See “Dopamine Theory in Fibromyalgia”.

dopamine agonists
These drugs bind to dopamine receptors in place of dopamine and directly stimulate those receptors. The regulation of dopamine plays an important role in our mental and physical health. See “Dopamine Theory in Fibromyalgia”.

Dopamine Theory in Fibromyalgia
A ground-breaking study by Dr. Patrick Woods, a nationally recognized researcher and authority on Fibromyalgia, which proposes that people with Fibromyalgia produce less dopamine—a natural chemical in the body that functions as a neurotransmitter—in the very areas of the brain where dopamine is needed to process painful bodily sensations.

The reduction in the activity of dopamine neurons, believed to result from a combination of environmental factors, including chronic stress, as well as genetic factors, serves as the strongest evidence yet that dopamine-related issues may be the root cause of fibromyalgia.

dry eyes
Decreased tearing in the eyes. Symptoms of dry eyes are burning, stinging, or scratching sensation. Another symptom of CFS.

dry mouth
The feeling that there is not enough saliva in the mouth. Another symptom of CFS.

earache
Sharp, dull or burning pain in the ear that may be constant or temporary. Symptom of CFS.

energy
The ability to do things. The ability or power to work or make an effort.

Epstein Barr Virus (EBV)
Epstein-Barr virus, frequently referred to as EBV, is a member of the herpesvirus family and one of the most common human viruses. The virus occurs worldwide, and most people become infected with EBV sometime during their lives. In the United States, as many as 95% of adults between 35 and 40 years of age have been infected. Infants become susceptible to EBV as soon as maternal antibody protection (present at birth) disappears. Many children become infected with EBV, and these infections usually cause no symptoms or are indistinguishable from the other mild, brief illnesses of childhood. In the United States and in other developed countries, many persons are not infected with EBV in their childhood years. When infection with EBV occurs during adolescence or young adulthood, it causes infectious mononucleosis 35% to 50% of the time.

There have been studies done (http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/7266/searchtext/epstein%20barr%20virus/) that indicate that A high incidence of severe B-cell immunodeficiency and chronic reactivated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have been found.

Of the 58 patients evaluated, 100% had evidence of prior EBV exposure and 72% had evidence for reactivated EBV infection. Notably, 94% of CFS patients had B-cell immunodeficiency with a marked depletion of their CD19+IgM+ mature B-lymphocyte population.

A remarkable 81% of CFS patients experienced subjective improvement of their symptoms after treatment with folinic acid (CAS 58-05-9, leucovorin).

The findings provide unprecedented evidence that CFS frequently is a folinic acid responsive clinical entity accompanied by B-cell immunodeficiency and inappropriate antibody responses to EBV.

exclusion criteria
Pre-defined factors that exclude a subject from a trial. For example: clinical studies often exclude patients that would be unable to attend for review for any reason. Many studies exclude subjects of less than 18 years old.

fatigue
Mental or physical exhaustion. Extreme tiredness or weariness resulting physical or mental activity.

Fibro Fog
A term used by FM & CFS patients when they refer to their inability to think clearly, short-term memory loss, lack of concentration, and difficulty with word finding. See “cognitive dysfunction”.

Fibromyalgia
A chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points. “Tender points” refers to tenderness that occurs in precise, localized areas, particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. People with this syndrome may also experience sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, and other symptoms.

flare
To start up again. To recur, worsen, or intensify suddenly. In illnesse such as CFS & FM, a “flare” is when the illness comes out of remission.

flu-like symptoms
- Fever (usually high)
- Headache
- Extreme tiredness
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle aches
- Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults
These symptoms are usually referred to as “flu-like symptoms.”

At the onset of CFS, patients will say that they experienced “flu-like symptoms” that never went away.

FM
Abbreviation for Fibromyalgia. See “Fibromyalgia”.

food allergies
Food allergies occur when your immune system has mistakenly identified a normally harmless substance as a bacteria or virus. CFS & FM patients often complain of developing food allergies after the onset of their illness.

frustration
Dissatisfaction: a feeling of disappointment, exasperation, or weariness caused by goals being thwarted or desires unsatisfied.

Chronically ill patients often deal with frustration because of having to live with always being ill and not being able to do what they want.

functionally impaired
Unable to function at a normal level, or at the level one used to function. CFS & FM patients find themselves functionally impaired and unable to participate and interact with physical and mental activities as they once did.

genetic predisposition
Increased susceptibility to a particular disease due to the presence of one or more gene mutations. A family history that indicates an increased risk for getting the disease.

headache
A pain in the head lasting for some time caused by changes in pressure in the blood vessels leading to and from the brain. Symptom of CFS & FM.

Hippocampus
An area buried deep in the forebrain that helps regulate emotion and memory.

hope
To have a wish to get or do something or for something to happen or be true, especially something that seems possible or likely. A chance that something desirable will happen or be possible.

What often helps CFS & FM patients cope with these illnesses is that they continue to have hope for a cure.

hormonal imbalance
When the chemical messangers that regulate our body’s systems no longer function properly. There may be many causes for hormonal imbalances:

- poor nutrition
- bad diets
- stress
- environmental exposure to toxins
- chronic illnesses (such as CFS & FM)

hormones
Hormones are chemical messengers that are released from glands and organs, move through your bloodstream, and enter tissues where they effect the regulation of everything from reproduction to general health and well being. Hormones can be thought of as the regulating chemical force that moves you physically, mentally, and emotionally.

hurt
To experience physical pain.

hypochondriac
Somebody who is unduly preoccupied with personal health and believes that illness is nearly always present or imminent.

Unfortunately, many, many CFS & FM patients have been accused by physicians of being hypochondriacs. Of course, this is not the case. These patients are truly ill.

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
Refers to a complex set of direct influences and feedback interactions between the hypothalamus, a hollow, funnel-shaped part of the brain; the pituitary gland, a pea-shaped structure located below the hypothalamus; and the adrenal or suprarenal gland, a small, paired, pyramidal organ located at the top of each kidney. The fine, homeostatic interactions between these three organs constitute the HPA axis, a major part of the neuroendocrine system that controls reactions to stress and regulates various body processes including digestion, the immune system, mood and sexuality, and energy usage

hypothyroidism
A condition where the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone. Hypothyroidism may cause a variety of symptoms (slowing of metabolism which leads to weight gain, thinning hair, dry skin, weakness, fatigue, joint & muscle pain, depression) and is believed to be a contributing factor to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.