Chronic Illness Symptoms – Fatigue

Fatigue is a prominent symptom of many illnesses, both chronic and acute. It is often hard to define -- people may say they are tired, exhausted, or weak -- and it can affect your mental and physical abilities. Fatigue is different from sleepiness: sleepiness is usually caused by poor sleep or even boredom, while fatigue is a chronic condition that results from another medical or psychological condition.

No two people experience fatigue in exactly the same way. While most people with chronic fatigue have both mental and physical fatigue, some have more trouble thinking (mental fatigue), while others say their muscles aren't as strong as they used to be (physical fatigue).

The symptom of chronic fatigue is not the same thing as the medical condition chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); chronic fatigue is one of many symptoms that define CFS, and the symptom of chronic fatigue is a part of many other medical conditions.

While fatigue happens to everyone after intense physical or mental activity, healthy people recover and return quickly to their regular activities after resting. In contrast, rest does not fully alleviate symptoms of chronic fatigue.

It can be difficult to determine your best strategy for alleviating fatigue. Some people decide to turn inward and aggressively rest, while others fight against the fatigue by doing as much as possible until they crash. Generally, a better strategy is to learn your individual tolerance and capacity for activity and then build your daily life to balance your own need for rest and activity. Learning your new physical and mental boundaries is an essential part of coping with fatigue and other symptoms of chronic illness.

Patricia Fennell's Four-Phase Treatment (FFPT) model looks at an individual's complete spectrum of symptoms and functional capacities and offers a whole-person, individualized approach to illness management. FFPT examines a person's symptoms, what phase of illness he or she is in, and his or her symptoms and capacities, then designs a treatment plan that incorporates every aspect of the person's life. For more information about the capacities of chronic illnesses (pain, fatigue, poor sleep, cognition and thinking, walking and other movement, mood, and gastrointestinal symptoms), please see the categories at left.

Ultimately, the Fennell Four Phase Model and the Albany Health Management Associates approach to health management seeks to help people identify the most effective treatments; comply with medical, alternative, and psychological therapies; and learn to better self-manage their lives and their chronic illnesses.

If you would like more information about the Albany Health Management Associates approach to treating chronic illness, please contact us.