Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disorder which causes extreme fatigue. It is much more severe than a tired feeling which rest relieves. Instead, the fatigue persists and hinders ordinary daily activities.
Typical symptoms of CFS include fatigue for six months or more, and experiencing other problems such as myalgia, memory problems, headaches, pain in multiple joints, sleep disturbances, a sore throat, and tender lymph nodes.
Chronic fatigue syndrome’s exact cause is unknown. Some researchers suspect that it may be caused by a virus, such as Epstein-Barr virus or human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6). Nevertheless, no specific virus has been identified as the cause.
CFS is most common in women in their forties and fifties, but anyone can have the syndrome and it can endure for years after onset.
Most medical practitioners are trained to believe that there is no cure for CFS and that the goal of treatment is to improve symptoms. Certain medicines may treat pain, sleep disorders, and other problems, but in many cases these approaches mask symptoms with little or no real long-term relief. The doctor’s approach to CFS goes beyond these therapies.
Dr. Roberts begins by educating patients so that they have a better understanding about the body’s hormone-producing organs, otherwise known as the endocrine system, and how the brain orchestrates this system in connection to CFS. It is true that there is no known cause for chronic fatigue syndrome, but there is a correlation to what appears to be reduced hormone production in adrenal glands as well as reduced cortisol production in CFS patients. In many cases, people with CFS have significant reduction in both blood and urine levels of important adrenal hormones such as cortisol, often exhibiting half of the expected adrenal production. The problem may not be with the adrenal glands themselves, but rather with a problematic interaction between the neuroendocrine and immune systems.
The doctor’s treatment protocol is twofold. First, she tests adrenal function. Then, in case of abnormality, she often treats patients with either low hormone production or a low adrenal reserve with low doses of bio-identical (natural) adrenal hormone. Treatment often results in significant improvement. To avoid possible side effects, she stays away from high doses and routinely tests hormone levels to ensure that they remain in safe ranges.
“I’ve been struggling for decades, but after five months with Dr. Roberts, I’ve had a dramatic turnaround in my health. Initially, I ended up in the ICU after collapsing in the ER. They finally labeled me with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but none of the treatments ever helped. I had to go to the doctor in a wheelchair or with a cane. Now, I don’t need a scooter anymore at the mall or grocery store, and I can even walk theme parks. My personality was squashed because expression takes energy, but now I feel young again.”
Disclaimer: These testimonials do not represent a guarantee of medical improvement, and results may vary depending on the patient.