CFS Support Services

If you suspect that you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), getting a diagnosis may not be as simple as it seems. For many it takes years of constant frustration and some doctors still do not accept CFS as a medical condition. Unfortunately there is no specific test for CFS so it really just becomes a process of elimination, comparing CFS with many other illnesses that have similar symptoms. You may feel like you're on a merry-go-round until the final diagnosis is reached. For many, finally being diagnosed is a sign of relief but for others it's devastation.

Exhaustion and concentration difficulties take over your body and you are forced to retire from either school or the workforce. But how will you get by and cope? Your life has been turned upside down and you have no way of controlling it!

However, there IS help available, but whom do you contact? Your local Centrelink and Council are your best options. Applying for benefits can be a tiresome experience. It is the last thing you feel like doing, trying to explain your illness to someone who really will not understand! The process can be draining but you need to find out what you are entitled to.

Council's provide many services such as: respite care, meals on wheels, library services and home help. They may also provide you with an application form for a disability-parking permit. This can help the sufferer, as mobility can be limited.

For students with CFS, studying is often restricted. The pressures of keeping up with your peers as well as fighting CFS are almost impossible. It is a hard decision but you need to give yourself the best possible chance of recovery.

People who are studying VCE, TAFE/University courses can complete their studies by correspondence in their own time. There are Special Examination Agreements and you can contact the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority for more information.

There is no doubt that CFS is an emotional rollercoaster ride. Expressing your feelings of either anger, frustration, grief, loss or depression will help you through your illness. Confiding in a friend, family member, doctor, psychologist or counsellor can be helpful for emotional and social problems.

Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy can aid in the recovery process through participation in gentle exercise, breathing techniques and massage. It also enables rehabilitation and gives you the confidence to cope with daily living. Ask your local hospital or rehabilitation centre for more information.

Don't be afraid to seek help to battle CFS. Your local Centrelink and Council are probably the best places to start.
Please join me in the FEMAIL forum and post your thoughts on how CFS has affected you or the people you love.

- S.C.