Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ME/CFS and
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)
There are many paths to ME/CFS. It is chronic, has a wide range of symptoms, and is very difficult to diagnose and treat. ME/CFS is short for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Other names used include chronic fatigue and immunity deficiency syndrome (CFIDS), systemic exertion intolerance disorder (SEID), myalgic encephalopathy, or post viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS). It is often misunderstood, as the ‘chronic fatigue’ label almost sounds benign, or a mental state, and does not do justice to all the symptoms people are suffering from. What a misnomer really, as it is horrible and debilitating.
ME/CFS is tough to describe to those that have not experienced it either firsthand, or as a caretaker. Even close friends and family will not truly understand unless they have gone through something similar, or are taking care of you on a day-to-day basis. There are of course various levels of ME/CFS, from completely debilitated and unable to communicate, clean and feed yourself, to having no energy for life and being in a constant form of fatigue, pain and malaise, and anything in between. Sometimes you may not even look classically ill, even though you sure feel horribly ill.
Pancreas damage, specifically exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), is an under-reported and over-suffered cause of ME/CFS. EPI causes malabsorption, malnutrition and thus nutritional deficiencies. Often related issues such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), Candida yeast overgrowth, acid or silent reflux exacerbate nutritional deficiencies. Over time your metabolism (chemical processes that occur within the body in order to maintain life) struggles and breaks down, and metabolic pathways no longer function properly. The body’s mitochondria have a tougher time generating energy (ATP). This can have an impact anywhere in the body, hence the wide variety of symptoms, and it causes a vicious cycle Whether the trigger for ME/CFS is viral, bacterial, toxic overload, auto-immune, trauma, genetic, unknown, or pancreas damage as in the author’s case, the result is similar.
Below are some of the classic ME/CFS symptoms, which in the author’s case were caused by exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and treated successfully using the steps in the book:
- Post-exertional exhaustion, malaise, fatigue (PEM)
- Neurological issues such as delayed reactions, memory loss, abnormal sleep patterns, headaches, temporary dyslexia, temporary stuttering, brain fog, confusion, difficulty processing information, difficulty understanding conversations, paresthesia
- Motor impairments, poor coordination, sudden clumsiness, weakness, spasms
- Immune symptoms, non-stop flu-like malaise, difficulty healing, swollen glands
- Gastrointestinal dysfunctions
- Chronic pain, fatigue and malaise
- Cardiovascular dysfunctions
- Breathing dysfunctions
- Sensitivities to light, noise, heat, cold, smell, taste
- Blurry eyesight, night blindness
- Homebound for years and bed/couch ridden for many months
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) and Pancreas Damage Book
