So we're clear - you're saying that the phenomenon referenced in this article, "chronic fatigue syndrome", is not a syndrome? I'm not sure that argument is even cognizable. A syndrome is just a set of correlated symptoms or effects. How can we even discuss this if we can't agree with this designation?
> There are very specific symptoms you need to have for it to be cfs.
Wait... so now you do recognize this syndrome?
> Did you even read the article?
Asking this question, particularly in the demeaning tone which you have adopted, is against the guidelines, which expressly discourage the precise wording you have chosen: https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
It is unfortunate and a bit weird that the author referred to the condition with that phrase; doctors and patients are trying to deprecate the term, as it leads to the whole thing not being taken seriously.
The preferred term is "myalgic encephalitis." My girlfriend has it. Roughly put, it's an ongoing brain chronic brain inflammation that leaves her incapacitated for roughly 17 hours a day. She's not "sleepy" or "lazy," she has a fever in her brain and it can't be cured and it's a horrid situation.
> Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complicated disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that can't be explained by any underlying medical condition.
https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/about/index.html
and also from the cdc
> Symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) may appear similar to many other illnesses and there is no test to confirm ME/CFS. This makes ME/CFS difficult to diagnose. The illness can be unpredictable. Symptoms may come and go, or there may be changes in how bad they are over time.
CFS =/= feeling tired.
"The most prominent symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome is an unexplained feeling of fatigue, which is not relieved by rest. This fatigue is severe enough to decrease a person's activity level at home, work or school by 50% or more. In addition, the diagnosis requires that patients should have at least four of the following symptoms that also are present for at least six months:
- Impaired concentration or short-term memory, severe enough to affect routine activities at home, work, school or social functions
- Sore throat
- Enlarged lymph nodes (swollen glands) in the neck or underarm area
- Muscle pain
- Pain in several joints, with no redness or swelling
- Headaches that are different in some way: a new type of headache pain, a new pattern of headaches or headaches that are more severe than before
- Sleep that doesn't refresh, or not feeling rested on waking
- An extreme reaction to exertion: feeling sick after exercise or strenuous activity, often not starting until the next day
People with chronic fatigue syndrome often have other symptoms that are not part of the official definition of the illness, such as nausea and difficulty tolerating alcoholic beverages or medicines that act on the brain. Many people also have allergies, such as hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or recurring sinus problems.
About half of people with chronic fatigue syndrome develop depression in the months and years after their illness starts. However, available evidence indicates that chronic fatigue syndrome is not a psychiatric illness. Rather, it appears to be a physical illness that leads to depression in some people."
https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/chronic-fatigue-syndro...
Edit: I want to apologize to fortran77. My temper got the better of me.
That sucks; I'm really sorry that you've been faced with that response. I think you'll find much more sympathy on HN than is the norm in mainstream health care systems.
But please don't take out your pain and frustration at other commenters. I don't think that fortran77 is exhibiting the kind of intolerance you've experienced, but instead, making reasonable and critical points about the underlying topic.
But the "did you even read the article" thing has been the death of a lot of otherwise interesting threads lately. Heck, look at this one.