Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as Myalgia Encephalomyelitis (ME),can affect children and young people as well as adults and it’s more common than you might think. Between two and six young people in every 1,000 have the condition and it‘s probably the most common medical reason for absence from school.

The hallmark symptoms of CFS are overwhelming fatigue and weakness that make it extremely difficult to perform routine and daily tasks, like getting out of bed, dressing, and eating. The fatigue does not get better with bed rest. The illness can severely affect school, work, and leisure activities, and cause physical and emotional symptoms that can last for months or even years.

There is no cure for CFS/ME but local children’s charity Clover House, based in Saltford offer  a trilogy of treatments; Nutritional, Imagery and Massage therapy that haven been known to help ease and diminish the symptoms. John, age 14 was diagnosed as suffering from CFS by his doctor and Mum, Jane had reported that it was getting progressively worse when she first bought him to Clover House. Not only was he completely lacking in energy and unable to attend school, he often had sore throats, tummy aches, was not sleeping well and was stressed. This was compounded with the fact that he did not get on well with his younger sister who seemed jealous of the amount of attention that John was getting.

By the end of his second session, the Imagery therapist had implemented coping strategies that helped John relax, visualize and manage his pain and exhaustion as well as working on techniques to get on better with his sister. The Nutritionist advised how stress could be affecting John’s immune system and digestion and he was given an eating plan that would stabilize his blood sugar levels and help with his nausea whilst increasing his energy levels. The Massage therapist performed reflexology on Johns feet to help him relax and showed Mum some techniques to try at home.

After his second session the all round improvement in John was remarkable and Mum was delighted at his positive changes. A month later John was back at school full time and rated his energy levels as 3 out of 10 at the beginning of the 1st session to an outstanding 9 out of 10 and getting on with his sister from a 1 out of 10 to a 6 out of 10.