Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Dealing with Debilitating Symptoms

People with chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS, may deal with debilitating fatigue. This condition can last for months or years. It can prevent patients from keeping their jobs and affect their quality of life. If you have been diagnosed with CFS that prevents you from working, you may qualify for long-term disability benefits. But these disability claims are quite hard to approve. Because of this, you need an experienced disability claims attorney to guide and advise you. 

What to Know About CFS

CFS is a debilitating disorder characterized by persistent, unusual fatigue. Rest cannot improve this fatigue, which is not caused by an underlying medical condition. Other symptoms of CFS include sleep disturbances, muscle pain, cognitive symptoms like memory issues and problems focusing or processing information, joint pain, a sore throat, weakened immune functions, and orthostatic intolerance. CFS does not have a cure. Treatment mainly concentrates on managing a patient’s symptoms and improving their quality of life. If you have CFS, your treatment plan is tailored to your unique needs. 

Is CFS a disability?

CFS can cause physical and mental limitations, which impair everyday activities, social life, and work. Because of this, it is often covered by long-term disability (LTD) insurance. In general, LTD policies define disability as an illness or condition that prevents a person from doing their job or doing any job that they are reasonably suited to. 

If you have CFS, it may not be possible to perform jobs that are physically and mentally demanding. But the majority of jobs require employees to be alert, available, and rested during work hours. If the symptoms of CFS are serious enough, a worker may not be able to perform their jobs properly. However, disability claims for chronic fatigue syndrome are hard to pursue for some reasons. Just having a diagnosis does not automatically mean you will be approved for disability benefits. 

Things to Keep in Mind When Bringing a Claim

Objective testing for CFS is quite limited, so insurance companies will closely scrutinize your claim. You must collect as much evidence as possible. Aside from having a diagnosis, you must demonstrate that you have serious symptoms that meet the policy’s eligibility standard. 

To strengthen your claim, you must check in with your physicians regularly because you need extensive medical records to prove your condition. Also, ensure you follow your treatment guidelines, so the insurer won’t have a reason to question your claim. Keeping a journal of your symptoms and their impacts on your life can also help bolster your claim.