1. Most Common Symptoms of ME/CFS

• Exhaustion, made worse by physical exercise (100%)
• Low-grade fever in early stages (60-95%)
• Recurrent flu-like illness (75%)
• Frequent pharyngitis (sore throats) (50-75%)
• Joint and muscle pain (65%)
• Severe muscle weakness (40-70%)
• Stiffness (50-60%)
• Post-exertional fatigue & flu-like symptoms (50-60%)
• Multiple sensitivities to medicines,  foods, and chemicals (40-60%)
• Severe nasal & other allergies (often with worsening of previous mild allergies) (40-60%)
• Frequently recurring, difficult to treat respiratory infections (40-60%)
• Dyspnea (labored breathing or hunger for air) on exertion
• Painful lymph nodes (especially on neck and under arms) (30-40%)

2. Neurological Symptoms

• Sleep disorders & unrefreshing sleep (50-90%)
• Headaches (35-85%)
• Visual blurring (50-60%)
• Intolerance of bright lights
• Parasthesias (numbness or tingling feelings) (30-50%)
• Dizziness/ Lightheadedness (30-50%)
• Ringing in the ears
• Impaired cognition (50-85%)
  
  • Attentional difficulties
  • Calculation difficulties
  • Memory disturbance
  • Spatial disorientation
  • Saying the wrong word

3. Other Symptoms

• Worsening of premenstrual symptoms (70% of women)
• Nocturia (excessive urination during the night) (50-60%)
• Tachycardia (abnormal rapid heart action) (40-50%)
• Chest pain (25-40%)
• Cough (30-40%)
• Weight gain (50-70%)
• Nausea, especially in earlier stages (50-60%)
• Diarrhea, intestinal gas or irritable bowel (50%)
• Intolerance of alcohol
• Night sweats (30-50%)
• Dry eyes (30-40%)
• Dry mouth (30-40%)
• Rash (30-40%)
• Frequent cancer sores (30-40%)
• Herpes simplex or shingles (20%)
• Symptoms worsened by extremes in temperature

4. Less Common Symptoms

• Mitral valve prolapse
• Paralysis
• Seizures
• Blackouts

5. Psychological symptoms

• Depression (reactive or secondary depression)
• Anxiety (including panic attacks and personality changes)
• Emotional lability (mood swings)
• Psychosis

The above information was compiled by Massachusetts CFIDS/ME & FM Association from data by Drs. Paul R. Cheney,  Jay A. Goldstein, Anthony L. Komaroff, Charles Lapp, and Daniel Peterson.