By Charlie Charalambous
CHRONIC Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) sufferer Olga Kamakaris yesterday made a heartfelt plea, through the Cyprus Mail, urging the local medical profession to recognise her rare disorder.
“Doctors in Cyprus don’t know anything about this syndrome, but I am offering money to anyone who is concerned enough to start a research project,” said Kamakaris.
She is willing to sell some of her personal possessions to assist anyone who wants to make a serious study of the debilitating disorder.
“Research is needed to help get the syndrome recognised in Cyprus, and to help the many sufferers who need professional help but are not receiving it.”
Kamakaris’ plea to doctors to become more aware about CFS follows her own research, which estimates that “around 110 people suffer from this disease in Cyprus, and many of these individuals may not even know it.”
Although the syndrome is not a killer in itself, many are driven to suicide because of the crippling symptoms, American experts say.
Kamakaris upholds this view: “the pain is so intense that it drives many people to suicide.”
The debilitating disorder is characterised by profound tiredness, and a sufferer can be exhausted by the slightest physical exertion.
There are no specific symptoms, but CFS sufferers can complain of sore throats, insomnia, muscle pains and impaired memory, among other ailments.
“I have gone for days without having a bath because I just don’t have the strength; even simple tasks like reading and talking become too much of a pain to bear,” said Kamakaris.
It is only by a process of careful elimination that doctors can diagnose CFS correctly, but unfortunately lack of knowledge in Cyprus is letting such cases slip through the net.
Although a scientifically recognised syndrome, the cause of CFS has not been identified and no specific diagnosis is available.
It is therefore important, says Kamakaris, that doctors listen carefully to the patient in order to reach the right diagnosis.
However, the wider media is partly to blame for public misconception of CFS, as it has been described as “Yuppie flu” and a “female disorder” (current statistics show the breakdown to be 60-40 towards women).
This is partly due to the body of evidence being small and published findings being of a preliminary and unsubstantiated nature.
Although there is no known cure for CFS, Kamakaris believes well-funded research would at least go some way in helping sufferers to understand their condition, and as a consequence better to cope with it.
