Chronic Fatigue
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment
For over 20 years, the team at Mitchell Medical Group has specialized in treating patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Only recently has the rest of the medical community come to view chronic fatigue as a very real and devastating syndrome and started to learn how to treat it. In fact, for almost 2 decades any patient that presented with the complaint of chronic fatigue was labeled a malingerer – the medical term for someone faking an illness for secondary gain.
Effective Holistic Approach to Chronic Fatigue (CFS) in NYC
It’s hard to ignore a condition that at any given time 2.5 million Americans suffer from – even more, if you count the people who suffer from disabling fatigue that does not fit the CDC criteria for chronic fatigue.
For the vast majority of people with this condition, whether mild or severe, we offer an effective, proven treatment.
Telehealth New Patient Meeting
We know it can be difficult to always find time to get to the doctor’s office which is why we are now offering telehealth virtual new patient meetings with Dr. Mitchell. During the meeting, you will speak directly with Dr. Mitchell about your health issues just like you would at his office.
It is important for all those who are interested in a telehealth appointment with me to know that medico-legally I cannot diagnose or treat anyone unless we have a face-to-face, in-person office visit. I cannot prescribe any medications or supplements from a telehealth visit (the exception to this is if you live in New York State).
These telehealth visits are intended for educational and informational purposes only. My goal is to help provide you with these resources to work with your local healthcare provider to get the best care possible.
Call our office today at 212-397-0157 to schedule your meeting or request an appointment online.
What Makes Our Treatment Process Different
Most doctors, especially those who specialize in a certain area of the body, focus on treating your symptoms. As a result of this approach, you are never actually cured. In many cases, you must rely on medication or treatments for the rest of your life because you are merely treating the symptoms of your condition.
We focus on treating the underlying cause of your condition which means we are able to get to the root of the problem and give you a treatment plan focused on curing you of chronic fatigue.
Chronic fatigue occurs in varying degrees of severity and people who suffer from this often have a combination of several different underlying problems that cause this condition.
Usually, there are about five to six factors and it is important to treat each of these factors simultaneously. Chronic fatigue is unusual in that each separate underlying problem can trigger other problems. This is why it is essential to determine all the underlying factors and treat all of them simultaneously. It never ceases to amaze us how quickly a case of chronic fatigue can resolve once the underlying problems are treated.
If you are not sure if you have chronic fatigue syndrome we invite you to check out the top 10 symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome or take our chronic fatigue syndrome questionnaire.
How We Treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
CFS is a frustrating and debilitating condition that can keep you from living the lifestyle you want to live. At Mitchell Medical Group, we treat CFS by turning the tables: we use controlled lifestyle choices to combat its symptoms. By putting control back in your hands, we help you build strength to regain your life day by day.
The approach to treating chronic fatigue is a multi-step approach and an integrated program that addresses all of the underlying causes of your chronic fatigue and focuses on treating the whole body. These factors are not necessarily the same for everyone which is why we take the time to undercover exactly what is causing your chronic fatigue.
Additionally, chronic fatigue is a complex disease that involves multi-system disturbances and abnormalities so you want to choose a doctor who understands this complex disease and knows how to identify all of the underlying factors.
Part of our process can include a comprehensive initial consultation and extensive lab work so we can develop a treatment plan unique to your specific needs. We do not believe in a one size fits all approach to medical care.
Our Process
Generally our process can be broken down as follows:
- Initial comprehensive consultation and extensive lab work
- Address pain and sleep disturbances
- Introduce exercise into daily routine
- Enhance mitochondria by improving nutrition with a customized diet program
- Administer needed vitamins orally or via IV vitamin therapy
- Balance hormones by evaluating hypothalamic, thyroid, adrenal, ovarian/testicular, and pituitary function
- Evaluation infectious components and treat underlying infections like candida overgrowth
- Address unique etiologies such as neurotoxins and coagulation defects
- Provide an individualized maintenance program with the minimal amount of medications and supplemented needed to keep you well
S.H.I.N.E.® Protocol for Treating Chronic Fatigue
Our treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome focuses on Sleep, Diet and Nutrition, Hormone imbalance including Thyroid, Infections and Exercise. Our process is also known as the S.H.I.N.E.® Protocol and was developed by Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum who is the national leading expert on treating chronic fatigue syndrome.
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) reflects an energy crisis in the body that triggers a host of downstream effects such as muscle pain, insomnia, hormonal deficiencies, infections, poor liver detoxification, immune dysfunction, and decreased heart function. With treatment, it’s critical to go to the heart of the problem and treat your body’s “energy furnaces” because you can’t overcome fatigue if the cells and tissues in your body won’t have enough energy.
Restoring optimal energy production and eliminating those things that drain your energy is critical to your recovery. The checklist for doing this and getting well is called S.H.I.N.E.® which stands for:
- Sleep
- Hormonal deficiencies
- Infections
- Nutritional support
- Exercise
During your treatment, we may uncover numerous infections you picked up over the years due to immune dysfunction such as chronic candida / fungal / yeast overgrowth. Treating these infections will help resolve your chronic fatigue and get you feeling better.
Treatments May Include:
- Intravenous Vitamin and Mineral Therapy
- Ribose
- Methylcolbamin (B12)
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine
- NADH
- Glutathione
- Gamma globulin injections
- Magnesium injections
- Medically supervised sublingual candida immunotherapy
Unique therapeutic treatments include intravenous vitamin and mineral infusions as well as a combination of immune-enhancing and anti-inflammatory injections to achieve the best results.
There are supplements that support the energy cycle of cellular mitochondria. The mitochondria are the batteries of the cells, which produce energy. Mitochondrial dysfunction can result in profound fatigue. Treating mitochondrial dysfunction with oral, injectable and intravenous supplements can dramatically improve your energy level.
Hormonal imbalances are also frequently implicated in the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It is important to assess the production of DHEA, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Treating hormonal deficiencies is essential in treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
We also typically recommend that our patients seek out a CFS support group. Online support groups are all over the internet and serious, compassionate fellow sufferers can offer golden nuggets of advice. Not even your doctor can understand the suffering of what you are going through like another patient with the same diagnosis. True healing of the soul can have a profound effect on your quality of life.
Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
If you experience prolonged, unexplainable tiredness or weakness, you may have chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). CFS is a debilitating condition that can be particularly difficult to deal with due to the fact that there are no clear-cut causes or treatments. CFS is commonly referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and, more recently, systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID). The causes of CFS are still largely unknown to the medical community, though many believe the condition to be a result of viral infections or psychological stress.
Why Doctors Have a Hard Time Diagnosing and Treating CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
Unlike diseases like cancer where there is a clear cut diagnosis because it is something doctors can see on x-rays and clear indication of treatment as friends and relatives can see the effects of chemotherapy treatment like loss of hair or weight, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has this invisible presentation where the patient looks normal but yet is so ill they have no energy to function in a normal capacity. In fact, many doctors, friends, and family tell individuals who suffer from CFS that it’s all in their head. CFS is difficult to diagnosis which is why it is important to seek out a physician who is an expert in diagnosing and treating chronic fatigue.
Testing for CFS
Testing for chronic fatigue syndrome is a process of elimination that involves ruling out all other conditions that may cause similar symptoms. Since CFS affects most patients differently and to varying degrees, treatment plans differ from patient to patient. Often, carefully-controlled sleep, diet, and exercise management are at the core of a CFS treatment plan. Drugs such as sleep medication or antidepressants may also be prescribed. At Mitchell Medical Group, we offer a highly-effective holistic approach to treating CFS that has been shown to reduce symptoms and increase energy in the majority of our patients.
Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Debilitating fatigue
- Lack of concentration
- Sore throat
- Swollen or painful lymph nodes
- Headaches
- Unrefreshing sleep
CFS is a frustrating and debilitating condition that can keep you from living the lifestyle you want to live. At Mitchell Medical Group, we treat CFS by turning the tables: we use controlled lifestyle choices to combat its symptoms. By putting control back in your hands, we help you build strength to regain your life day by day.
Don’t let chronic fatigue keep you from living the life you love!
Schedule Your Consultation
If you are tired of suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, give our office a call today at 212-397-0157.
We have convenient offices in midtown Manhattan and in Rockville Centre, Long Island.