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A variety of therapies have been shown to help patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Treatment is based on individual symptoms. If you're diagnosed with CFS, you'll probably manage the condition with the following:

• Symptom-based treatment

• Education about the disease

• Regular follow-up visits to rule out alternative diagnoses and assess response to therapy

• Lifestyle changes. While lifestyle changes cannot cure the symptoms of CFS, they can make life with CFS more manageable and enjoyable. Increased rest, the use of stress reduction and management techniques, energy conservation techniques, dietary restrictions, nutritional supplementation and exercise based on personal abilities may be recommended by your health care professional. Supportive therapy, such as counseling, can also help you to identify and develop effective coping strategies.

• Medication. Certain over-the-counter or prescription medications may help you manage your symptoms. Specifically:

• For aches and pains: Over-the-counter medicines and prescription treatments such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), piroxicam (Feldene) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) may help. Deep massage, stretching, an activity program that has been designed with the help of a physical therapist, or chiropractic treatment may also help minimize these symptoms.

• For sleep problems, to relieve mild, generalized pain and to improve mood, low doses of tricyclic antidepressant agents are sometimes prescribed. Examples include doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin) and nortriptyline (Pamelor).

• For depression, antidepressants are often used. It often takes several weeks to see benefits with antidepressants or to identify side effects, so be patient and work with your health care professional to find the medication best for you.

You may also benefit from keeping an energy/activity diary. Keep a log for several weeks, noting the times when you feel the most fatigued and what activities you performed during the day. This can help you identify patterns in your illness and factors that contribute to your fatigue or other symptoms, such as headaches.

Also schedule rest periods and adjust your schedule to fit your energy patterns. Making time to relax and meditate during certain times of the day may be helpful, as will avoiding situations you know to be physically or psychologically stressful.

Work with your health care professional to develop a highly individualized activity plan based on your personal capabilities. Some CFS sufferers experience profound fatigue even after very minimal exercise, so start off slowly. Begin with as little as one to two minutes of stretching, increasing the level of activity slightly every two or three weeks. Exercise physiologists recommend that for every minute of activity, a rest period of one to three minutes follows. This serves to conserve energy and promote exercise tolerance.

Diet may also be an effective way to take control of your illness. Research suggests that CFS patients benefit from a basic healthy diet low in animal fat and high in fiber with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Talk with your health care professional about foods that may help increase your energy levels and relieve symptoms. If you lack the stamina to prepare well-balanced meals, let your health care provider know. Services may be available to assist with obtaining meals. A visit with a dietitian may be needed if you've lost or gained weight or been unable to eat a balanced diet.

You should also avoid certain triggers that aggravate CFS symptoms, such as a chemical, pesticide, household cleaning product, or another potential environmental toxin. To identify your triggers, remove all suspected toxins from your environment, then reintroduce them one by one to pinpoint what may be causing your symptoms.