What is the difference between Long COVID and ME/CFS?
Long COVID follows COVID-19 specifically, while myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) can follow different infections. Many people with Long COVID also meet the criteria for ME/CFS.
Is CFS the same as ME/CFS?
Yes. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) are names for the same illness, and ME/CFS is the term the CDC uses today.
How is chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosed?
There’s no single test. According to the CDC, doctors look for reduced ability to function with fatigue, post-exertional malaise and unrefreshing sleep, plus thinking problems, symptoms that worsen when upright, or both, lasting six months or longer. Other illnesses need to be ruled out first, including with a physical exam from your primary care doctor.
What kind of doctor treats chronic fatigue syndrome?
No single specialty owns ME/CFS, and the CDC notes that many clinicians aren’t familiar with it, so look for one who takes it seriously. There’s no cure or approved treatment, so care focuses on managing symptoms and activity. Dr. Madeira works alongside your primary care doctor.
What is post-exertional malaise?
Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is a worsening of symptoms after physical, mental or emotional effort, often delayed by a day or more. Recognizing it matters because pushing through can make symptoms worse, so pacing is a core part of care.
Is there a treatment for Long COVID or ME/CFS?
There is no single cure. Care focuses on pacing, sleep, symptom relief and identifying factors that may be adding to the burden, such as environmental exposures, mast cell activation, gut problems or reactivated infections.
Can you see me by telemedicine if I’m too tired to travel?
Yes. Telemedicine is often easier for people with ME/CFS or Long COVID. Dr. Madeira sees adults by secure video or phone who live in Arizona, Montana or Washington and are in one of those states during each visit.
Can Long COVID be cured?
Many people do recover, often gradually and with an integrated approach that looks at sleep, pacing, nutrition and the factors that may be keeping symptoms going. There isn’t yet a single proven cure, and recovery looks different for everyone, so care is tailored to you and adjusted over time.
Does Long COVID qualify as a disability?
It can. Federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice says Long COVID can be a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and related civil-rights laws when it substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as walking, breathing, concentrating or working. Each person’s situation is assessed individually. That guidance covers protection from discrimination; Social Security disability benefits are decided separately, under their own rules.
What kind of doctor treats Long COVID?
Look for a doctor trained to find and address root causes. Large studies of hundreds of patients suggest that in some people, COVID-19 can reactivate Epstein–Barr virus (EBV, the virus that causes mono), a dormant virus from the herpes family, and they have linked signs of EBV reactivation to Long COVID symptoms such as fatigue and brain fog (see Sources below). Dr. Madeira looks for contributing factors like these, works with adults who have Long COVID or ME/CFS as part of their care team, and coordinates with your other doctors.
