The Parade magazine that most people get in their Sunday newspaper had a one-page article on CFS today. (Available online starting Tuesday at http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2007/edition_01-21-2007/Chronic_Fatigue )
Good news, bad news, although the highlighted box mentions "prolonged exhaustion after activity", the article doesn't mention at all that this is a hallmark symptom and the easiest way to differentiate CFS from depression (or virtually anything else).
Still, a magazine that millions of people read has made it clear that it should be taken seriously and is not "all in your head".
I'm pleased that the doctor specified "gentle exercise", though he didn't specify what that might be. Too many doctors don't consider it exercise unless you sweat, and that kind of exercise is what makes CFS patients worse.
Since the doctor didn't specify, I will: all but the most severe/bedridden patients should be able to do some muscle flexes and stretches -- I do mine in bed. Since putting my head down to my feet makes me feel faint, this allows me to bring my feet up to my head; same stretch but without the negative side effects. I do modified push-ups: I've recently lost the ability to roll over in bed by rolling (those muscles have been overused with coughing fits during cold season and have responded with another typical CFS symptom: paralytic muscle weakness), I have to push myself up off the bed and flip myself over, which keeps my upper arms toned. You need not waste energy on non-productive weight-lifting; you can lift a bottle of milk or water from the fridge to the counter, and a one-pound can of vegetables from the shelf to the stove, in the process of fixing a meal.
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