Successful healing pathways towards recovery from chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an illusive illness which is characterized by fatigue and a variety of unpredictable and individually experienced symptoms. Although medical research has focused on the cause and a cure for the illness, the cause remains speculative, there is no diagnostic marker, there is no cure, and there is no single treatment or healing regime that is successful for everyone. Most persons who have CFS struggle through a maze of trial and error healing approaches in an attempt to find recovery.. To date, nurses have played a limited role in the health care of persons who have CFS. The purpose of this qualitative study was to increase knowledge and understanding about successful healing pathways towards recovery from CFS. This inquiry was conducted in the constructivist (naturalistic) paradigm using an hermeneutic dialectic data gathering process, and constant comparative analysis. Through several rounds of open discussion with eleven self selecting participants (three male and eight female), the researcher developed a consensual construction of successful healing pathways towards recovery from CFS. Successful recovery from CFS involved changing the person's relationship with CFS from one in which the illness initially predominated the foreground of the person's life, to one in which the illness was in the background. This change was accomplished through three Relational Processes: Legitimizing, Putting the Illness in its Place, and Redefining Healthy Self. Internal Legitimizing was found to be mandatory. Putting the Illness in its Place required each individual to engage in a unique physical and soul healing program, and to negotiate the critical balance. Redefining Healthy Self required the person to adopt a lifestyle which was different from his or her pre-illness condition, but which was generally perceived as desirable. Movement in changing the relationship was powered by the Moving On or Blank Wall outcomes of Choice Making. A person's healing journey through the CFS maze could be improved and made easier with the help of a knowledgeable health care worker. The researcher believes that the findings of this study can increase nurses' knowledge and understanding of the CFS healing journey in order to care for persons who have CFS.Applied Science, Faculty ofNursing, School ofGraduat