Other useful topics that patients and doctors might discuss include carefully monitoring and managing activity to avoid worsening of symptoms, counseling to cope with the impact the illness may have on quality of life, proper nutrition and nutritional supplements that may support better health, and complementary therapies that might help increase energy or decrease pain.The United Kingdoms National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) 2021 guideline directed toward healthcare professionals and patients, specifies the need for shared decision-making between patients and medical care teams and acknowledges the reality and impact of the condition and the symptoms. The NICE guideline covers diagnosis, illness management, and aspects of symptom management: diet, medications, coexisting conditions, flare-ups, and energy management. The guideline recognized symptoms of severe ME/CFS may be misunderstood as neglect or abuse and recommends assessment for safeguarding of persons suspected of having ME/CFS be evaluated by professionals with experience and understanding of the illness. The guideline states that GET is not an appropriate treatment for ME/CFS. CBT might be offered to help a person manage the difficulties of dealing with a chronic illness, not to cure the illness.Prior to publication of the NICE 2021 guideline, Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, stated there was concern NICE did not adequately consider the experts support and evidence of the benefits of GET and CBT, and urged they be included in the guideline.
The 2015 definition by the National Academy of Medicine (then referred to as the "Institute of Medicine") is not a definition of exclusion (differential diagnosis is still required). "Diagnosis requires that the patient have the following three symptoms: 1) A substantial reduction or impairment in the ability to engage in pre-illness levels of occupational, educational, social, or personal activities, that persists for more than 6 months and is accompanied by fatigue, which is often profound, is of new or definite onset (not lifelong), is not the result of ongoing excessive exertion, and is not substantially alleviated by rest, and 2) post-exertional malaise* 3) Unrefreshing sleep*; At least one of the two following manifestations is also required: 1) Cognitive impairment* 2) Orthostatic intolerance" and notes that "*Frequency and severity of symptoms should be assessed. The diagnosis of ME/CFS should be questioned if patients do not have these symptoms at least half the time with moderate, substantial, or severe intensity. "Clinical practice guidelines are generally based on case descriptions, with the aim of improving diagnosis, management and treatment. An example is the ME/CFS guideline for the National Health Services in England and Wales, updated in 2021. Other guidance can be found at the New York Department of Health. Differential diagnosis
Certain medical conditions can cause chronic fatigue and must be ruled out before a diagnosis of CFS can be given.