CFS & Fibromyalgia Living With Getting Sick on Top of Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS By Adrienne Dellwo linkedin Adrienne Dellwo is an experienced journalist who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and has written extensively on the topic. Learn about our editorial process Adrienne Dellwo Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Scott Zashin, MD on April 10, 2020 linkedin Scott J. Zashin, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and rheumatology. He was a volunteer clinical professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Dallas. Learn about our Medical Review Board Scott Zashin, MD on April 10, 2020 Print We have fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) — aren't we sick enough already? Yes, we are, but that doesn't mean we're immune to all the bugs that go around. Whether you get a bad case of it or not, you're likely to feel it more than most people, and illness can trigger a flare. laflor / Getty Images Prevention Is Key The best way to deal with illness is to head it off at the pass. Take steps to keep from getting sick or to keep it from getting worse. For prevention, the best advice is avoiding sick people (if possible) and washing your hands. If frequent washing isn't an option, use hand sanitizer. (Flu vaccines are a bit controversial for people with fibromyalgia and CFS, so you have to weigh the options to see whether they're a good idea for you.) If You're Getting Sick If you feel like you're coming down with something, you may be able to keep it from getting too bad. If you're exposed to the flu or have flu symptoms (beyond what's normal with ME/CFS), get to the doctor right away. Drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza can shorten the duration or help prevent the flu. Also, talk to your doctor about any increased FMS or ME/CFS symptoms you're having and extra prescription refills that you may need. You might also want to increase any supplements you take that boost your immune function, such as: CarnitineCoQ10DHEARhodiolaTheanine However, if you tend to be sensitive to meds and supplements, it's not a good idea to start a new supplement when you're sick—you definitely don't need a bad reaction adding to your problems. Other than that, the best thing to do is rest, rest, rest and do what you can to manage your symptoms. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn about treatment and lifestyle changes to cope with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Handwashing: clean hands save lives. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What you should know about flu antiviral drugs. Reviewed April 22, 2019