Symptoms of Post-Exertional Malaise
PEM will range from a moderately stronger than usual symptoms to symptoms that are completely disabling.
In mild cases, the person can experience:
- more than usual fatigue
- muscle aches
- cognitive dysfunction
However, for the severe cases, PEM can trigger:
- intense flu-like symptoms aside from fatigue, pain
- a severe case of brain fog in which the patient may experience difficulty to arrange a sentence or understand a sitcom.
These are far from what most of us have to go through after finishing a long hike or a strenuous workout at the gym. In addition, the level of exertion that it will take for people to be in this state is not normal.
As for the severity, the exertion required for PEM to be triggered is usually a case-to-case basis. For some people, the symptoms can kick-in after performing only a small amount of exercise aside from the usual daily activities. However, for others, a mere visit to the mailbox, taking a shower, or sitting upright is enough to trigger the symptoms.
