LIVING WITH ME

There are of course a million things that you can’t do, and another million you shouldn’t do, if you’re flattened by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Here’s my personal list, learned the hard way. These are gleaned from my early years with this CFS, before I’d learned–well, anything really–that could help reduce symptoms.

http://www.empowher.com/

FOR seven years Bernadette Snopek suffered in silence with chronic pain and fatigue.

The Forest Hill resident was unable to work, muster the energy to leave her bed and lived on painkillers.

“You feel like you have the flu but you never get any better,” Snopek said.

“Instead your life just falls apart.”

http://whitehorse-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/long-road-to-recovery-1/

Inflammation is considered by a range of medical professionals to be the underlying culprit for a wide spectrum of autoimmune and other chronic diseases. Many serious ailments such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and numerous forms of cancer have been linked to inflammation. Allergies, asthma and chronic fatigue syndrome appear to be associated with inflammation as well.

http://westwood-washington.patch.com/articles/reduce-inflammation-by-following-these-local-diet-tips

When you’re in constant pain from fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome or some other source, it can be hard to find anything to be happy about. The pain can envelope us and seem to blot out the sunshine.

My fibromyalgia has been largely in remission, but a recent knee injury has had me in a lot of pain and unable to do much for several weeks. I’ve been frustrated and angry about having another limiting health factor, and a bit depressed because I was back to missing out on life.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating chronic illness affecting at least 4 million people in the United States. Understanding its cost improves decisions regarding resource allocation that may be directed towards treatment and cure, and guides the evaluation of clinical and community interventions designed to reduce the burden of disease.

7thspace.com

Those of us with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome usually have problems with sleep, and no matter what TV drug commercials may say, treating them is rarely as simple as popping a pill.

Many of us have recognized sleep disorders, while others are diagnosed only with the vague term “unrefreshing sleep.” Studies show that disordered sleep rhythm is common in us, especially something called alpha-wave intrusion — basically, alpha brain waves, which are the most alert form, inexplicably show up in the deepest stages of sleep. Some of us sleep very little, some of us sleep for huge amounts of time, but very few of us ever feel rested and refreshed upon awakening.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) produces physical and neurocognitive disability that significantly affects health-related quality of life (HRQL). Multidisciplinary treatment combining graded exercise therapy (GET) cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and pharmacological treatment has shown only short-term improvements.

To compare the effects on HRQL of:

(1) Multidisciplinary treatment combining CBT, GET, and pharmacological treatment, and

(2) Usual treatment (exercise counseling and pharmacological treatment) at 12 months of follow-up.

http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=15869

A SERIOUSLY ill York woman has asked the Government to fund more research in to conditions which cause chronic fatigue.

Christine Wrightson, 64, had been confined to bed in her Huntington home after being struck down by a mystery illness in 2006. After NHS investigations failed to provide a diagnosis, Mrs Wrightson went private and was found to be suffering from pituitary disease and hypocortisolaemia, conditions similar to ME.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/

Nestled behind a small plaza in Fall River is a medical facility that has quietly operated for 15 years.

The Nova Scotia Environmental Health Centre on Highway 2 is currently considered one-of-a-kind in the world. This year, the facility’s staff hope to increase public awareness about what they do and the patients they treat.

Walking into the foyer, visitors are met by a polite sign advising them to disinfect hands when entering and leaving the facility. Footwear must also be removed, and no scented products are allowed.

http://www.halifaxnewsnet.ca/News/2011-01-18/article-2124947/Environmental-illness-on-the-rise/1

Last week (on Thursday, January 6th, 2011), we published the story: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Not Caused By XMRV Virus, reporting the Wellcome Trust’s research which stated that XMRV virus – previously thought to be associated with chronic fatigue syndrome – is not the cause of the disease. We received many comments and e-mails from our readers criticizing Wellcome Trust’s conclusions and we have asked their leading scientists, who published the report, to respond to our readers.

http://scicasts.com/lifesciences/1874-bioresearch-disease-studies/3376-update-wellcome-trust-researchers-respond-to-criticism-of-their-xmrv-virus-conclusions

Long-chain acylcarnitine deficiency in chronic fatigue syndrome patients. Potential involvement of altered carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I activity – Source: Journal of Internal Medicine, Dec. 22, 2010

http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=15856

A SUFFERER of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) from Whyteleafe is preparing for the challenge of a lifetime – running the gruelling 26.2-mile London Marathon.

Emma Louise Kenealy of Godstone Road has already started training for the marathon with her friend and neighbour Lauren Finnerty.

Despite the snow and poor running conditions they have completed a 10 mile challenge in 1.5 hours. 

getsurrey.co.uk

A study recently published in the Journal of Internal Medicine suggests that low levels of carnitine may be linked to symptom severity in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Carnitine is necessary for mitochondrial energy production, so researchers theorized that low carnitine could contribute to the low energy of the condition. They measured several forms of carnitine in study participants and found significantly abnormal concentrations. Two forms were, on average, 30-40% lower than in healthy controls.

In addition, those with lower levels had a higher symptom load than those with more normal levels.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2011/01/12/low-carnitine-level-linked-to-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-sympmtoms.htm

Mindy Fox, one of the leading neurofeedback therapists in California, announced today a new neurofeedback therapy program that helps chronic illness sufferers manage and reduce stress. For those with chronic illness, stress can exacerbate symptoms. For this reason, suffers should avoid stressful situations if possible. However, that is not always realistic. This new program provides long term stress management without the use of medication or unrealistic lifestyle changes.

http://www.openpr.com/news/157871/Mindy-Fox-Announces-New-Neurofeedback-Therapy-Program-for-Chronic-Illness-Sufferers.html

Holland, MI — Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Solutions of West Michigan is offering support and educational opportunities for patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals starting Jan. 27.

The advocacy group is dedicated to helping patients of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome improve their quality of life.

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/newsnow/x471098552/Support-available-for-those-with-Chronic-Fatigue-Syndrome

A Mid Wales doctor who was suspended from the medical register for a year because of the potential risk she posed to patients has had the order lifted by the General Medical Council.

The GMC this week lifted Dr Sarah Myhill’s suspension and restored her licence to practise medicine, subject to conditions.

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011/01/08/doctor-gets-her-practice-licence-back/

Dr Myhill, a high profile GP based in Llangunllo, UK, has been restored her license to practise following the threat of High Court legal action. Myhill, 52 and based in Llangunllo, near Knighton, was suspended by the GMC in October last year. She was alleged to have provided “inappropriate” treatment to a patient in 2009 after she recommended vitamin and magnesium injections for suspected chronic fatigue syndrome.

http://news.maars.net/blog/2011/01/08/uk-medical-council-restores-high-profile-gp%E2%80%99s-right-to-practise/

NHS bosses have been accused of putting residents’ health at risk by delaying hospital appointments and scrapping services in a desperate bid to save millions.

People across Brentwood and Billericay now face new “extended waiting times” of at least 14 weeks for all routine appointments, as part of a move that will save the cash-strapped primary care trust an estimated £8 million.

A whole host of services have been axed, which will force patients to look to the private sector for specialist care.

http://www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/news/NHS-patients-facing-longer-waiting-times-care-cuts/article-3061698-detail/article.html

Last year I saw a patient who had returned from her Christmas vacation complaining of persistent dizziness and fatigue that had not improved for over a year.

Before visiting my office she had consulted three other doctors but no cause for the dizziness was found.

When I questioned her about the vacation, which took place at a Caribbean resort, I discovered that she had experienced a transient episode of diarrhea there and since returning home had been unusually constipated and gassy.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/intestinal-parasites_b_804516.html

Chronic fatigue syndrome is an idiopathic syndrome widely suspected of having an infectious or immune etiology. We applied an unbiased metagenomic approach to try to identify known or novel infectious agents in the serum of 45 cases with chronic fatigue syndrome or idiopathic chronic fatigue.

7thspace.com

In Science Times, David Tuller reports on recent developments surrounding chronic fatigue syndrome, a mysterious illness of unknown cause that may be linked to a virus. In December, a medical advisory panel suggested that the Food and Drug Administration ban blood donations by people with a history of C.F.S., a move that was hailed by many patients as a sign that their illness was finally being taken seriously.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/03/the-lingering-mystery-of-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Becoming a richer, more powerful country has rarely been relaxing. In the magazine this week, I write about the advent of a new era of psychology in China, which reflects the mounting pressures on ordinary citizens in an age of prosperity. There is precedent here. In 1881, at the height of the American industrial revolution, New York doctor George Beard published “American Nervousness,” about the fraying effects of modern life.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/evanosnos/2011/01/americanitis-vs-chinitis.html/

AMERICAN author Laura Hillenbrand fascinated by long shots who come from behind to win the day. Her own successful writing career is something of a long shot, given that she suffers from debilitating chronic fatigue syndrome.

In the bestselling Seabiscuit, she told the story of a racehorse that overcame injuries to become a champion. In her new biography Unbroken, she writes about Louis Zamperini, whose life has seen a series of triumphs over seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/entertainment/books/Incredible-tale-of-long-shots-unlikely-survival-triumphs-112717184.html

A virus previously thought to be linked to a baffling condition known as chronic fatigue syndrome is not the cause of the disease, scientists said on Monday after their study found previous research was contaminated in the lab.

Researchers from University College London, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and Oxford University said cell samples from patients in earlier studies were contaminated with the virus, known as XMRV, which is found in the DNA of mice.

vancouversun.com

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of patients seeking health check-ups or medical consultations. These patients believe they may have some serious illness such as cancer because they usually did the same work without any difficulty, but now feel fatigue.

Actually, tiredness through overwork and stress for a long period of time is the most common reason for chronic fatigue. A person can easily get exhausted at any point in life through an increased workload and stress as strength decreases due to aging. Men usually can handle their given workload even though they are tired. They are suffering from lack of sleep and rest because they are too busy but not because of insomnia. There are no other specific symptoms except fatigue. Fatigue can be managed by taking enough rest and sleep, reducing one’s workload according to age and physical fitness.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/12/147_78655.html

When you talk to people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, it doesn’t take long to collect horror stories about doctors and how many of them treat us. They don’t believe us; they think we’re lazy, crazy or drug seeking; they dismiss our diagnoses and refuse to test or treat us.

I recently had an eye-opening experience — it’s not just us!

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2011/01/04/new-perspective-on-doctors-attitudes-toward-fibromyalgia-chronic-fatigue-syndrome.htm

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex, multi-symptom illness with a multisystem pathogenesis involving alterations in the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. Abnormalities in stress responses have been identified as potential triggers or mediators of CFS symptoms.

This study focused on the stress mediator neuropeptide Y (NPY). We hypothesized that NPY would be a useful biomarker for CFS.

7thspace.com

London: Dark chocolate may ease the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, says a new research.

It is characterised by extreme, persistent fatigue for six months or more with other problems as muscle pain, headaches and poor memory.

Dark chocolate is rich in chemicals known to increase signals carried around the brain but this is thought to be the first time the confection has been found to help symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, a newspaper reported.

http://www.zeenews.com/news677521.html

A Shropshire mother fears her 20-year-old son – who is bedridden with the chronic illness ME and has to be spoon fed – could die after health chiefs refused to send him for treatment at a specialist unit.

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2010/12/20/shropshire-mother-fears-for-her-me-stricken-son-after-ruling/

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disabling disease with unknown etiology. There is accumulating evidence of altered cardiovascular autonomic responses to different somatic stressors, in particular orthostatic stress, whereas autonomic responses to mental stress remain to be investigated.

7thspace.com

I just learned a lesson I wanted to share with all my fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome friends — always double check what your test results mean!

I have autoimmune thyroid disease and recently had a flare up of symptoms.  My regular doctor is out of town, but I happened to have a check-up with my rheumatologist.  When she brought up getting some lab tests done, I asked her to add in a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) test.  I got a letter in the mail with my results, which said my TSH level was 3.5 and therefore well within the “normal” range of .5 to 5.5.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2010/12/16/double-checking-test-results-with-fibromyalgia-chronic-fatigue-syndrome.htm

A fascinating article has just been published in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism on the role that gut inflammation may play in the onset and maintenance of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). According to the article, one of the factors behind this area of inquiry is the overlap between CFS and IBS.

http://ibs.about.com/b/2010/12/19/gut-inflammation-cfs-ibs.htm

A virus that originates in mice, which last year was hailed as a possible cause of chronic fatigue syndrome, or ME, is not the cause of the disease, say scientists.

Four papers published by the journal Retrovirology all come to the conclusion that the finding of the mouse virus XMRV in human cell samples was not the breakthrough that researchers and doctors had hoped for. Further research suggests that the samples were contaminated with mouse DNA.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/

Other people’s requests, demands and expectations can run us ragged, especially when those people don’t understand how limited we are because of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. As hard as it is, at some point we need to start saying, “no.”

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/

In a stirring return to the pool, Olympic bronze medallist Cate Campbell claimed the 50 metres freestyle title at the Queensland swimming championships in Brisbane on Monday night – five months after fears her career may be over.

And the 18-year-old capped her comeback with a win over none other than the girl who had succeeded her as Australia’s sprint queen, Yolane Kukla.

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8182370

Looking for a new job is especially tough right now — I know plenty of healthy people who are struggling with it — and when you have a chronic illness like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, you face some additional complications.

Not only do we need to consider what jobs are a good fit for our skills and our symptoms, we need to think about when we’re going to bring up our health problems with a new or prospective employer. I recently came across a really good article on this topic on CNNMoney.com that offers expert guidance for what to do during the interview process.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2010/12/11/job-seeking-with-fibromyalgia-chronic-fatigue-syndrome.htm

LACEY, Wash.- – During our interview, Shoiban McElwee struggles to stand up from the couch.

“Recently, I’ve been spending between 16 to 18 hours a day sleeping,” says McElwee as she walks to the kitchen and carefully pours close to a dozen prescription pills and supplements. McElwee says she has chronic fatigue syndrome.

“Comparing this level of fatigue to tired is like comparing a lit match to a nuclear explosion,” she says.

http://www.king5.com/health/Blood-Center-Halts-Donations-from-Chronic-Fatigue-Sufferers-111698789.html

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, and this is an especially “buggy” time of year. 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.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2010/12/09/getting-sick-on-top-of-fibromyalgia-chronic-fatigue-syndrome.htm

On Nov 8, 2010, a report on CDC-funded research by Nater et al. – “Personality Features and Personality Disorders in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Population-Based Study” – was published in the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.

A reading of the report reveals that in fact Nater et al. found no more frequency of maladaptive personality traits in their CFS cohort than in those with other chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis (i.e., debilitating illnesses are punishing), and that the large majority of their CFS patient cohort had no symptoms of personality disorder.

http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=15783

Yesterday’s Chicago Tribune included a long feature story by reporters Patricia Callahan and Trine Tsouderos on a nationwide scare over a non-existent malady called chronic Lyme disease.

ACSH’s Dr. Gilbert Ross, who treated Lyme disease when he practiced as a rheumatologist, comments that, “while it can sometimes be difficult to diagnose, Lyme disease is very real. It is transmitted by the bite of a deer tick, typically in the northeast and in Wisconsin and Minnesota, usually during the summer months. An infected tick transmits the Lyme bacterium in its bite, but the condition is usually responsive to a variety of oral antibiotics. On rare occasions, intravenous treatment is required.”

http://www.acsh.org

According to Wikipedia, the glucocorticoid receptor is the receptor that cortisol and other glucocorticoids bind to. It “is expressed in almost every cell of the body and regulates genes controlling development, metabolism, and immune response.”]

Hypocortisolism is a frequent finding in individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and could play an explanatory role in the development of illness symptomatology.

http://www.prohealth.com

Dark chocolate may ease the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue is characterised by extreme, persistent fatigue for six months or more with other problems as muscle pain, headaches and poor memory.

Dark chocolate is rich in chemicals known to increase signals carried around the brain but its impact on chronic fatigue syndrome has not been studied previously. To study this, researchers from Britain tested a group of ten patients with a severe form of the disease.

http://doctor.ndtv.com

In an unprecedented move, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients published a half-page ad in The Washington Post today. The ad brings attention to new, HIV-like retroviruses, including XMRV, which have been linked to CFS and aggressive prostate cancer, and have been detected in healthy blood donors.

http://www.prnewswire.com

In late 2009, the FDA issued a Complete Response Letter saying Ampligen would not become the first ever drug approved for chronic fatigue syndrome — at least, not yet. The letter listed several things the company could do to increase its odds of approval and gave them a year to do get those things accomplished.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com

Tests determining whether people are fit to work are to be reformed to offer more support and to take greater account of mental health conditions.

An independent review of the Work Capability Assessment, introduced in 2008, has proposed substantial changes to make it “fairer and more effective”.

Invest in ME have announced that their next international conference – their sixth annual event – will be held on Friday, May 20, in the usual venue at One Birdcage Walk, Westminster, home of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

 http://www.meassociation.org.uk

Some of the world’s leading researchers in neuroscience and immunology have gathered on the Gold Coast for an international science symposium on the debilitating chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

It’s estimated about a quarter of a million Australians are affected by the illness, which causes dysfunction of the brain and the gastro-intestinal, immune, endocrine and cardiac systems.

http://news.smh.com.au/

A lot of us with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome have flares (when symptoms are bad) and remissions (when symptoms are lighter.) While a lot of different things can trigger flares, stress and overexertion are among the most common.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com

Oxidative stress is more common in people with fibromyalgia and tension headaches than in health people, according to data presented recently at the 4th World Congress on Controversies in Neurology.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com

I painted my office this weekend and was fully prepared to suffer the consequences of breathing in toxic VOCs from the paint (even though I was using low VOC paint). And on top of the fact that I get my allergy shots on Thursday and they usually kick me around for a few days. But even worse than the affect of the shots and breathing in paint fumes is the fact that I have to breathe in my neighbors dryer sheet fumes nearly every day of the year.

http://planetthrive.com

The CDC estimates that between 1 and 4 million Americans suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome(CFS), also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. Here is my story about how the oft-mocked ‘Yuppy Flu’ changed me from a busy young freelance journalist into a bedridden shadow of my former self.

http://www.irishcentral.com

Work, welfare, benefits and M.E. – is anyone listening? Conference video now available.
Footage of Action for M.E.’s conference Work, welfare benefits and M.E. – is anyone listening? is now available online.

http://www.afme.org.uk/

Coalition Government recognises M.E. as a neurological condition.
On Monday 11 October Baroness Gardner of Parkes initiated a short debate in the House of Lords. She asked Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the role of allied health professionals in maintaining the health and social well-being of people with long-term neurological conditions.

http://www.afme.org.uk/news.asp?newsid=953

Chocolate is rich in flavonoids that have been shown to be of benefit in disparate conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer. The effect of polyphenol rich chocolate in subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has not been studied previously.

http://7thspace.com

This editorial in Occupational Medicine from Professors Julia Newton and David Jones at the University of Newcastle focuses on the causes and management of fatigue.

NB: The MEA Ramsay Research Fund is funding Professor Newton to carry out research into muscle function at a cellular level in ME/CFS.

 http://www.meassociation.org.uk

STRESS is the second most common work-related illness, but with the UK Government announcing that drastic cuts will be made in the public sector, anxiety levels look set to rise.

For sufferers, there is often more than stress to contend with; physical symptoms such as chronic headaches, insomnia and fatigue are also common.

But, according to an innovative type of therapy known as Reverse Therapy, this is no coincidence

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk

Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) can cause profound and prolonged illness and disability, and poses significant problems of uncertainty for healthcare professionals in its diagnosis and management. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the nature of professional ‘best practice’in working with people with CFS/ME.

http://7thspace.com/

Berlin – Fatigue is usually caused by too little sleep or overexertion and goes away with sufficient rest. If it persists, however, it could be a symptom of what is known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

CFS is a complicated disorder characterized principally by extreme fatigue, according to Fatigatio, a national self-help organization of CFS sufferers in Germany. Symptoms aside from the ‘paralyzing fatigue’ include headaches, muscle pain, a sore throat or neck, painful joints and loss of memory or concentration, it said.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com

I see it all the time — someone with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome finds a treatment that works for them, and they start preaching about how everyone else should try it.  A blog comments or forum post will saying, “I’m telling everyone,” or “Finally, I’ve found the cure!  You have to try it!”

http://chronicfatigue.about.com

Depression doesn’t cause fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, but it does make them harder to deal with. It can heighten symptoms and thwart your efforts to take better care of yourself.

It’s normal to be depressed when you have a chronic illness, especially when it’s a life-changing one that can rob you of your relationships, future plans and financial stability. However, just because it’s normal doesn’t mean you should just live with it.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com

An Irish doctor has come up with a successful treatment for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) with an eye to eventually finding a cure for the condition that some doctors believe can be treated with anti-depressants.

Dr. Derek Enlander, born in Belfast and a resident of the U.S. since 1966, told the Irish Voice on Monday he is extremely concerned about the attitude many doctors have towards CFS, otherwise known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and sometimes referred to as the invisible disease.

http://www.irishcentral.com/

I’ve lived with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for eighteen years, and I’m not thankful for that. But as Thanksgiving looms on the horizon, it turns my thoughts to some of the things I’m truly thankful for.
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I’m one of the lucky ones. I’ve been recovering over the last three years, mostly due to the involvement of my naturopath Dr. Kelly Upcott. She has taken me from being a CFS vegetable, riddled with vertigo and pain.

http://www.empowher.com

There is a syndrome that perplexes both patients and doctors alike — one where weakness is the primary complaint but there is absolutely no identifiable reason why this should exist at all. The key word here is “identifiable” — for there is most likely some kind of reason, but it is not overt. A full physical and neurological examination has been done to no avail. And the symptoms cannot simply be due to fatigue or pain even if these are present. What is this syndrome and how can we begin to think about this?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

A leading specialist in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and multiple chemical sensitivities spoke to local physicians and residents Friday.

Dr. Alison Bested spoke with physicians in the morning then spoke at an event hosted by the ME/FM Association of Peterborough and District at the Edmison Heights Baptist Church from 11 a.m. to shortly after 2 p.m.

About 140 people attended her presentation.

Members of the local support group for people who have chronic fatigue syndrome spoke about the frustration of getting physicians to recognize the syndrome and getting treatment.

http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com

A small but growing body of evidence suggests that acupuncture may be an effective treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome.

A recent Chinese study showed that 2 treatments from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) were effective — acupuncture and Shenmai injection (which is composed of 2 common TCM herbs.) However, researchers say acupuncture was the far more effective treatment.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com

We’ve heard a lot over the past couple of years about the health benefits of green and black tea, and as a regular tea drinker I was glad to hear it! I’d been doing something good for myself without even knowing it. (It also helps me rationalize my caffeine addiction.) But it wasn’t until I developed a new symptom that I started looking at tea as part of my treatment regimen.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com

A lot of us with fibromyalgia (FMS) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) take supplements to manage our symptoms – some in addition to medication and some in place of them. It all depends on what works for you, and what works is different for all of us.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com

TEENAGER Eilidh Berwick faces a gruelling battle to cope with everyday tasks.

The housebound 15-year-old is totally dependent on her parents to feed, dress and wash her.

But despite a diagnosis of ME – or chronic fatigue syndrome – the teenager found many doctors dismissed her crippling symptoms as being all in her head.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk

“People who get bit this year will be us in 25 years,” said Jeanne Bain, who said she has lived with Lyme disease for that long though she received the diagnosis just two years ago. Named for a town in Connecticut where a number of cases were identified in 1975, Lyme Disease is carried by ticks.

http://www.tcdailyplanet.net

A lot of the drugs prescribed for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are called “reuptake inhibitors,” including two FDA-approved fibromyalgia drugs — Cymbalta (duloxetine) and Savella (milnacipran). But do you understand what reuptake really means?

http://chronicfatigue.about.com

A study just published in The Journal of Pain is the first to use an objective measure of activity when comparing activity levels to pain intensity in juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome (JPFS).

Researchers used actigraphs — battery-powered devices that measure the level and intensity of your activity — on 104 11- to-18-year-olds with JPFS. They say this kind of measurement is important because people often perceive their own activity level as higher or lower than it is.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com

At the Update Pharmacy, a woman asks to see the pharmacist. David Spencer asks how he can help.

“I’ve come to you as a last resort,” the woman says. “I’ve been right through the medical system and had all the tests, but they can’t seem to help me.”

“So what is the problem?” asks David.

The woman replies: “I’m 24 and never had any health problems until a couple of years ago. Since then – and it’s getting worse by the day – I wake up feeling so tired and washed out that I struggle to get out of bed.

http://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk

From the NHS Online website (“Serving NHS employees 24/7 since 1998″), 30 November 2010

http://www.meassociation.org.uk/?p=3160

DO YOU feel run down and drained of physical or emotional energy?

Do you find yourself getting easily irritated?

Do you feel under-appreciated or misunderstood by the people you work with?

Do you feel overwhelmed by your job?

Are you getting frustrated with aspects of your job?

If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to more than three of these questions, you may be at risk of burnout.

http://health.asiaone.com

The first ‘Early Day Motion’ on ME in the new UK Parliament was tabled on 11 October 2010 by Ian Swales, the new Liberal Democrat MP for Redcar, near Middlesborough. So far, it has gained the support of 79 MPs.

 http://www.meassociation.org.uk

Figures for the Medical Research Council’s research spend on ME over the last 10 years were released in a written answer by Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts recently.

http://www.meassociation.org.uk/?p=3200

Professor Malcolm Harrington’s independent review of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) was published by the Government today.

The report acknowledges that there is much criticism and anger towards the current system and says that Professor Harrington believes that much can be done to make it fairer.

 http://www.afme.org.uk/

Remember yeast allergy? Chronic fatigue syndrome? Blood letting? Like hair styles and hottie bands, medicine has trendy conditions that doctors get asked about constantly at parties. Some, like chronic fatigue syndrome, turn out to be the real thing. Others fade away or exist mainly on the internet, along with Elvis gossip and extra-terrestrial sightings.

http://news.therecord.com

It is 1:30 in the afternoon and you’re exhausted.

You grab another cup of coffee, hoping that the caffeine will help you to stay awake and be productive until 5 p.m. Looking ahead to dinner, you feel you’ll never have the energy to cook so you pick up fast food and then into bed early.

Unfortunately, like every morning, tomorrow you will wake up unrested and tired again. So what’s going on with your body?

http://www.gloucestertimes.com

Discussions to decide if NICE review required.
NICE has issued a web alert highlighting the possible review of Clinical Guideline 53 on Chronic fatigue syndrome / Myalgic encephalomyelitis.

http://www.afme.org.uk/news.asp?newsid=959

Studies suggest that chronic fatigue may not only have the power to change a person’s personality but that certain personality traits may also put a person at higher risk of developing chronic fatigue. One recent study, in particular, examined the personalities of both people diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and victims of medically unexplainable chronic fatigue not meeting criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome.

http://brainblogger.com

A severe case of pesticide poisoning prompted Canadian Udo Erasmus to study nutrition in an attempt to heal himself. When he developed chronic fatigue syndrome — after working for three years as a pesticide sprayer — he turned to food to look for a solution.

http://www.independent.ie/

In order to leave a serious impact of the disease by its name, on Thursday, a federal advisory committee reached on a unanimous decision to alter the name of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) to CFS-ME.

The legitimacy of the changed name was not suspected by even one member of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee that is an advisory agency to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As per the panel, ME could either depict myalgic encephalomyelitis or myalgic encephalopathy.

http://topnews.co.uk

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and homeschooling. There’s a combination that’s only for the stout of heart. Or perhaps for those with a masochistic streak.
This Article
Vote Improved My Health Vote Changed My Life Vote Saved My Life

Homeschooling isn’t for everyone. That’s especially true for the CFS community who must avoid stressors and stimulation wherever possible.

http://www.empowher.com/

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility that a decreased mitochondrial ATP synthesis causes muscular and mental fatigue and plays a role in the pathophysiology of the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME).

Methods: Female patients (n=15) and controls (n=15) performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) by cycling at a continuously increased work rate till maximal exertion. The CPET was repeated 24 h later.

http://7thspace.com/

A possible life changing illness, Fergus Bescoby examines the ramifications

Myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as ME, CFS or post-viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS), is a condition that causes extreme physical and mental tiredness that seriously interferes with a person’s daily life.

http://www.ifaonline.co.uk

Is the pain we feel with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome a type of neuropathy? It’s an idea that’s been around for several years but is garnering wider support as researchers find more evidence.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com

BY LINDLEY ESTES

In 2007, April Thompson was running a marathon when exhaustion caught up with her.

From that point on, the 37-year-old Washington resident said she was perpetually tired, plagued by headaches and chronic pain.

When she was still miserable on vacation in North Carolina months later, Thompson visited a doctor and received a diagnosis that put all of her symptoms into perspective: chronic fatigue syndrome.

http://fredericksburg.com

A study just published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology shows measurable abnormalities of blood-pressure control in adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome.

Researchers monitored heart rate and blood pressure in kids 12-18 who had chronic fatigue syndrome and in healthy controls, both while they were laying down still and also while they were in conditions simulating mild orthostatic stress (low blood pressure upon standing which causes dizziness.)

http://chronicfatigue.about.com

The sedentary life-style caused by extreme fatigue is a significant risk factor for heart disease, which is a leading cause of death in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) patients.

http://www.prohealth.com

Asking patients with chronic pain to complete a symptom diary may amplify their perceptions of pain and ultimately do more harm than good, a study in healthy volunteers has suggested. Canadian researchers recruited 35 female university students who were free of any acute or chronic medical problems.

http://www.rheumatologyupdate.com.au

Flu clinics are popping up all over, and once again those of us with fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are faced with the decision: to vaccinate or not to vaccinate.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com

FELICITY Amazon is locked in a bureaucratic battle to get a public house that suits her disability needs, and claims the Department of Housing is not willing to help.
Suffering severe chronic fatigue syndrome and a side complication known as multiple chemical sensitivity, Ms Amazon’s situation is desperate.

Despite her doctor officially recognising her as disabled and writing to the Department of Housing, she has been forced to live beyond her means, renting a house in Mundaring for $300 a week on a disability pension.

http://www.inmycommunity.com.au

Our panel of experts answers your questions on everything from living with M E to sluggish circulation and abdominal pain.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

For years, celiac disease (CD) has been under diagnosed or misdiagnosed because its symptoms are so similar to those of other diseases. CD has been confused with irritable bowel disease, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, iron-deficiency anemia, and more. However, as healthcare providers and patients become more aware of the symptoms, diagnosis rates are increasing. According to the Celiac Sprue Association, there are three steps that should be taken to confirm a diagnosis of CD: 1) a physical exam, including blood tests; 2) a biopsy of the small intestine; and 3) implementation of a gluten-free diet.

http://www.idahostatejournal.com/

Have you ever gotten a gift that you couldn’t use because of your fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome? I get these all the time — mostly body washes that give me a rash or have headache-inducing fragrances. I’ve also had event tickets go to waste because of a flare, or gotten foods that I can’t eat because of my gluten sensitivity. Some gifts might even be offensive, if, for example, someone who hounds you to “exercise more” gives you a Pilates DVD.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com

A morning shower — it helps you start the day invigorated and refreshed, right? Um, no, not so much for many of us. A shower seems like a basic, simple thing, but it can pose major problems for someone with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.

I’ve seen a lot of comments here about how exhausting a shower can be. Why would a shower make us tired, sometimes even wiping us out for the rest of the day?

http://chronicfatigue.about.com

Fibromyalgia  (FMS) is often considered an “old woman’s” illness, even though the average age of diagnosis is now in the mid-30s. Some doctors refuse to diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in young people because they’re clinging to the long-outdated notion of “yuppy flu” and burnout.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/b/2010/09/17/age-onset-of-fibromyalgiachronic-fatigue-syndrome.htm

In 2006, sequences described as xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) were discovered in prostate cancer patients.

In October 2009, we published the first direct isolation of infectious XMRV from humans and the detection of infectious XMRV in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=15614