Scientists in Norway studied 828 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome to see which treatments helped and which ones didn’t.
Rest and pacing helped these patients the most. Shielding ran a close third.
Pacing involves deliberately doling out the small energy supply, mindful that each expenditure causes the small reservoir to dwindle. The goal is to accomplish necessities of the day without collapse and ending up in deficit.
From The Independent, 9 July 2010 (Story by science editor Steve Connor)
Study that ‘solves’ chronic fatigue syndrome blocked
A study that supports the controversial link between chronic fatigue syndrome and a new type of virus has been blocked from being published in a leading scientific journal even though it had been accepted for publication by its editors.
http://www.meassociation.org.uk
ME Research UK publishes its own magazine Breakthrough approximately twice a year, featuring updates on projects funded by the charity, recent research from around the world, information about Friends’ fundraising activities, and other articles on ME/CFS issues.
These are research papers published to date from projects funded by ME Research UK.
This database consists of the summary data (including abstracts) of over 3,000 research publications on ME and CFS, extracted from MEDLINE and the Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), it affects around 250,000 people in the UK.Women are more likely than men to develop ME but the illness has long baffled the medical profession as there is no diagnostic test and no “cure”, aside from rest.
US scientists say they have made a potential breakthrough in understanding what causes the condition known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or ME.
Their research in the journal, Science, suggests that a single retrovirus known as XMRV does play a role in ME.
They found the virus in 67% of ME patients compared to under 4% of the general population.
But experts cautioned that the study did not conclusively prove a link between XMRV and ME.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8298529.stm
Scientists have found evidence that a virus may play a role in chronic fatigue syndrome.
Vincent C. Lombardi of the Whittemore Peterson Institute in Reno, Nev., and scientists elsewhere studied 101 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, a baffling, debilitating and controversial condition that affects an estimated 17 million people worldwide. They discovered that 68 of the patients — 67 percent — had a virus in their blood known as the xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus or XMRV. Only eight of 218 similar subjects who did not have chronic fatigue syndrome — 3.7 percent — had the virus in their blood.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/
The name “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome” gives the erroneous idea that someone with CFS has had a long, wet weekend. Aren’t we all tired? Surely they just need to suck it up like the rest of us. Don’t the same rules apply to CFS as for the rest of the weary world?
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Is there such a thing as chronic fatigue syndrome? My husband, who was an ardent golfer, has been complaining of a lack of energy, weakness and fatigue for many months. He has given up golf. Having heard of CFS, he wonders if he has it. – D.M.
http://www.sunjournal.com/node/74095
There has been a lot of controversy over the years over whether Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a result of depression or if the depression comes once the illness has started. It is kind of like the chicken or the egg – which came first?
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/651929/depression_and_chronic_fatigue_syndrome.html
Most people who suffer from CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome) at one time or another have asked themselves, “Am I crazy?” Or “Why doesn’t anyone believe I’m sick?”
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/141007/cfids_the_mind_and_body_connection.html?cat=70
“People should know that it’s a real illness that has specific criteria for it to be diagnosed,” says Morris Papernik, MD. “People who are suffering from fatigue which is overwhelming and does not seem to improve, even though they get enough sleep, should be talking to their physician. It’s an illness that does not have a blood test or a specific marker for it. Therefore, it’s a diagnosis of exclusion.
http://www.theresident.com/2009/07/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) is much more than just being tired a lot. People with ME/CFS are so run down that it interferes with their lives and can make it hard to function at all. The severity varies, but typically people with ME/CFS say they have trouble staying on top of their responsibilities at home and on the job. Others are severely disabled and even bedridden.
http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatischronicfatigue/a/what_is_CFS.htm
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome does not appear to be a new illness. Relatively small outbreaks of similar disorders have been described in the medical literature since the 1930s. Furthermore, case reports of comparable illnesses date back several centuries, some possibly linked to bacterial, viral, or protozoal infections such as brucellosis, yellow fever, hepatitis, influenza, and malaria.
http://www.immunesupport.com/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-history.htm
The causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are as yet undetermined, but studies have shown that multiple nutrient deficiencies, food intolerance, or extreme physical or mental stress may trigger chronic fatigue. Studies have also indicated that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome may be activated by the immune system, various abnormalities of the hypothalamic-pituitary axes, or by the reactivation of certain infectious agents in the body. Some Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients were found to have low levels of PBMC beta-endorphin and other neurotransmitters. Thyroid deficiency may also be a contributing factor in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (refer to the Thyroid Deficiency protocol to find out how to determine if you are deficient in thyroid hormone production). A number of the triggers that may cause or exacerbate Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are discussed below.
http://www.immunesupport.com/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-causes.htm
This database consists of the summary data (including abstracts) of over 3,000 research publications on ME and CFS, extracted from MEDLINE and the Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
http://www.meresearch.org.uk/information/researchdbase/index.html
What is chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS)? Depends on who you ask. Multiple definitions are vying for supremacy, including two different definitions that are currently being used in research. The separate definitions are muddying the waters and providing contradictory results.
Professor Julia Newton presents her findings to the CPG
Professor Julia Newton, Newcastle University, has been invited to present the results of her latest research to MSPs at the Cross Party Group on M.E., in Committee Room 1, Scottish Parliament, 1pm – 2.15pm, Wednesday 21 January.
http://www.afme.org.uk/news.asp?newsid=447
CFIDS Association board member Brian Smith testified at the May meeting of the CFS Advisory Committee (CFSAC), sharing his story and appealing for better public health policy for people with CFS.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oU1tRVd20Io
Personal Stories of ME Sufferers.
http://www.investinme.org/mestorygallery1.htm
You’ve probably read about chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms such as fatigue, pain and exercise intolerance, but the list of possible symptoms of this condition are far-reaching and body-wide.
The first in an occasional series being put on The ME Association website.
For four years I’ve been suffering with ME and for four years I’ve been trying to describe it to non-sufferers. I’ve compared it to a permanent flu, to a never-ending marathon, to insomnia with eventual pointless sleep.
http://www.meassociation.org.uk/content/view/699/70/
Emma McFarnon investigates the frequently misunderstood illness, ME
Myalgic Encephalopathy, or Chronic Fatigue syndrome as it’s more commonly known, affects more than 250,000 people in Britain alone. The neurological disorder causes severe and debilitating fatigue, disordered sleep, painful muscles and memory loss.
http://www.gairrhydd.com/features/882/the-tiredness-disease
You’ve probably read about chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms such as fatigue, pain and exercise intolerance, but the list of possible symptoms of this condition are far-reaching and body-wide.
A Hummingbirds Guide
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome vs. “I Get Tired, Too”
We all get tired. It’s part of life, and especially part of modern life.
Think for a moment about the last time you were really tired at work. It’s harder to focus, harder to function, but you can push through it.
Now think back to the last time you were really sick with something like strep or the flu — too sick to work, and too sick to function. Can you remember how exhausted you were, how hard it was to get out of bed and even take a shower? When you’re sick like that, it’s like your body just shuts down and demands that you rest.
http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatischronicfatigue/a/understandCFS.htm?nl=1
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, also known as Myalgic Encephalopathy, Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome, is a poorly understood condition that is characterised by profound fatigue and exhaustion, loss of muscle power, pain and tenderness following normal physical or mental activity and a range of neurological, endocrine and cognitive disturbances. CFS is classified as a neurological disorder by the World Health Organisation (International Classification of Disease 10: G93.3).
http://www.squidoo.com/cfsandme
Sleeping is a natural process that most people just do without thinking about. We all need at least eight hours of sleep at night in order for our bodies to be refreshed the next day. For those of us with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, sleeping is anything but easy.
You’ve probably read about fibromyalgia symptoms such as pain, fatigue and fibrofog, but the list of possible signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia are far-reaching and body-wide. The following “monster list” of fibromyalgia symptoms is adapted from one put together by leading fibromyalgia expert Devin Starlanyl.
http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatisfibromyalgia/a/fibrosymptoms.htm?nl=1
You’ve probably read about chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms such as fatigue, pain and exercise intolerance, but the list of possible symptoms of this condition are far-reaching and body-wide.
http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatischronicfatigue/a/cfs_symptoms.htm?nl=1
Here we hope to contain an overview of current biomedical research being carried out for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
http://www.investinme.org/ResearchCurrentProjects.htm
Diagnosing Fibromyalgia
Before doctors can diagnose fibromyalgia, they need to rule out a host of other conditions. Typically, they’ll order blood tests to rule out other medical disorders with similar symptoms, including hypothyroidism, infections, polymyalgia rheumatica, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
No medical test can reliably detect chronic fatigue syndrome. The first step toward making a diagnosis is for doctors to perform tests to rule out conditions with similar symptoms, including chronic infections such as tuberculosis, mononucleosis or Lyme; fibromyalgia; autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and lupus; or psychiatric/emotional conditions.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a devastating, debilitating illness that is typically found in adult women. There are men who develop Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but it is a small percentage. The gender ratio among pediatric CFS is the same, though.
Although the cause or causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are still unknown, research has found that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is associated with immune system changes. It is common for people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to have several infections at the same time.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/542747/infections_common_in_chronic_fatigue.html?cat=70
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has established certain criteria for diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome:
http://www.immunesupport.com/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-symptoms.htm
Imagine feeling exhausted after walking two blocks, having chronic sore throats and muscle and joint pain. Imagine your head feels stuffed with wet sand and when you try to read, words swim on the page. Imagine feeling heavy and sluggish rather than rested after a night’s sleep.
And imagine that these ailments last for years.
These are some of the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS,) or myalgic encephalomyelitis, a serious and disabling illness that is now one of the most common chronic illnesses of our time. It is also one of the most misunderstood.
http://www.immunesupport.com/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-understanding.htm
M.E. stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and is also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. M.E. affects over 200, 000 people in the UK.
There is no treatment or cure for M.E. and patients have to suffer with some of the most appalling symptoms, including extreme fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, muscle spasms, insomnia, sleep reversal anxiety, constant sore throats nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to sound, a light touch, taste and smell swallowing problems in the most severe cases, seizures and paralysis.
M.E. is a debilitating illness, which robs people of the one thing that matters most energy. You need it to do everything, from the little things like getting out of bed or eating a meal to the big things like walking, going outside and generally living a normal life.
http://www.meandmylife.me.uk/what%20is.htm
ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) also known as CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) or PVFS ( Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome) is a debilitating condition suffered by approximately 240,000 people in the UK alone. It’s characterising features are overwhelming exhaustion of both muscle and mind and malaise accompanied by a wide range of other symptoms.
The primary indicator is a worsening of symptoms following physical or mental exertion, beyond an individual’s tolerance level.
http://www.networkme.org.uk/whatis.html
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a serious and complex illness characterised by incapacitating fatigue (experienced as profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina), neurological problems and certain other symptoms. By definition the condition does not improve with rest and persists for a minimum of 6 months. In many cases it lasts for years and severely impairs a person’s ability to function.
CFS is also known as Tapanui Flu, Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).
http://www.anzmes.org.nz/what_is_me.htm
M.E. is an illness. M.E. stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis – which is a bit of a mouthful, but basically means muscle (“myalgic”) and head (“encephalitic”) symptoms.
M.E. is also known as Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS), because it often follows on from a viral infection.
Also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
http://mehelpinfo.users.btopenworld.com/page3.html
Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is characterised by a range of neurological symptoms and signs, muscle pain with intense physical or mental exhaustion, relapses, and specific cognitive disabilities. Early reports dating from 1934 described epidemics of the illness (see Research Publications on ME epidemics for more information) — such as the 1955 outbreak at the Royal Free Hospital in London — but nowadays it is more common for endemic (sporadic) cases to be identified. ME is classified by the World Health Organisation as a neurological illness (International Classification of Disease 10: G93.3).
http://www.meresearch.org.uk/information/whatisme.html
Those that know little about the illness regard the symptoms of ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’ as tiredness and Flu-like. This is not due to their lack of interest to find out more about the illness but it is how the media and skeptics regard it. . . as “Yuppie Flu”.
http://www.mesupport.co.uk/index.php?page=the-symptoms-of-m-e
Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a disabling, often painful and little-understood disease of unknown origin and uncertain outcome. Its duration appears to be variable: some people seem to recover completely, or experience periods of remission and relapse; others develop a condition of unresolving physical and/or cognitive disability, while a further small but significant minority deteriorate to a housebound and ultimately immobilised state. Since case history research on ME is still in its infancy, and the disease is chronic, this last category may be considerably larger than has been supposed.
http://www.chromesw6.co.uk/whatis.html
ME is classed as a disease of the nervous system by the World Health Organisation, but it affects the sufferer at a physical, mental and emotional level.
There are thought to be about 150,000 sufferers in the UK, though this is probably a conservative estimate.
It is characterised by extreme fatigue, flu-like symptoms, sore throat, muscle pain, concentration problems, poor memory and digestion problems.
These symptoms can be extreme and are often worsened by trivial physical or mental exertion.
A diagnosis of CFS or ME is usually not made until the patient has been unwell for six months.
http://www.communigate.co.uk/wilts/swindonmecfs/page2.phtml
Almost everyone experiences fatigue from time to time. But for as many as 4 million U.S. adults, teens and children, the fatigue is crushing, unrelieved by rest and accompanied by a constellation of other punishing symptoms. They suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS, also known as chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (or CFIDS). Its symptoms are debilitating enough to destroy good health and active lifestyles, end fulfilling careers and devastate families
http://www.cfids.org/about-cfids/do-i-have-cfids.asp
The M.E. Society of America is an organization that seeks to promote understanding of the disease known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), a multi-system disease adversely affecting the cellular mitochondria and the heart, brain, neuroendocrine, immune, and circulatory systems. M.E. was first described in the 1950’s following the recognition of many cases around the world, including a number of cases at the Royal Free Hospital in England. Many different viruses, bacteria, or toxins in combination with genetic factors may be involved in the etiology of the disease, which usually begins in childhood or early adulthood with an acute infection. Studying research-based subsets is the key to scientific progress in this area of investigation. In a number of publications, Dr. A. Melvin Ramsay outlined a definitional framework for M.E. that described abnormal muscle metabolism, circulatory impairment, and cerebral involvement.
http://www.cfids-cab.org/MESA/ccpc.html
Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction (CFIDS) is also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).
CFIDS is a disabling condition often affecting the central nervous system, brain, blood, muscles, joints, GI tract and lymph system. Symptoms include disabling fatigue which is not significantly helped by rest, orthostatic intolerance (inability to stand for periods of time), muscle weakness and pain, joint pain, sleep disturbances and un-refreshing sleep, cognitive problems including memory loss and difficulty concentrating, gastro-intestinal problems, headache, fevers and swollen lymph nodes.
http://www.ncf-net.org/whatisCFIDS.htm
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating illness that affects adults and children alike. The illness is also known as chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). The National Institutes of Health has selected three research facilities to study the illness. A network of support group organizations exists nationwide to help patients and their families. At present, there is no known cause of the illness. Some treatment strategies are available to alleviate symptoms.
http://www.wicfs-me.org/about_cfs.htm
It should be explained that there are a number of different names for what is an illness of uncertain cause affecting many thousands of people. Currently it is estimated that some 250,000 people in Britain are affected by this illness.
* Myalgic Encephalopathy or “ME” (a term which The ME Association feels is more appropriate than the original, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis)
* Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or “CFS”
* Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome or “PVFS”
* Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome or “CFIDS”
http://www.meassociation.org.uk/content/view/89/83/
M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Encephalopathy) is a chronic, fluctuating illness. It is also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Sometimes it is diagnosed as Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS). The illness affects many parts of the body, such as the nervous and immune systems. The most common symptoms are severe fatigue or exhaustion, problems with memory and concentration and muscle pain.
http://www.afme.org.uk/allaboutme.asp?table=contenttypetwo&id=1