Welcome To www.LupusMCTD.com
March 29, 2024, 06:12:25 am *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
 
   Home   Forum Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: 1   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: "ME & CFS"  (Read 3848 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Adminஐﻬ
"Pay It Forward" ஐﻬ
Site Owner
******
Offline Offline

Gender: Female
Posts: 10407


LupusMCTD Founder ஐﻬ


WWW
« on: February 14, 2007, 04:14:33 pm »

~"ME & CFS"
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.

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"
All types of people at all ages are affected. Severe and debilitating fatigue, painful muscles and joints, disordered sleep, gastric disturbances, poor memory and concentration are commonplace. In many cases, onset is linked to a viral infection. Other triggers may include an operation or an accident, although some people experience a slow, insidious onset.



~Effects

In some the effects may be minimal but in a large number, lives are changed drastically: in the young, schooling and higher education can be severely disrupted; in the working population, employment becomes impossible for many. For all, social life and family life become restricted and in some cases severely strained. People may be housebound or confined to bed for months or years.

~Prognosis

PLEASE NOTE - before considering prognosis, it is important to obtain a positive diagnosis, which should be determined only by a suitably qualified medical professional.
 

Most people with ME/CFS fall into one of four groups:

Those who manage to return to completely normal health, even though this may take a considerable period of time. The percentage falling into this category is fairly small.
The majority, who tend to follow a fluctuating pattern with both good and bad periods of health. Relapses or exacerbations are often precipitated by infections, operations, temperature extremes or stressful events.
A significant minority, who remain severely affected and may require a great deal of practical and social support.
A few, who show continued deterioration, which is unusual in ME/CFS. When this occurs, a detailed medical assessment is advisable to rule out other possible diagnoses.
Several research studies looking at prognosis in ME/CFS have now been published (Bombardier and Buchwald 1995; Hinds et al 1993; Sharpe et al 1992; Vercoulen et al 1996; Wilson et al 1994). Results from these studies indicate that ME/CFS often becomes a chronic and very disabling illness with complete recovery only occurring in a small minority of cases. The high level of debility and disability associated with ME/CFS often stems from a combination of symptoms such as fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment, and, in some cases, an associated depression.

Studies which have examined functional status and quality of life measures (Buchwald et al 1996; Komaroff et al 1996; Schweitzer et al 1995) also confirm that the scale of impairment across a range of physical and mental activities can be just as great or greater than is seen in many other chronic medical conditions.

(taken from ME/CFS/PVFS An exploration of the key clinical issues, prepared for health professionals and The ME Association members by Dr Charles Shepherd MB BS, and Dr Abhijit Chaudhuri DM MD MRCP, Clinical Lecturer in Neurology, Consultant Neurologist, National ME Centre, Harold Wood Hospital, Romford. Essex. RM3 OAR).

~Treatment


There is currently no accepted cure and no universally effective treatment. Those treatments which have helped reduce particular symptoms in some people have unfortunately proved ineffective or even counterproductive in others. An early diagnosis together with adequate rest during the acute phase and during any relapse appear to bring the most significant improvement.


~Controversy

ME/CFS has attracted more than its fair share of controversy. Initially, and for many years, there was a debate as to whether it was actually an illness at all. Although the situation is still not perfect, many influential bodies, (The World Health Organisation, the Department of Social Security, the Department of Health, the Royal Colleges of Physicians, Psychiatrists and General Practitioners amongst them) are now in agreement that it is real.

Two major questions now occupy the minds of the people involved - these questions are: "What is it?" and "What is to be done about it?"

While there is a degree of consensus on the different things which can trigger ME/CFS, what then causes it to become chronic has become a topic of hot debate. Loosely, views are split into two schools of thought: one which favours 'psychiatric' or 'behavioural' reasons and the other (supported by The ME Association) which argues 'physical' reasons.There is also an argument which proposes that no such distinction should be made. What also seems possible is that the illness currently defined as 'Chronic Fatigue Syndrome' is actually a number of different conditions, all characterised by similar symptoms. (A 'syndrome' characterises an illness by its symptoms, not by the underlying disease process.)

The second point, 'What is to be done about it?' attracts equally heated debate. Until more information is known, there will remain a wide range of views on how people can be helped. Research into causes, treatment methods and cures continues. Treatment is often aimed at reducing symptoms and can encompass a range of 'mainstream' and 'complementary' methods, ranging through drugs, homoeopathy, behavioural therapies, acupuncture, diet changes and beyond.



-www.LupusMCTD.com-
Logged


I look normal, as I have an "Invisible Illness". You can not catch it, you can not see it. It's called Lupus.My body is attacking itself on the inside.
www.LupusMCTD.com Represents:
1) We are patients helping researchers build a future for the lives of others...
2) Where HOPE is a WORK In Progress
3) Pay It Forward~Giving Back To The Future Lupus/MCTD Patients
Pages: 1   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  


© Page Contents, Layout, Graphics and Design All Copyrighted by Credited Artists and are Not Public Domain.



LupusMCTD Founder & Patient
Former Domestic Violence SURVIVOR
Kathy A. Patterson

Author of the Upcoming Memoir Book:
"Fighting From The Inside Out"..
A lupus patient fights the beast within her immune system and the beast at home....

e-Booklet filled with photos and videos of what abuse was, signs to look for,
where to turn to for help, and much more to help others like me...


For more information
Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−SAFE(7233)



"The Meaning of the Words in the Second Amendment .... "That the people have a right to freedom of speech, and of writing, and publishing their sentiments;"

PRIVACY NOTICE: Warning--any person and/or institution and/or Agent and/or Agency of any governmental structure including but not limited to the United States Federal Government also using or monitoring/using this website or any of its associated websites, you do NOT have my permission to utilize any of my profile information nor any of the content contained herein including, but not limited to my photos, and/ or the comments made about my photo's or any other "picture" art posted on my profile. You are hereby notified that you are strictly prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, disseminating, or taking any other action against me with regard to this profile and the contents herein. The foregoing prohibitions also apply to your employee(s), agent(s), student(s) or any personnel under your direction or control. The contents of this profile are private and legally privileged and confidential information, and the violation of my personal privacy is punishable by law
Photobucket
© 2008 LupusMCTD Foundation of America - All Rights Reserved
Est.November 11, 2005
"We Understand What You Are Going Through"™
Powered by EzPortal

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines
Twitter Mod created by 2by2host.com - a web hosting company