Erica Verrillo

Source:ericaverrillo.com

Erica Verrillo is a prolific writer and activist for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), having written two well-received books on ME/CFS, a popular blog, Onward Through the Fog, and serving as the ME/CFS editor for ProHealth. She has live with ME/CFS since 1987.

Education

Ms. Verrillo attended New England Conservatory of Music and finished her undergraduate education at Tufts, majoring in History. She holds an MA in Linguistics from Syracuse University, and was a doctoral candidate in Speech Communication at the University of Texas at Austin.

Writing about CFS

Books

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Treatment Guide with Lauren M. Gellman, 1998.
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Treatment Guide - 2nd Edition, 2012.

Blogs

• Onward Through the Fog

• Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction: Who Took the “ID” Out of CFIDS?, Blogcritics

• Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome an Autoimmune Disease?, Blogcritics

• Book Review: ‘Love and Fatigue in America’ by Roger King, Blogcritics

American Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Society

In 2016, Verrillo founded a national non-profit, the American Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Society or AMMES, which aims at being completely patient-centered, providing databases for treatment, physician referrals, and support groups, as well as uniting volunteers and patients on an as-needed basis.

Talks and Interviews

• 9 Oct 2016, Episode 82 of ME/CFS Alert - interview with Llewellyn King

Online presence

• Amazon
• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Pinterest
• Medium

Learn more

• 19 Dec 2016, Sapped of strength and stricken with pain and confusion those with chronic fatigue syndrome seek help with an elusive illness, by Lisa Spear in Daily Hampshire Gazette

chronic fatigue (CF) - Persistent and abnormal fatigue is a symptom, not an illness. It may be caused by depression, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome or many other illnesses. The term "chronic fatigue" should never be confused with the disease chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) - Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome is another term for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but one which emphasizes the immunological aspects of the disease. Popular in the 1990s, this term has apparently fallen into disuse.

myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.