Primer for patients: Difference between revisions

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<ref name="CairnsR2005prog">{{citation
| last1 = Cairns | first1 = R | authorlink1 = Ruth Cairns
| last2 = Hotopf | first2 = M | authorlink2 = Matthew Hotopf
| title = A systematic review describing the prognosis of chronic fatigue syndrome
| journal = Occupational Medicine | volume = 2005;55 | page = 20–31
| doi = 10.1093/occmed/kqi013
| url = http://occmed.oxfordjournals.org/content/55/1/20.full.pdf
}}</ref>
<ref name="Johnson20130706">{{citation
| last1 = Johnson | first1 = Cort | authorlink1 = Cort Johnson
| title = ME/CFS Prognosis
| journal = Health Rising
| date = 6 July 2013
| url = http://www.cortjohnson.org/about-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-mecfs/prognosis/
}}</ref>
<ref name="JoyceJ1997prog">{{citation
| last1 = Joyce | first1 = J | authorlink1 = J Joyce
| last2 = Hotopf | first2 = M | authorlink2 = Matthew Hotopf
| last3 = Wessely | first3 = Simon | authorlink3 = Simon Wessely
| title = The prognosis of chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review
| journal = QJM | volume = 90 | issue = 3
| date = 1 March 1997
| pmid = 9093600 | doi = 10.1093/qjmed/90.3.223
| url = http://qjmed.oxfordjournals.org/content/90/3/223.long
}}</ref>
</references>
[[Category:Primers]]
[[Category:Primers]]

Revision as of 01:47, March 27, 2017

This Primer for patients will provide the information you need to know about your personal diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, (CFS) Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or ME/CFS which can be very different with severity and symptoms from patient to patient.

You are not as alone as you may think with this disease as there are up to 2.5 million Americans and an estimated 17 million patients worldwide.[1][2]


  • For information and support, you may want to review materials offered by a patient group in your area.
See: Patient groups by country
Health Rising has forums where you can ask questions, get support, and read about the latest research.


  • There are many research initiatives around the world working on ME/CFS.
See: Research initiatives by country
Solve ME/CFS produces print newsletters you can sign up for.


Below you will find lots of recommended viewing, reading, and more resources.


Disease onset and course of illness[edit | edit source]

Most likely your ME/CFS was diagnosed because you did not recover from a flu-like illness, EBV, Mononucleosis, HHV, Q fever, Virus or other infections and your symptoms meet one or more diagnostic criteria for either ME, CFS or ME/CFS.[3][4][5] Your health may never be the same and you will experience numerous symptoms and disease severity which can fluctuate day to day, week to week, month to month, year to year, and unless treatments are discovered you may be unwell for many years just as many with ME/CFS have been. Symptoms and disease severity vary among patients.[6][7][8]

Pediatric ME/CFS[edit | edit source]

Children are also afflicted with ME/CFS.[9][10] See: Pediatric.

Prognosis[edit | edit source]

Unfortunately, prognosis for ME/CFS is generally poor. See: Prognosis

Female to male ratio[edit | edit source]

Like many auto-immune and neuro-immune diseases where mostly women are afflicted,[11] the ME/CFS female/male patient ratio is 6:1.[12] Fibromyalgia has a F/M 7:1 ratio and some ME/CFS patients have this additional diagnosis.[13][14]

Symptoms[edit | edit source]

Hallmark symptom[edit | edit source]

  • Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is the hallmark symptom of ME/CFS. After physical or mental exertion (which for some patients can be a shower or making out a to-do list, others grocery shopping, socializing or reading a news article, while some just walking to the mailbox, getting to the doctor or mentally following a T.V. program) there is a payback which can be delayed 24-48 hours and can last 24 hours or more. The patient will experience even greater fatigue as well as exasperate the flu-like symptoms and body pain. Every patient experiences different symptoms and symptom severity from different activities and exertion output according to how sick he or she is with the disease.[15][16][17]


Regarding PEM the CFIDS Association of America states: "This is a term which describes a symptom in which exercise or exertion can bring on malaise (illness). In the case of people with ME/CFS, malaise often occurs during a period some 24-72 hours after exertion. For example, in some cases, a short walk can worsen ME/CFS symptoms two days later. This lack of understanding about the delayed onset of symptoms has, in the past, made it harder to test for ME/CFS. Follow up tests, taken less than 24 hours after an initial exercise test, may show that the patient can still perform activities at the same level (before post exertional malaise has a chance to take hold)."[18]

Core and additional symptoms (see IOM Clinicians Guide)[edit | edit source]

US Government guides on symptoms[edit | edit source]

Canada guides on symptoms[edit | edit source]

Other symptoms, comorbids[edit | edit source]

Expanded lists of symptoms[edit | edit source]

GET and CBT[edit | edit source]

Graded exercise therapy (GET) and Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are usually employed in the UK, Ireland and some parts of Europe through ME Clinics. They are highly controversial and not recommended by patients, most patient advocates, and research organizations nor by many doctors or researchers outside of the UK.

Exercise, especially GET, can injure an ME/CFS patient further.

Tests to discuss with your doctor[edit | edit source]

Recommended viewing[edit | edit source]

Documentary[edit | edit source]

  • Unrest is a US documentary film that will air on PBS's Independent Lens in 2018. Jennifer Brea, a person with ME, directs. (2017)

Mini-doc & Short film[edit | edit source]

Shorts[edit | edit source]

News media[edit | edit source]

Talks and interviews[edit | edit source]

  • Jennifer Brea is interviewed for the upcoming BRIC Flix on her ME/CFS disease experience and her 2017 documentary film Canary in a Coal Mine (now called Unrest) at 5:30 and 10:20. (2016)

Recommended reading[edit | edit source]

Government health organizations[edit | edit source]

USA
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Institute of Medicine (IOM)

ME/CFS research foundations[edit | edit source]

UK
Invest in ME
USA
Open Medicine Foundation (OMF)

ME/CFS organizations[edit | edit source]

Australia
Emerge Australia
UK
ME Association
Tymes Trust (Pediatric)
USA
Massachusetts CFIDS/ME & FM Association
Solve ME/CFS
International
MEAction

Other organizations[edit | edit source]

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)

Other reading[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

Other resources[edit | edit source]

  • Twitter #mecfs Connect with patients, caregivers, and ME/CFS organizations for support, articles, and research.
  • VOAT: CFS A pinboard site with research, articles, videos and more!
  • About.com Health FMS/ME/CFS Well written articles with simply stated facts about ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia.
  • Phoenix Rising Citizen Scientists debate the latest ME/CFS science.
  • MDJunction Support for patients and caregivers from other patients and caregivers.

References[edit | edit source]

<references>