National Alliance for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

The National Alliance for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (NAME-US) is a small American patient advocacy group lobbying for improved disease definition.

Aims

 * To increase awareness of the urgent need for formal recognition of M.E. as a disabling neuroimmune disease
 * To increase awareness of the need for a research definition based on hard evidence of multiple body system abnormalities, not on degrees or variations of "fatigue," or a within broad category of fatiguing and psychological illnesses.
 * To advocate for the implementation of the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: International Consensus Criteria and The Nightingale Definition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) not only here in the U.S, but worldwide, to make these valuable documents available to all health care professionals, and to support their operationalizing to an international research definition.
 * Through the above actions, bring the internationally used and correct term, M.E., into common usage and familiarity in every medical establishment and household in the U.S. This disease needs to be distinguished from cfs, for the benefit of both M.E. patients and those diagnosed with cfs that do not fit M.E. definitions.  Some treatments for cfs can be seriously harmful for those with clearly defined M.E., and some cfs patients are prematurely (mis)diagnosed without thorough screening for M.E. or other serious but treatable illnesses, and everyone in this country and abroad - medical practitioners and general public alike - needs to be aware of these facts.

Notable people
The co-founders of NAME-US are Steven Du Pre and Lois Ventura.

History
NAME-US.org was created in 2006 by long-time, severely affected patients in the US.

Online presence

 * Website