Robin Brown

Dr. K.N. Hng, also known as Robin Brown, is a British physician with ME/CFS. Dr. Hng authored the book, M.E. and Me: A Doctor's Struggle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which chronicles her experience as a Gastroenterology trainee who developed ME/CFS. The book is also published under the name Doctor with M.E.: My journey with "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome".

In addition to the book, Dr. Hng has produced many patient resources which she regularly posts on social media. These resources are continually updated, and many are also available in multiple languages.

Advocacy

NICE ME/CFS guideline submission

Dr Hng wrote a group submission to the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence ME/CFS guideline consultation on December 2020. Signatories included Dr. Nina Muirhead, Dr. Nigel Speight, Dr. Jonathan Kerr, Prof. Malcolm Hooper, Dr. Sarah Myhill, Dr. Karl Morten, Natalie Boulton, and the MillionsMissing France patient group.

Petition to NICE

• Stop harming ME/CFS patients - take CBT/GET out of NICE guidelines NOW

Petition progress is chronicled online.

Resources

• Accompanying letter for patients who wish to give the book to their doctor (English)

French Letter in Polish Italian

Free handout

• An Introduction to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (English)

French Polish Italian Russian

• Protect yourself from forced treatments - for patients being forced to undergo Graded Exercise Therapy, or CBT to correct your "erroneous illness beliefs"

Ill Health Retirement Case Example

• Case Example
• Example symptoms list for ill health retirement, insurance or social security applications

Books

• 2019, M.E. and Me: A Doctor's Struggle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Available on Amazon. Translations are available in French, Polish and Czech

M.E. and Me book cover

• Doctor with ME: My journey with "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome"

Dr. Hng's book is written with both the busy clinician and the brain fogged patient in mind. Her personal story is followed up with many educational resources. The book aims to serve as a starting point for clinicians learning about ME, and to provide a helpful way for patients to easily explain the problems caused by chronic fatigue syndrome to friends and family who do not understand.

Research studies

• 2018, Audit study: Doctors’ knowledge and understanding of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, United Kingdom

Online presence

• Facebook profile (Robin Brown)
• Facebook group
• Dr. Hng's Facebook Page
• Twitter

See also

• M.E. and Me: A Doctor's Struggle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• National Health Service
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
• NICE guidelines
• Graded exercise therapy
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Severe and very severe ME

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.

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.

See myalgic encephalomyelitis.

See chronic fatigue syndrome.

graded exercise therapy (GET) - A gradual increase in exercise or activity, according to a pre-defined plan. Focuses on overcoming the patient's alleged unhelpful illness beliefs that exertion can exacerbate symptoms, rather than on reversing physical deconditioning. Considered controversial, and possibly harmful, in the treatment or management of ME. One of the treatment arms of the controversial PACE trial.

cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) - A type of psychotherapy geared toward modifying alleged unhealthy thinking, behaviors or illness beliefs. One of the treatment arms used in the controversial PACE trial.

See cognitive behavioral therapy.

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.