Master the important but difficult skills involved in making sure you dont run out of energy when you have an illness like ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia or Lyme disease

Understanding links between trauma and ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) helped make sense of symptoms in ways I never learned as a doctor. It's epigenetic not psychological. Insights for treatment, prevention.

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Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex disease that affects children and adolescents as well as adults. The etiology has not been established. While many pediatricians and other health-care providers are aware of ME/CFS, they often lack essential knowledge that is necessary for diagnosis and treatment. Many young patients experience symptoms for years before receiving a diagnosis. This primer, written by the International Writing Group for Pediatric ME/CFS, provides information necessary to understand, diagnose, and manage the symptoms of ME/CFS in children and adolescents. ME/CFS is characterized by overwhelming fatigue with a substantial loss of physical and mental stamina. Cardinal features are malaise and a worsening of symptoms following minimal physical or mental exertion. These post-exertional symptoms can persist for hours, days, or weeks and are not relieved by rest or sleep. Other symptoms include cognitive problems, unrefreshing or disturbed sleep, generalized or localized pain, lightheadedness, and additional symptoms in multiple organ systems. While some young patients can attend school, on a full or part-time basis, many others are wheelchair dependent, housebound, or bedbound. Prevalence estimates for pediatric ME/CFS vary from 0.1 to 0.5%. Because there is no diagnostic test for ME/CFS, diagnosis is purely clinical, based on the history and the exclusion of other fatiguing illnesses by physical examination and medical testi...

Pace It is an interactive app for pacing energy for people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) (also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS.) It is made by an individual recovering from ME/CFS, with…

(Darden has looked high and low to find ways to understand and treat her ME/CFS/FM, and, if she’s not healthy now, she’s still been able to improve her health substantially. Recently a diagnosis of a Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome – a lesser known disease that often overlaps with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) […]

May 12 is International ME/CFS Awareness Day, which unfortunately falls on Mother's Day weekend again this year when we are always away visiting my mom, so I am posting this information today to help you prepare. The entire month of May is ME/CFS Awareness Month (and also Lyme Disease Awareness Month), so you can do a number of easy things to help raise awareness all month long. There are lots of easy ways for you to help spread the word, including: Two ways to help move ME/CFS research forward. From the Solve ME/CFS website (note that deadline for the first action listed has already passed). Check out the #MEAction website for a list of different ways that you can help to build awareness, even from your bed. Join the #MillionsMissing campaign for May 12, either in-person (there's a list of local events) or online. Edit your profile pics on social media with either a blue ribbon or a #millionsmissing filter. I am changing my Facebook profile to this one below, with an explanation of the things I am missing due to ME/CFS (including backpacking!). You can get the #MillionsMissing filter here with an app on your phone or on the Twibbon site. Twibbon also has a wide range of other options for ME/CFS awareness, including blue ribbons. And I use this day/month to tell my friends and family about ME/CFS, too. I use my main Facebook account for just close friends and family (though you can follow my blog on Facebook), so I rarely mention my illness there, but May is the exception each year. Here is what I am posting on my Facebook wall for my friends and family: "May is ME/CFS Awareness Month (and Lyme Disease Awareness Month). Most of you know that my son and I both have ME/CFS (and he has Lyme plus 2 other tick infections), but you may not know what that means, since the U.S. name, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is misleading. ME/CFS is a debilitating immune disorder that has dramatically changed our lives the past 17 years. If you see either of us out in the world or even just look at our photos on Facebook, you may think we live pretty normal lives...but that's why this is called an Invisible Illness. In reality, you only see us out and about when we are having a good day, and even then, we need a LOT of extra sleep, I can't get through the day without a nap after lunch, we almost always have symptoms, and we both have to carefully monitor and limit our activity levels. One of the main characteristics of ME/CFS is that exercise or exertion makes us sicker, so our lives are defined by limits and restrictions. Even with all that care and caution, we still sometimes overdo and "crash" and feel like we have the flu for days or weeks afterward. A simple infection like bronchitis can knock us out for weeks. But, we are the lucky ones. About 25% of those with ME/CFS are housebound or even bedridden. Worst of all, few people - and very few doctors - understand ME/CFS, so Awareness Month is really important to us. You can help to spread the word by sharing this post or clicking the link to learn more (you can also donate to ME/CFS research on that page). If you know a friend or family member who has or might have ME/CFS (or tick infections which have similar symptoms), I would be glad to help them find the right doctors, accurate diagnoses, and/or effective treatments. We are always glad to share our experiences and help others, and we are happy to answer questions. Thanks for reading this far." Besides helping to educate your friends and family (most of whom probably want to know more but don't know how to ask), here are some other ways to help further ME/CFS education and research - share these resources widely! Learn more about ME/CFS. Here are some sources of information you can share with others: What is ME/CFS? by Solve ME/CFS Initiative An Overview of ME/CFS by Phoenix Rising The CDC's information on ME/CFS Our public testimony on pediatric ME/CFS at the 2011 CFSAC meeting. You and your friends and family can also donate money to help fund badly-needed ME/CFS research. I know the economy has been rough lately, but you could always do what we've done and just switch some of your charitable giving from other organizations to one or more of the following ME/CFS-related charities. I also set up a recurring donation for one of these of just $5 a month - easily affordable but not noticeable day by day! Solve ME/CFS Initiative Open Medicine Institute (click in the upper right corner to donate) Simmaron Research ME Research UK You can also donate to ME/CFS research without spending any extra money by using a shopping donation site or links like: iGive Good Shop Amazon Smile You can even earn money for CFS research when you use a search engine: Good Search iSearchiGive Happy Awareness Day/Month! Help to spread the word! (feel free to link to this page or share its information)

One of the most frustrating and debilitating symptoms of ME/CFS is the shaking and trembling after minimal exertion. Something that healthy people might get after a strenuous exercise. I was lying in the bath relaxing last night when I felt the shakes coming on. This is what I get for walking just a few steps […]

I explain the energy crisis using the bucket analogy in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis and fibromyalgia

Understanding links between trauma and ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) helped make sense of symptoms in ways I never learned as a doctor. It's epigenetic not psychological. Insights for treatment, prevention.

"Sometimes it's the little things."

How I am using keto for ME/CFS and how this way of eating has reduced my ME/CFS symptoms. Some benefits include reduced chronic pain and increased energy.

Researchers find that people with chronic fatigue syndrome have an altered gut microbiome, which may shed light on the cause of the elusive condition.

This is the full list of recovery stories by people that experienced ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, POTS and MCS. Lots of recovery insights via full interviews.

Research in epigenetics and trauma find nervous system changes like hibernation in chronic fatigue syndrome (me/cfs and freeze)

What is CFS or ME or MECFS? These different names for illnesses with same core symptoms show a history of confusion and lack of definitive diagnostic tools.

How can mold cause chronic fatigue symptoms? Find out about the link between chronic fatigue syndrome & exposure to mold in homes with water damage.

Studies suggest that every aspect of movement - from the motor cortex to muscle blood flows, to energy production - may be impaired in fibromyalgia. Find out how problems with planning movement, muscle activation and pain inhibition in the motor cortex may play a role in FM and how a treatment may help.

A ‘Family’ of Associated Illnesses Fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are challenging illnesses to classify. Both have a wide range of physical signs, and they’re related with many psychological symptoms as well. In addition, they’re often accompanied by a slew of other illnesses, many of which are also tough to categorize. As scientists […]

"The mere act of asking for help has caused me great anxiety."

Chronic fatigue is a debilitating symptom of Fibromyalgia and CFS. Learn how supplementing with D-Ribose for Fibromyalgia and CFS can help.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is hard to diagnose and treat. Discover the hidden causes and natural remedies for this mystery illness from Dr. Bill Rawls.

“We’re saying that ME/CFS is a program priority now…Give us a chance to prove we’re serious – because we are.” Francis Collins No one could have expected this. The NIH was supposed to reinvigorate ME/CFS research, not watch a vital aspect of it go down the tubes. According to Freedom of […]

Say No To Pharmaceuticals I recovered from chronic fatigue syndrome using 99% natural methods. It's my belief that this is the only way you can recover

Dr. Courtney Craig on how a ketogenic diet bounced her out of a relapse and why it might be to help others with chronic fatigue syndrome and/or fibromyalgia

Is your chronic fatigue syndrome caused by MTHFR gene mutations? People with mthfr gene mutations have serious problems with faitigue, do you have mthfr?

"That is one you never hear about when it comes to fatigue."

Check out the different ways to combat one of the most common problems in chronic fatigue syndrome - low blood volume.

(Darden has looked high and low to find ways to understand and treat her ME/CFS/FM, and, if she’s not healthy now, she’s still been able to improve her health substantially. Recently a diagnosis of a Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome – a lesser known disease that often overlaps with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) […]

Chronic fatigue, or CFS/ME, can be managed with personalised support and lifestyle adjustments. A holistic approach involving symptom tracking, energy management, sleep, nutrition, stress, movement, and mental health support, can improve quality of life. Schedule a complimentary call for personalised help.

Learn who is likely to get fibromyalgia, its symptoms, how you diagnose it, and what you can do about it.

Print out this guide to Chiari-friendly exercises that are safe for you to do.

CFS can be tricky to diagnose and cure. Learn about how to reduce the effects of CFS with this beneficial Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diet. Keep reading!

Trauma triggers flares in chronic disease: rheumatoid arthritis, MS, type 1 diabetes, ME/CFS, chronic pain;and builds on cell danger response (CDR) science

Most patients going to a cervical chiropractor for CFS or fibromyalgia relief complain of the same set of symptoms. Read on to learn more!

The biggest complaint from sufferers is fibromyalgia disrupts sleep. Could taking L-theanine for Fibromyalgia help to improve your sleep?