Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME)Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) remains one of the most controversial illnesses, both in terms of its causes, and the best ways to treat the illness. For years, sufferers have had to deal wtih scepticism from their families, employers, and even health care professionals. The vast amount of conflicting advice that has been published up to now has served only to confuse sufferers (and the professionals) even more. Chronic fatigue syndrome: the facts presents a compassionate guide to this illness, providing sufferers and their families, with practical advice, based solely on scientific evidence. It is unique in being written by both a sufferer and a physician, both of whom have had extensive experience, talking to, and helping patients. Included in the book is a detailed guide to self-help, written from a patient's perspective, but evidence- based. The book also deals with a number of special issues, advising on how to choose therapies and therapists, an how to deal with CFS in children. The book additionally includes an overview of the history of the illness, looking at the nature and causes of CFS, and the opportunities of the future. The book will be invaluable for sufferers from CFS, their friends and families, and the numerous health professionals who come into contact with sufferers from this illness. |
Contents
Our aims in this section | 3 |
What shall we call it? | 7 |
What is chronic fatigue syndrome CFSME? | 13 |
How a diagnosis of CFSME is made | 21 |
Other associated conditions | 29 |
Research into CFSME | 39 |
Making sense of what we know about the causes of CFSME | 53 |
Treatment | 63 |
Improving your mood | 133 |
Manging anxiety panic and depression | 143 |
Managing your thinking | 157 |
Dealing with problems | 163 |
Better communications | 169 |
Managing relationships and people | 175 |
Getting the best from today | 181 |
Managing employment | 187 |
Some myths about CFSME | 73 |
Summary | 77 |
Introduction to selfhelp | 81 |
Balancing rest and activity | 85 |
Relaxation and calm breathing | 91 |
Appropriate exercise | 95 |
Improving your sleep | 99 |
Getting the best from your food | 103 |
Coping with pain | 107 |
Difficulties with memory and concentration | 113 |
A gradual increase in activity | 117 |
What gets in the way of being sensible? | 123 |
Thinking about the future | 189 |
Summary of our selfhelp advice | 197 |
Thinking about therapies and therapists both medical and complementaryalternative | 201 |
Cognitive behaviour therapy and graded exercise therapy | 219 |
Children with CFSME | 233 |
Medical glossary | 249 |
Keeping a diary | 257 |
The Oxford and 1994 CDC criteria for CFS | 263 |
Further information | 267 |
Index | 273 |
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Common terms and phrases
able achieve adrenal glands alternative therapies amitriptyline antidepressant believe benefit blood body brain causes of CFS/ME changes Chapter child chronic fatigue syndrome clinical coeliac disease Cognitive behaviour therapy complementary/alternative concentrate condition cope cortisol deal decide depression depressive illness diagnosis of CFS/ME diary diet difficult discuss disease distressing easier effects emotional evidence experience factors FACTS second edition fear fluoxetine functioning getting give gland going graded exercise therapy hormones idea identify illness immune system important improvement increase in activity infection keep look manage mean mental mood multiple chemical sensitivity muscle myalgia normal pain panic attacks patients with CFS/ME person physical symptoms possible probably relaxation seasonal affective disorder self-help techniques side-effects sleep social someone sort SSRI stress suffering suggest symptoms of CFS/ME talk tests therapist things tired trazodone treat treatment understand unhelpful worry worse