"I feel tired Mum...really tired. I have a headache and I feel sick to my stomach." These simple words were the beginning of our five years of hell. This book has been written for you: parents, siblings, grandparents, friends and carers of loved-ones with the debilitating condition, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. It sets out, in a very detailed and personal way, everything David and his mother endured during the years of his illness: endless tests, doctors, therapists, medications, alternative treatments; significant school issues, the loss of friends and social-standing and (the most soul-destroying aspect of all) the pervading disbelief that he was genuinely ill. It is a story of a mother's determination to do what was right for her son.
See the world from another unique perspective in the thrilling new novel from the author of I Have No Secrets .Nothing ever happens on Kasia's street. Kasia would know because her illness makes her spend days stuck at home, watching the world outside from her bedroom window. So when she sees what looks like a kidnapping, she's not sure whether she can believe her own eyes... There was a girl in the window opposite - she must have seen it too. When Kasia goes to find her she is told the most shocking thing of all: there is no girl.An eye-opening and compulsive page-turner for readers aged 12 and up.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are serious, debilitating conditions that affect millions of people in the United States and around the world. ME/CFS can cause significant impairment and disability. Despite substantial efforts by researchers to better understand ME/CFS, there is no known cause or effective treatment. Diagnosing the disease remains a challenge, and patients often struggle with their illness for years before an identification is made. Some health care providers have been skeptical about the serious physiological - rather than psychological - nature of the illness. Once diagnosed, patients often complain of receiving hostility from their health care provider as well as being subjected to treatment strategies that exacerbate their symptoms. Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome proposes new diagnostic clinical criteria for ME/CFS and a new term for the illness - systemic exertion intolerance disease(SEID). According to this report, the term myalgic encephalomyelitis does not accurately describe this illness, and the term chronic fatigue syndrome can result in trivialization and stigmatization for patients afflicted with this illness. Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome stresses that SEID is a medical - not a psychiatric or psychological - illness. This report lists the major symptoms of SEID and recommends a diagnostic process.One of the report's most important conclusions is that a thorough history, physical examination, and targeted work-up are necessary and often sufficient for diagnosis. The new criteria will allow a large percentage of undiagnosed patients to receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate care. Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome will be a valuable resource to promote the prompt diagnosis of patients with this complex, multisystem, and often devastating disorder; enhance public understanding; and provide a firm foundation for future improvements in diagnosis and treatment.
How thorough is your understanding of ME/CFS? Adolescence and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Journeys with the Dragon examines the firsthand experiences of four young women stricken with this stigmatized chronic illness and offers advice and support for the victims, as well as for their family and friends. The book focuses on the ways they cope with a stigmatizing chronic illness during adolescence and the impact it has on their lives. It offers a personal “guide to survival” that will appeal to adolescent patients and parents, and it provides a window into the psychosocial implications of illness that is well-suited to professionals. Providing a description of symptoms that vary in intensity every day, such as fatigue, migraine headaches, muscle pain and/or weakness, cognitive dysfunction, and more, this valuable book also gives suggestions on how to cope with this disease as it looks at these patients’experiences from a psychological perspective. You will find reassurance, support, and an increase in knowledge as you become familiar with ME/CFS, and you will learn how real people are living with and managing this illness with strength and courage. Comprehensive and compelling, Adolescence and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome will appeal both to experts and novices. A chronology of the participants’experiences in their own words is followed by scientific discussion of an inductively derived theory that applies to that patient. Some of the areas that Adolescence and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome focuses on are: the role of stigma for patients and their families family interaction chronic illness management peer concerns development of the self interaction with broader institutions such as medical, educational, and insurance/government disability programs Adolescence and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome also addresses issues and topics that need to be explored in the future in order to help individuals and families lead easier and more independent lives.
Help young CFS sufferers cope with this debilitating illness Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating illness that can have devastating effects for those afflicted, especially children and adolescents. Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome discusses this growing problem and its many facets in depth, including the mounting prevalence of incidents in the population and detailed explanations of diagnostic criteria. Case studies are provided to illustrate the issues those afflicted with CFS face, such as increasing isolation, decreasing school attendance, the length of time it typically takes to get diagnosed, and the impact on leisure activities. Current criteria for CFS were designed for use in adults, with few studies done on assessing how appropriate these criteria are for children and adolescents. Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome provides the criteria for first-time diagnosis of pediatric CFS and includes practical recommendations developed by the International Association of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Pediatric Case Definition Working Group. This book closely examines the potential impact that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has on child and adolescent functioning, psychological factors, social factors, and the suffering endured from symptoms. Guidelines are provided on ways ME-CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) can be addressed in primary practice. Topics in Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome include: ME/CFS CACFS (Chronic Fatigues Syndrome in Children and Adolescents) the common problem of Munchausen-by-proxy research on the psychosocial, family, and physical functioning comparing children and adolescents with CFS and those without CFS using theory in clinical practice guidelines on how ME/CFS can be addressed in primary practice overview of CFS aspects for healthcare professionals who may be called on to diagnose or treat the illness and more Pediatric Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is timely, important information for health professionals, researchers, counselors, caregivers, parents of children and adolescents with CFS, and patients with CFS.
A Parents’Guide to CFIDS is the only complete book for parents of children with CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome). Written in a friendly, personal manner by parents for parents, A Parent?s Guide to CFIDS combines medical, parental, and personal experiences designed to minimize the negative effects of socialization and education on children with CFIDS. This guide will assist you in understanding CFIDS, also known as Fibromyalgia (FM) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), one of the most complicated illnesses in medical history. You will learn how to help your child overcome the major academic challenges of CFIDS and the socialization issues inflicted by being cut off from friends and peers at a critical stage of development. Some of the topics covered in A Parent?s Guide to CFIDS include: options for academic planning how to be your child?s number one advocate balancing your family life when you have a child with CFIDS helping your CFIDS child develop socially with support groups young people with CFIDS speak out about their experiences deciding how much physical activity your child can handle letters to the school from the physician 75 tips for coping with inflicted children, from pain to schoolwork A Parents’Guide to CFIDS is written by a doctor, educators, and parents of children with CFIDS, and guides parents and educators in understanding, coping with, and helping a child with CFIDS live a better life. This roadmap to recovery covers everything from medical terms and doctor visits to assisting with schoolwork and focusing on normal development to improve your child’s life.
Overcoming Chronic Fatigue in Young People provides an effective evidence-based, step-by-step guide to managing and overcoming chronic fatigue. The highly-experienced experts Katharine Rimes and Trudie Chalder, present an accessible and practical manual aimed at young people, with downloadable material (available online) to support recovery. The book also includes a guide for parents and a helpful resources section. It is recommended for any young person struggling with chronic fatigue, as well as parents and professionals. Currently, there is no other evidence-based self-help guide available on chronic fatigue aimed at young people. This innovative book contains detailed advice for tailoring a fatigue recovery programme to the individual and shows the health professional how to do this. Topics covered include: Sleep, exercise, coping with stress and school. Based on cognitive behaviour therapy, a treatment approach supported by research evidence, Katherine Rimes and Trudie Chalder have used this guide in specialist CFS / ME service for many years with positive results as reported by both patients and parents. Overcoming Chronic Fatigue in Young People is aimed at young people with CFS / ME but people with chronic fatigue caused by other conditions will also find it invaluable. It is an essential resource for parents, families and health care professionals in the treatment of their clients.
A Father, His Son, and an Unrelenting Quest for a Cure At the age of twenty-seven, Whitney Dafoe was forced to give up his life as a photographer who traveled the world. Bit by bit a mysterious illness stole away the pieces of his life: First, it took the strength of his legs, then his voice, and his ability to eat. Finally, even the sound of a footstep in his room became unbearable. The Puzzle Solver follows several years in which he desperately sought answers from specialist after specialist, where at one point his 6'3" frame dropped to 115 lbs. For years, he underwent endless medical tests, but doctors told him there was nothing wrong. Then, finally, a diagnosis: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis. In the 80s, when an outbreak of people immobilized by an indescribable fatigue were reported near Lake Tahoe, Nevada, doctors were at a loss to explain the symptoms. The condition would alternatively be nicknamed Raggedy Ann Syndrome or the Yuppie Disease, and there was no cure or answers about treatment. They were to remain sick. But there was one answer: Whitney's father, Ron Davis, PhD, a world-class geneticist at Stanford University whose legendary research helped crack the code of DNA, suddenly changed the course of his career in a race against time to cure his son's debilitating condition. In The Puzzle Solver, journalist Tracie White, who first wrote a viral and award-winning piece on Davis and his family in Stanford Medicine, tells his story. In gripping prose, she masterfully takes readers along on this journey with Davis to solve one of the greatest mysteries in medicine. In a piercing investigative narrative, closed doors are opened, and masked truths are exposed as Davis uncovers new proof confirming that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a biological disease. At the heart of this book is a moving story that goes far beyond medicine, this is a story about how the power of love -- and science -- can shine light in even the darkest, most hidden, corners of the world.
In light of the discovery of Autoimmune Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants, or ASIA, Vaccines and Autoimmunity explores the role of adjuvants – specifically aluminum in different vaccines – and how they can induce diverse autoimmune clinical manifestations in genetically prone individuals. Vaccines and Autoimmunity is divided into three sections; the first contextualizes the role of adjuvants in the framework of autoimmunity, covering the mechanism of action of adjuvants, experimental models of adjuvant induced autoimmune diseases, infections as adjuvants, the Gulf War Syndrome, sick-building syndrome (SBS), safe vaccines, toll-like receptors, TLRS in vaccines, pesticides as adjuvants, oil as adjuvant, mercury, aluminum and autoimmunity. The following section reviews literature on vaccines that have induced autoimmune conditions such as MMR and HBV, among others. The final section covers diseases in which vaccines were known to be the solicitor – for instance, systemic lupus erythematosus – and whether it can be induced by vaccines for MMR, HBV, HCV, and others. Edited by leaders in the field, Vaccines and Autoimmunity is an invaluable resource for advanced students and researchers working in pathogenic and epidemiological studies.
A Mayo Clinic pediatrician’s guide to the causes of fatigue in teenagers—and finding the care they may need. What happens when a perfectly healthy teen suddenly becomes tired and lethargic? In Tired Teens, Dr. Philip R. Fischer draws upon decades of experience as a pediatrician to pinpoint causes of chronic fatigue in teens and explains how teens and parents can help combat these debilitating conditions. Preparing for college applications, keeping up with schoolwork, and balancing a variety of extracurricular activities, all while maintaining a social life, is causing modern-day teens to become overworked and under-rested. While some students manage to keep up with this packed schedule, many teens go from being A+ students to barely being able to get out of bed in the morning. Some causes of excessive tiredness, like lack of sleep and improper sleep hygiene, can be easy to remedy. However, other causes, like digestive problems, hormonal changes, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), may require more serious care. In Tired Teens, Dr. Fischer explains how to identify the warning signs and symptoms of chronic fatigue in teens, helping you determine if your teen’s excessive tiredness is simply a symptom of a busy schedule, or the result of an unexpected disorder, like autonomic dysfunction and POTS. Finally, the book provides expert advice on receiving an evaluation and diagnosis for adolescent fatigue, and outlines different treatment plans available to those diagnosed with this invisible illness. By simplifying these issues in a clear and digestible way, Dr. Fischer makes it easy for teens and parents to learn how to manage and treat persistent tiredness. Whether you’re a teen experiencing chronic fatigue or the parent of one, Tired Teens offers hope and guidance about how to overcome chronic fatigue and POTS for good.
