This section contains references and brief articles and resources on management of ME/CFS.
ME/CFS Australia (Victoria) run regular self-management courses for people with ME/CFS based on 'The Patient's Guide to CFS and Fibromyalgia' by Bruce Campbell. If you are interested in being involved in a course, please contact the office on (03) 9791 3100.
Dr Sarah Myhill's book 'Diagnosing and Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome' provides a practical guide for the treatment and management of ME/CFS. Copies of the book are available free online in PDF format at Dr Myhill's website. Hard copies can be borrowed from ME/CFS Australia (Victoria)'s library.
Tom Kindlon (Ireland) has collated research results that show Graded Exercise Therapy produces a high rate of adverse reactions in ME/CFS. Submitted to CDC 2009 Click here for full report.
Journal Article: Stein, E (2009) Beyond tired: Helping patients cope with chronic fatigue syndrome, Pharmacy Practice, Dec/Jan 2009, pp. 14-21.
Journal Article: Crowhurst, G (2005) 'Supporting people with severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis', Nursing Standard, vol. 19, no. 21, pp. 38-43.
Pacing
From Bruce Campbell's CFIDS Self Help website: Pacing is one of the most effective ways to help reduce symptoms of ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia including depression, anxiety, fatigue, and pain and can assist to improve quality of life. Establishing daily pacing routines within the person’s individual energy envelope is critical. To improve your health status it is also important to stop using a push/crash cycle.
Journal Article: Campbell, B (2009) 'Managing your Energy Envelope', CFIDS Chronicle, Winter 2009, pp. 28-31. [Full Article]
Journal Article: Jason L, et al (2008) 'The Energy Envelope Theory and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome', American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, vol. 56, no. 5, pp. 189-95.
Symptoms
- Sleep disturbances
- Gut problems
- Orthostatic intolerance
- Common eye and visual disturbances
- Electromagnetic radiation
Sleep
The following articles have some information on sleep and ME/CFS. Be sure to discuss these ideas with your doctor.
News Article: Myhill, S (2010) 'ME/CFS and sleep: Managing a free-wheeling brain for needed repair', Prohealth, April 14.
Journal Article: Stein, E (2009) Beyond tired: Helping patients cope with chronic fatigue syndrome, Pharmacy Practice, Dec/Jan 2009, pp. 14-21. See pages 15-21 of the article for sleep information.
Book: Myhill, S (2009) 'Diagnosing and treating chronic fatigue syndrome', 27th edition, Sarah Myhill Limited, Powys. See pages 49-54 of the book for sleep information.
The following three articles have been written by Pamela Young at the CFIDS Association of America: The Biology of Sleep: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.
Sometimes fatigue can be caused by a condition called 'sleep apnoea'. The following link will help you to determine if this is a concern for you and whether further assessment and testing might be beneficial . It is important to discuss your results with your doctor.
Website: Epworth Sleepiness Scale.
Website: Sleep Disorders Australia, Fact Sheet: Continual Positive Airway Pressure.
Gut Problems
Journal Article: Shepherd, S & Gibson, P (2006) 'Fructose Malabsorption and Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Guidelines for Effective Dietary Management', Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
Journal Article: De Meirleir, K et al (2009) 'Increased D-lactic acid intestinal bacteria in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome', In Vivo, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 621-8.
Website: Behavioural Neurotherapy Clinic: Irritable bowel syndrome
Orthostatic Intolerance
How to test for orthostatic intolerance, click here.
News Article: Pellegrino, Mark (2010) 'Dizziness on rising: Dealing with a common symptom of ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia', ProHealth, Feb 19.
Journal Article: Arbogast S, et al (2009) 'Hypotension unawareness in profound orthostatic hypotension' American Journal of Medicine, vol. 122, no. 6, pp. 574-80.
Common eye and visual disturbances
Ever wondered what happens to your eye sight when having ME/CFS? Here are some tips and ideas to discuss with your eye specialist or optician.
Website: CFIDS Association of America: Visual dysfunction in chronic fatigue syndrome, posted 2001.
