May Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome AWARENESS MONTH…I Guess Nobody Mentioned This To My Doctor. (with YouTube clip)
Posted by Catherine Morgan on May 2, 2007
May Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome AWARENESS MONTH…I Guess Nobody Mentioned This To My Doctor. — by Catherine Morgan
Don’t get me wrong, I really like my doctor. He takes a lot of time with his patients, he is kind, and he really does just want to see his patients get well. But, he doesn’t believe in the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome diagnosis. So why is he my doctor? I continue to go to him because I really do believe he is a good doctor…and having a good doctor is more important than a doctor just placating me about CFS. I like to think he is just a bit naive when it comes to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome…and I do hold out hope that with my help he may become both aware and excepting of this (my) condition.
Anyway, I just had to come home and post about what my doctor said to me today.
He said, “Have you been exercising?“… Me said, “No, my asthma has been very bad the last few months…and even so…with my CFS exercise is almost impossible because it makes my symptoms so much worse.“… He said, “It’s a fact that exercise helps the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue.” He explained that I should start walking around the block, and then continue to walk a little more each day. This is when my cartoon bubble said, “and if I do that the CFS angels will sprinkle fairy dust on me and I will be cured. Why didn’t I think of that? Oh, I did…IT DOESN’T WORK…IT MAKES IT WORSE!” My cartoon bubble digresses. I didn’t argue with him about it, I figured it wasn’t worth the trouble, after all I do like him as my doctor.
Also See: My post on Exercise and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Well, even though my doctor is “clueless”, it is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month, and I will be posting more on the subject soon. Until then, have a great day. 
Rachel said
Hi Catherine
Rachel in UK designed beautiful ME/CFS Awareness Day budges for us to use. I proposed to post the badge on blog on the 12th of May to promote/support the awareness.
http://rachelcreative.wordpress.com/2007/05/02/mecfs-international-awareness-day-12-may-2007/
http://dizzysky.wordpress.com/2007/05/02/mecfs-awareness-day-12th-may-2007/
http://bluecoffeemug.wordpress.com/2007/05/02/12-may-mecfs-awareness-day/
I am hoping you like the idea.
Love
Rachel in Down Under
Catherine Morgan said
Thanks Rachel…these are great!
fibrodenial said
Cured by fairy dust! HA HA HA This one slayed me! Trust me, I’ve tried the more exercise route… there are no stinking fairies! Just ugly little trolls that sneak up behind you and zap you with a paralyzing ray gun.
Catherine Morgan said
Hi “Fibrodenial” –
I’m glad someone understands. There may not be a “definitive” diagnosis for CFS/FM…But, I am willing to bet that there is not one person that truly has CFS/FM that can be successful with any “normal” amount of exercising, and not exacerbate their symptoms.
Would you tell a Diabetic to treat their condition by eating candy and cookies a couple times a day? I just don’t get it…seems like a “no-brainer” to me?
Doctors….you can’t live with them, you can’t live without them. What I wouldn’t give to be able to live without them.
typingisnotactivism said
hi CM. hell yeah, CFS, aka Polio2000!
Hmmm, it’s been a decade since we came up with a new name for a disease. Let’s try Robacatastrofluculosis. Get the boys in production on to a cure. We’ll just sell those left over cold pills and change the colour.
just punted something out there I thought you might find worth checking out. Hope u b well!
http://typingisnotactivism.wordpress.com/2007/05/05/cancer-an-extreme-alternative/
typingisnotactivism said
PS helloa as always CM. Just reread what i wrote and realized it may not express what it means – the point is that when symptoms manifest frequently enough in a certain way, somebody whacks a name on it and half a dozen mega-corps bump out ‘the/a cure’.
CFS, ADD, ADHD, etc – all these collections of symptoms are very real. No way, just to clarify, am I suggesting that CFS isn’t happening. But these people are so locked into their process of misdiagnose and over-prescribe that while they may eventually get something right, they rarely turn their attention to the bigger picture and possible causes. Like a lack of healthy water, high stress lifestyles, poisoned food chains, emotional fatigue, world-weary anxiety, false nutrition, over-medication, toxic air, etc. All the things that pills may briefly blanket or compensate for, but not cure. There’s more money to be made in treating than in curing, let alone preventing. i reckon.
Catherine Morgan said
Hi “Typingisnotactivism” —
No worry…I get it.
“There’s more money to be made in treating than in curing, let alone preventing.” — I agree.
typingisnotactivism said
btw – melatonin has been found very useful in alleviating muscular discomfort in fibromyalgia, not sure re CFS but would think it worth a look. Also, colloidal minerals (in solution, broad spectrum) have proven good support for ‘fatigue’ type symptoms as they supplement a whole range of interesting nutrients we used to generally get by drinking water filtered organically.
Would recommend asking a qualified naturopath or homeopath about these. Alternatively, ayurvedic healers can offer surprisingly simple and effective nutritional regimes. The trick with nats and homs – see someone for whom this is their first calling! Medical institutions offer doctors a qualification in naturopathy that takes about 6 weeks to acquire… as opposed to ‘actual’ naturopaths who generally have trained from 3 – 7 years. Word of mouth is the best recommendation for ayurvedics. Acupuncture, for those not averse to it, is an excellent complementary option and, again, word of mouth is the best way to go. check out Dr. Shmuel Halevi’s site http://www.acumedico.com, he likely has a conversation string about CFS going in the forums, and may be able to recommend a practitioner working near you. Halevi is the bomb for needle healing, but both his clinics are in Israel. good luck!
typingisnotactivism said
PS re acupuncture – also check out http://www.acudetox.com/
They may have a clinic or practitioners near you. NADA was the 5 point ear-puncture protocol adopted by the black panthers to beat addiction in communities. Very ethical, very effective, very affordable. Amazing for all energetic imbalances, not just those relating to addiction sources/consequences. They work by donation, so you can get regular treatment frequently – as you need it, rather than as you can afford it. Forgot about these guys, but the protocol is quite an amazing application of ancient technique.