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.

Lifestyle Balance Program for Less Pain and More Energy If you're struggling with fibromyalgia or CFS, this book can help you. It offers an evidence-based improvement program that can help you achieve a healthy balance between activity, rest, and leisure-a balance that can significantly reduce pain and fatigue and increase your energy. In this book, author Fred Friedberg, a clinical psychologist and a leading researcher in chronic fatigue, first explains how lifestyle impacts the severity and persistence of fibromyalgia and CFS. He then goes on to show how the seven step lifestyle balance program can help you to function and feel better. In step one, you'll learn how to use active relaxation techniques to lessen ongoing stress. Better sleep, anger management, and activity pacing make up steps two, three, and four. Step five focuses on overcoming worry and guilt, and you'll learn how low-effort pleasurable activities can ease pain and fatigue in step six. Finally, in step seven, the importance of finding and maintaining personal support is covered. This effective lifestyle-focused program has brought relief to many others like you who have struggled with these misunderstood illnesses-illnesses that modern medicine cannot cure. You can start on the path to a better quality of life today!

A guide to coping with fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, and chronic fatigue syndrome • Reveals how to deal with each disorder and how treatments can interact or aggravate if more than one disorder is present • Offers techniques to dispel the side effects created by these illnesses Fibromyalgia, chronic myofascial pain, and chronic fatigue syndrome are often seen as interchangeable conditions, a belief held even by many health care providers. Nothing could be further from the truth--however, they do often coexist. Knowing if more than one of these disorders is present is extremely important because the treatment for one of them can often exacerbate the problems caused by the others. Written by a registered nurse and a psychologist who has been treating these conditions since 1994, this book presents an integrative medical approach to these three disorders with a strong emphasis on utilizing and strengthening the mind-body connection to restore well-being. The authors provide a thorough guide to numerous treatment options--from diet, exercise, and herbs to mindfulness meditation, chi kung, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). They also offer techniques to dispel the “brain fog” that these disorders often create and show how to overcome the resultant obstacles to effectively communicating with your doctor. The additional information included on the psychological issues that accompany these chronic pain disorders allows this integrative treatment guide to open the door not only to physical recovery but also emotional and mental well-being.

Information about chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, how cope with these illnesses to improve quality of life.

Symptom checklist included in appendix A.

Fibromyalgia is a condition that’s often misunderstood by the general public and doctors alike. This book aims to dispel myths about fibromyalgia and offers practical strategies that can help anyone living with this condition manage it successfully and return to a fulfilling and enjoyable life. Drawing on decades of experience in treating fibromyalgia, Mayo Clinic Guide to Fibromyalgia offers research-supported, practical strategies that can help anyone with fibromyalgia live their best life now. From personal stories of people living with fibromyalgia to the compassionate expertise of its medical editors, this book seeks to first connect with people who have fibromyalgia in a way that they may not have experienced from loved ones and even doctors. From there, readers will learn about what fibromyalgia is – and isn’t – and find solace in knowing that they’re not alone in the challenges that they face. The half of the book sets the foundation for the second half, which outlines practical strategies shown to be effective in managing fibromyalgia. Along the way, worksheets will help guide readers toward finding the best mix of strategies for managing their symptoms. The entire book comes together in the last part, where readers will put everything they’ve learned into an actionable daily plan that they can start using right away. This book is divided into 4 parts: Part 1 defines fibromyalgia, describes what causes it, and lists the challenges it can pose Part 2 outlines treatment options Part 3 describes strategies for managing fibromyalgia Part 4 outlines steps toward working with your health care team and family and creating a daily action plan for managing symptoms From Publishers Weekly: Coming from one of the most reliable, respected health resources that Americans have, this book is the first one a newly diagnosed patient should consult. (Sept.)

Mainstream medicine, however useful in other areas of healing, has failed to effectively treat the complexities of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. This useful book focuses on alternative therapies for these prevalent diseases. Patients from around the world describe their experiences and coping strategies, while dozens of experts in fields ranging from naturopathy, ayurveda, and reflexology, to guided imagery, hypnosis, and guaifenesin therapy, share their knowledge. With 70 percent new material, this guide offers both insight and inspiration for those dealing with these challenging conditions.