Valerie McC wonders what causes the lack of ability to hold onto things? A: Several studies have confirmed a sort of “feedback failure” with respect to muscle contraction and hand-eye coordination in CFS/ME/FM. PWCs believe that they have a good grip on objects, but drop them anyway; they reach for an object but misjudge and […]
Tanya C wonders if a gluten-free diet is something that she should consider. A: In the early 1990’s, Dr. Cheney and I performed gastrointestinal studies on PWCs who complained of abdominal distress. We found that a number of patients had abnormal small intestinal biopsies showing intestinal cells with short villi. These villi are used for […]
Tanya C asks: Is it true that weather fronts trigger flairs of CFS/ME/FM? A: Yes, many PWCs report flares of symptoms with changes in the weather or approaching fronts. They seem particularly affected by extremes of weather such as hot and humid or bitter cold . It is not clear why this happens, but similar […]
Cory wrote: : If someone is very allergic to inhaled allergens such as ragweed, tree pollen, and mold, I know you recommend that the patients get treated for these issues first. My question is: what constitutes effective treatment? Is it enough to treat the symptoms with drugs like Nasacort/Nasonex and OTC meds like Claritin? Or, […]
This Month’s Contents Ask The Doctor Open Medicine Institute considers Ampligen, rituximab Six Month Disability Follow-Ups Recommended $50 Bonus for Referring to HHC! CFS/ME/FM Treatment Website A New Imaging Technique Reveals Brain Wiring Having Trouble Getting or Affording Health Insurance? Ask The Doctor PWCs often want to ask general questions about CFS/ME or FM. Now […]
Ampligen, CFS & FM Self Help, Disability, PCIP, RituximabOn April 4, 2012 Rita S. asked: What is your opinion of the ALCAT test for food sensitivities? I hear that it is controversial, but I feel like some of my symptoms are related to food sensitivities. There is no good lab test for food sensitivities. The best method is “withdrawal and challenge”; that is, […]
Laura A asks, “Do FM patients get burning feet syndrome?” Burning or very sore feet is common in FM actually. This may be due to fibropain itself (usually worse in the morning, and improves with activity) or a neurological condition called peripheral neuropathy ( PN ). PN causes a chronic or persistent sensation in a stocking distribution […]
What are the most important things to remember about CFS/FM? My dear friend, Roger Gilmore, once suggested to me that the keys to improvement in CFS/FM are ACCEPTANCE, then ATTITUDE, the ADAPTION. The more experience I accrue, the more I think he is right. Let’s examine each of these themes. I used to show a […]
Coping with CFS/ME/FM, Dr. LappI sweat a lot. What causes that? Excess perspiration is a common symptom of both CFS/ME and FM. The etiology is not clear. Dysautonomia is common in CFS/ME/FM, and may cause perspiration (diaphoresis). Also, PWCs have a narrow comfort range for environmental temperatures. In other words, it is easy for a PWC to get overheated […]
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Coping with CFS/ME/FM, FibromyalgiaWhy do I wake up every morning feeling worse than when I went to bed? Most of us awaken feeling somewhat stiff and foggy-headed, but these feelings are relatively mild and short-lived. In PWCs, however, the stiffness is debilitating and the mental fogginess is pervasive and long lasting. Unlike their healthier counterparts, these symptoms typically […]
abnormal sleep, CFS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome