Product Description
The Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter, Canada. An examination of the testimonials of four teenage sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome, offering a survival guide for patients and parents and insight for health care professionals. Hardcover, softcover also available. ... Read more

Product Description
New in Paper: Chronic fatigue syndrome--a debilitating disorder associatedwith fatigue and a range of other constitutional complaints--has been the subject of muchcontroversy in recent years. Originally conceptualized as a persistent viral infection, the disorderis now understood to be a much more complex phenomenon. This acclaimed volume assemblesleading experts on CFS from the fields of psychiatry, infectious diseases, general internalmedicine, and neuropsychology. Chapters explore the factors that contribute to the developmentof the disorder and present a multidisciplinary approach to evaluation and clinical management. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Empire Strikes Back...
I picked up this book in the hope that it would present relevant theories regarding the evaluation of CFS as well as some useful treatments.But when I came to the section in which typhoid was redefined as an "anxiety disorder" ("Historical Overview" by Mark Demitrack and Susan Abbey) my mind came to a screeching halt. How was it possible that two MDs could ignore the reality of rampant infectious diseases during the Civil War in favor of a wildly inappropriate psychological "diagnosis"? The answer is that they, along with the majority of the doctors who contributed to this volume, are psychiatrists, a profession which has traditionally attributed psychogenic causes to physical ailments.

Psychiatrists have long maintained the position that physical symptoms can be generated by the mind. (The mind does not, in fact, control physiological responses. The brain does. Try to lower your body temperature with your mind.) Freud,himself, mistakenly diagnosed patients with MS, sarcoma and hemophilia as "hysterics," a "diagnosis" which nearly resulted in the death of at least one of them (Emma Eckstein). Despite the existence of germ theory this trend continued unabated for a century.However, due to the increasing sophistication of medical tests, most psychological "explanations" for neurological disorders have fallen by the wayside. I can only imagine the glee with which the psychiatric community laid hold of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, an illness for which no etiology had been discovered. CFS was their baby!

This book represents nothing more than a compilation of unsupported conjectures regarding CFS.These can be summarized as follows: CFS is largely caused by depression, "stress," and "psychological predisposition." The symptoms are psychosomatic, brought on by "illness beliefs," and lack of exercise. The treatments predictably revolve around "educating the patient with restructuring of beliefs and perspectives of the illness" and "graded exercise." Antidepressants, that staple of psychiatry, are also recommended. Not recommended are any treatments which might address the causes or physical symptoms of the illness (itemized by Anthony Komaroff on p. 169 in the book's single praiseworthy moment), since these have been rejected by the psychiatric community (which apparently believes that swollen glands, fevers, and night sweats can be produced by "beliefs").

I wish I could say that since the publication of this book, the larger medical community has changed its deplorable attitude towards people with the neuroimmunological disorder known as CFS/ME.Sadly, it has not.There is too much money at stake to release the stranglehold maintained by psychiatrists and financed by insurance companies. (Peter Manu, one of the most vocal of the "all in your head" theorists, is employed by Metlife.) Unfortunately, as long as psychiatry is considered to be a legitimate branch of medicine, the antiquated, and, in this case, profoundly damaging notions of psychiatrists will continue to be taken seriously.

Good for a Laugh
Stephen Strauss, Peter Manu, Susan Abbey, Simon Wesseley; it's a veritable who's who of sadistic charlatans long ago disgraced and throughly repudiated by the top authorities on ME. Recommended for fans of fiction and nonsense.

Internist Paul Cheney, MD, PhD, the world's foremost clinican and top researcher on ME said of Straus' findings in his most (self-)publicized study, "it's an absolute lie." Internist Dan Peterson, also one of the world's foremost clinicians and researchers on ME said "Stephen Straus is a snake."Straus was still doing grand rounds in the mid- late 90's saying possible retroviral association with ME made no sense because retroviruses cause neurological, cognitive, immunological and endocrine pathology, which aren't prominent features of ME.These are in fact the central, disabling features of the disease. And of course quite a few bench scientists have found retroviral involvement since 1986, most recently Dan Peterson finding 95-98% of studied ME patients with antibodies to XMRV.

Huge conflict of interest: edited and written by researchers, executives, and psychiatrist consultants funded by Eli Lilly
There is nothing here for patients, scientists or doctors requiring factually accurate biomedical information regarding the organically classified brain disorder ICD-10 G93.3 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

To understand why the information in this book does not apply to patients with the organic brain disorder Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), readers need to understand a basic principle of scientific medical research.

Organically classified diseases already HAVE medical explanations for symptoms whether or not the exact cause is known.

Patients with organic diseases, by definition alone, do not meet the criteria for psychiatric somatization (psychosomatic) disorders.

And according to the principles of scientific research information based on factually incorrect assumptions and study group selection criteria cannot be extrapolated to organically ill patients.

Nor, for that matter, do beliefs, personalities or behavior cause or perpetuate organic damage caused by active or cyclically reactivated neurotropic (brain/heart) viruses such as HHV-6 and EBV (check PubMed for biomedical studies).

Verification is beyond simple: Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)/post viral fatigue syndrome (PVFS)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are exclusively listed under G93.3 on page 494 - photocopies are available to the public.

Many doctors and patients are unaware of the ongoing ideological battle currently raging between psychiatrists over who is actually mentally ill and where mental illness ends and organic disease begins.

Or that adherents of psychiatrist George Engel's "Biopsychosocial" theory are reclassifying many organic diseases, not just G93.3 ME/PVFS/CFS or M79 fibromyalgia, as psychosomatic disorders in an effort to validate their theory.

Looking for a list of these organic disorders? Check the list of patient medical disorders covered under the lawsuits filed and won by states attorneys nationwide against UnumProvident Disability Insurance conglomerate or read biopsychosocial psychosomatic research by AJ Barsky.

Readers interested in accurate, applicable psychological information on CFS and fibromyalgia need to read books by longtime CDC and NIH researchers Dr. Leonard Jason and Renee Taylor also on Amazon.

Straus's work exhibits pure genius!
Dr. Straus presents the indisputable facts about CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) with unsurpassed clarity.While it clearly shows a scholarly understanding of the topic, Straus's work serves to answer the questions ofthe layman and the scientist alike. ... Read more

Product Description
Discusses the role that the body's production of yeast plays in disorders of the immune, endocrine, and nervous systems and details how nutrition and exercise have helped many patients suffering from the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Original. 30,000 first printing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the Yeast Connection
Amazing read with all my questions answered.The self test was an eye opener and the suggested treatment via medicine and elimination diet was right on.

Anyone suffering from chronic yeast problems and/or chronic fatigue must read this book!

A good Doctor
I went to college in western Tennessee where I experienced allergies for the first time. I saw a Dr. Crook who was supposed to be the best doctor
around at the time (1975-1977). I had no idea until years later that this
was the doctor I saw! He was very thorough, kind, and approachable to a college student in distress. His books have helped a lot of people. I thought he was ancient back then...he was probably younger than I am now!

The Book That Started it All
Dr. Crook was one of the first to write about CFS,this book does have cartoons which make it easier to understand. This book changed/saved my life. My daughter & I were diagnosed in 1983(a rarity in itself back then)and told "good news is, yes there is something wrong with you. Bad news is there really isn't a standard drug or treatment. Except expensive immunoglobin therapy that your insurance won't cover since they don't really recognize CFS as an illness!" I didn't get the book until 1990 and read it from cover to cover the first night. Remember no real internet then and GNC carried vitamins and body building supplements, no St.Johns Wort, forget Acidopholous and CoQ10 sounded like a Star Wars character.THANKS TO DR. CROOK these things plus many others in the book made a complete difference in my health. Yes the other books listed are more informative, they were published later. If you can still find this one read it first. P.S. I was searching AMAZON because my 2nd copy is now so tattered and covered with notes from people I've loaned it to that it resembles a high school yearbook complete with heartfelt comments:)

Helpful Information
This book had extremely helpful information for those suffering from symptoms that relate to Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.The author gives practical advice and explains the cause of often misunderstood symptoms such as itching, headaches, nausea, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, etc.If you are suffering from CFS, Fibromyalgia, or allergy symptoms, I highly recommend this book.This book was far easier to read and understand than many books on the topic.It also address overconsumption of sugar as a problem, which many authors are reluctant to address.

Don't bother
I've read other Yeast Connection books and they were much better than this one. The book has an over abundance of cartoons used for illustration and instruction, so much so that they are extremely distracting and make it very difficult to read. All of the information covered in this book can be read in the Yeast Connection Handbook and others. It basically repeats other books and adds too many cartoons to fill in the pages. ... Read more

Product Description
A self-help guide for persons immune-compromised (HIV, Chronic Fatigue syndrome, Candidiasis and other conditions). News insights on immune function, diet, colon cleansing and restoring intestinal health, herbs, bio-oxidative therapies and immune-based therapies. Covers the relationship between low body temperature and its effects on suppressing immune function. Protocols included to normalize body temperature, glutathione levels and maximize immune function for health and well being. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Immune Function and HIV/AIDS
If you want to know how to strengthen your immune system, this is the book for you. Every possible means of immune strengthening is looked into and test cases are included.

An excellent presentation of immune dysfunction
I have read and reread Mark Konlee's book and have only good things to say about it. It inspires hope and encourages those challanged by AIDS and Chronic Fatigue to take control of their lives. He gives tips on choosing the appropriate physician, one with an interest in the immune system, rather than those physicians who view AIDS solely from a "hit it and hit it hard" point of view. As a Registered Nurse I view this book as very impowering and long needed. I highly recommend it not only to those persons who fail to respond to drug cocktails, but also those who do respond. Immune restoration is vital in both instances. ... Read more

Product Description
Learn how a patient’s behavior can factor into the prognosis of medically unexplainable illness!

The Psychopathology of Functional Somatic Syndromes examines the link between mental illness and physical syndromes that lack organic disease explanations, including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, premenstrual dysphoria, irritable bowel, and Gulf War illness.

The author has evaluated the best research work of the past 20 years to determine the association between psychopathology and functional illness, the biological gradient between somatic and psychological symptoms, and the manifestations of dysfunctional coping.

The Psychopathology of Functional Somatic Syndromes challenges recent conceptualizations of functional somatic syndromes as brain disorders connected to affective spectrum disorder, serotonin deficiency, cerebral hypoperfusion or abnormal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function and highlights the importance of abnormal illness behavior, sexual victimization, and maladaptive coping for the production and maintenance of these disorders.

The Psychopathology of Functional Somatic Syndromes explores observations on the neurobiology and the personality abnormalities of patients made from structured data collected over a period of several years. It describes modern perceptions of functional somatic syndromes and how they have evolved into a tightly knit family of self-standing syndromes with a common core. The book examines the correlation between the burden of psychopathology and the physical features of these illnesses; reviews advances made in the appraisal of the neuroanatomy, neuropsychology, and neurochemistry of functional syndromes; and focuses on the connection between measurable dimensions of personality, coping, and illness behavior and the prognosis of medically unexplainable illnesses.

The Psychopathology of Functional Somatic Syndromes examines:

psychiatric morbidity brain perfusion

post-traumatic stress in Gulf War illness the spectrum of mood disorders the hypothalamatic-pituitary-adrenal axis the sexual victimization of patients and much more!

The Psychopathology of Functional Somatic Syndromes is an essential resource for psychiatrists and psychologists working in outpatient practice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Entertaining Fiction
But not as good as his other book: The Earth is Flat: Recent Scientific Advances Disproving the Hysterical Round World Theory.

Good Read
This book provides and excellent explanation of illnesses that are difficult to define as well as classify. A must read for anyone interested in psychosomatics

Dusty history. Achooo.
Dusty history. Achooo.

Nothing new here, just the recitation of the centuries-old mantra that any illness that medical doctors don't know everything about is automatically a psychiatric disorder.

Older theories of "bad" air and "evil spirits" as causative agents of disease have given way to more modern theories of "mass hysteria" spread by the media and Internet.

Parkinson's, diabetes, MS, ulcers and polio have all been declared mental disorders at some point. Children with polio were once beaten for their "behavioral" refusal to move.

As a woman, I found reading Dr. Manu's book akin to reading a first-hand account of childbirth written by a man who has never given birth in his life. Observations: yes. Speculative conclusions: oh yes. Irrelevant "facts": yes.

As a fairytale icon to "can you believe they used to think that," Manu's book is a gem worthy of a smile or two.

Readers expecting current biological research will be disappointed.

Like many people who do not wish to have their theories disproven, Dr. Manu completely ignores the decades-old World Health Organization listing of chronic fatigue syndrome under neurological disorders (ICD 10 G93.3) and fibromyalgia under rheumatological soft tissue disorders - M79.0. Good grief, even health insurance giant Blue Cross/Blue Shield lists them as organic disorders.

As has been the case throughout medical history, the advancement of imperfect knowledge lies in exacting scientific study not the repetition of myth. Doctors don't know what causes cancer, multiple sclerosis, or migraines, but the lack of knowledge doesn't mean "imaginary." The rationale that nothing further can be learned about organic illness is laughable in the current age of scientific advancements. Medical doctors can and should do better than trying to talk patients out of organic illness.

Recommended: Living Well with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia byMary J. Shomon or Ric Carlson's recent release We're Not in Kansas Anymore: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & the Politics of Disease. ... Read more

Product Description
The first American anthology to contain stories from a diverse range of people with Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), Stricken: Voices from the Hidden Epidemic of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome offers an intimate look at the political and social issues surrounding CFIDS, told by those who are living through this ordeal.This fascinating collection gives readers an inside perspective on this highly misunderstood epidemic.

Addressing several issues, such as why some doctors still do not believe CFIDS is real, how the disease is mocked in the media, myths about the illness, and the personal fight for medical or public recognition, this invaluable book reveals both the skepticism and hope that is felt by the growing number of CFIDS sufferers.

With contributions from Pulitzer-prize nominated writer Susan Griffin, renowned health writer and radio host Gary Null, well-known feminist activist Joan Nestle, and award-winning poet and essayist Floyd Skloot, Stricken is an eloquent testament to the heroism, defiance, and diversity of the CFIDS community.

"Fact-filled, heartwrenching, and sometimes hopeful. . . .A powerful eye-opener. . . .The single best book I've read that honestly and fully describes the CFIDS experience."- Joan S. Livingston, Massachusetts CFIDS Association

"A raw look at the personal stories of pain, isolation, and ultimately, heroism of the millions worldwide who suffer from this complex illness." - Vicki Carpman Walker, The CFIDS Association of America

"Munson educates the reader with her own informational narrative and through the personal accounts of persons with severe chronic fatigue syndrome. Provides a vehicle for the voices of patients in isolation - their struggles, despair, fears, and simple joys."- Katrina Berne, PhD, Clinical psychologist and author of Running on Empty: The Complete Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Stricken: Voices From The Hidden Epidemic of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Thank you for your request of me to write a review of this book.Yet another book ordered on the 20th November 2007 that I have yet to receive.And today is Christmas Day!!Can hardly write a review when I do have the book yet.Can you find it in 'the system' for me?(Don't you just love 'the system'?).I look forward to your reply.

Merry Christmas
Philip Lawson(the presentless one!)
alias 'pdoff'

A MUST-READ FOR ALL WHO SUFFER
I have been living with ME/CFIDS for a little over 4 years now, and when I was dx'd, I must have purchased atleast 30-40 books on the subject, because it was immediately clear to me that I was NOT going to learn from my drs! This book is SO ENLIGHTENING to all of us who suffer through our daily lives trying to "do the best that we can", which on most days for me, is to be able to stay out of bed for atleast 6 hrs/day. It showed me through reading everyone else's personal experiences that I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS BATTLE!!!! I have spent a very long time feeling like I am the only one who suffers so severely, but there were actually several others like me in this book..ie: who are mostly bed-ridden, who are on complete disability, who have to rely on someone else just about 24/7 to manage to get through a day, etc.
This book, I feel would also be WONDERFUL for the family's, spouses', and friends of those of us who have this disease, because it is written by OTHER SUFFERERS---NOT DOCTORS OR SPECIALISTS!!!
It is also a very very easy to read book. You can skip through it anywhere that you would like. It definitely does not have to be read front to back. There are soooo many personal storys in this book that whomever you may be, if you suffer with ME/CFIDS, you will DEFINITELY find someone in this book who is telling your story!! It's extremely comforting to read from others who are just like me!!
Out of all the books that I own on this God-aweful disease, I would rate this one in the top 5!!
I hope that this will help anyone who is "wondering" if this book is worth purchasing out of hundreds that are out there on the subject. THIS ONE IS DEFINITELY WORTH IT!!

Powerful
This book was so powerful for me to read that i had to put it down several times and cry my eyes out. I currently live with fibromyalgia, and while i realize that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and fibromyalgia are not the same illness, the experiences of the contributors mirrored my own very closely. Reading this book propelled me to a new awareness about the social and political climate for people living with chronic illness, and thrust me into a new level of commitment to fight with everything i have for our rights and dignity.

For those with CFS to know they are not alone
It is beyond nice to know that I do not suffer alone. These are accounts of people who have or still have CFS or Fibromyalgia. Some stories tore at my heart. Particularily one story whose author wishes to someday ride her bicycle again, the same goal as mine. Other stories filled me with hope or new thoughts to look upon this grayness that is CFS.

Even if you don't have CFS, buy this. Trails of the mind and body are universal in many aspects. And if you have a loved one who has chronic fatigue, buy two. One for yourself so you can at least have a better understanding (and of course one for your loved one).

With these stories, I do not suffer alone. I open this book on hard days. It's hard to go to college and have CFS.

I open this book on good days, because it fills me with a certain kind of comfort that I can't get elsewhere.

A variety of ideas and stories
This collectin of essays all pertain to fibromyalgia, but each is different. There is personal stories mixed with medical information. It is a must for someone struggling with this illnes. It gave me the courage to tell those who love to say" You don't look sick!" that I don't care what they think.I am not going to pretend to feel well when I don't. ... Read more

Product Description
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a complex, debilitating disorder, yet few current scientific biomedical books are available on the subject. The nonspecific symptoms, lack of diagnostic tests, and uncertainty as to the cause or causes of CFS make the disease that much more baffling. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Biological Approach represents a monumental step in the journey to a unified understanding of CFS and establishes a scientific basis for treatment. The book provides a rare treatise on current state of the art with respect to the worldwide scientifically documented basis of CFS and acknowledges the many as yet undiscovered or undefined pathogenic mechanisms involved in the production of symptoms. The authors, reflecting their clinical and basic research backgrounds, outline future research imperatives and direct clinicians toward appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.Because of the multifactorial aspects of the disease, the book addresses various fields of the biomedical sciences, such as protein biochemistry, virology, and pharmacology. Many recent, biological discoveries help us better understand the physiology of this disease and improve the specificity of its diagnosis by laboratory tests. This book summarizes these advances and discusses insights that support CFS as a distinct and specific physical disease. Overall, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Biological Approach provides a firm foundation understanding of CFS, opening the way for better diagnosis and design of new therapies ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Finally, a Medical Textbook on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Just reading the research citations in this book is both informative and should give hope to anyone with CFS--now known as myalgic encephalopathy(ME)/CFS.Although I haven't been able to work in decades, luckily a have a master's degree in an area of health science, which enabled me to learn the ways and means of interpreting medical information.While this text is clearly written for the medical profession, I think if you have any kind of background at the collegiate level in health science, ie, biology, physiology, anatomy, etc. you should be able to glean a lot of useful information from this book.I'm sure the price is prohibitive for most of those with ME/CFS on disability, but if there's any way you can get your hands on a copy, I wholeheartedly recommend it.If not that, at least recommend it to your doctor(s).

Could launch medical studies that bring answers!
This book is clearly not written for the patient, but for the scientist. Especially the skeptic.It is an intriguing compilation, with scientific evidences, of numerous paths for future study.It certainly answers the question "is there any evidence this illness even exists?" and provides grist for future exploration.I'm very grateful to the author. There's HOPE!

Might launch 1000 medical studies!
I'm not an M.D., but a struggling and strapped patient.So it wasn't written for me at all. Yet what is here is like a gift to me and all the others burdened by this horrible disabling disease. There are many chapters, each giving detailed information on different hypotheses, with real experimental findings by serious scientists, and with suggestions as to their possible significance.It is a collection of evidences, in terms that researchers, not patients, can utilize.In it are seeds, questions, and puzzles for future investigations.That much I can understand quite well.

I imagine that every day, there are scientists and medical researchers deciding on their next experimental undertaking.This book is sure to pique the interest of some who, without it, might have considered Chronic Fatigue Syndrome a field of futility.

I'm very grateful to the authors and publishers of this book. I'm outraged at the person who gave it a 1/5 rating, unread!!! Do you not want as many copies of this to get out into the world as possible? Not to be read by us, the patients, but by the next generation of doctors, pharmacologists, and medical researchers.Those for whom we all hope, holding our breath.

This book is worth ten other CFS books, in advancing the field of knowledge.I think this is likely to be the original source of much future research and could lead to some long-overdue answers.March on!

Wish I Could Afford To Read This Book
I've heard a lot about this book and have heard that it's worth reading, but I'm not going to be able to read it until my public library buys a copy. People who have CFIDS are hungry for books like this, but few of us (especially those living on disability income) have the spare hundred dollars for any book, no matter how valuable or important. Perhaps this was intended as a textbook or a resource for physicians and was priced for a specialized market. If it was more affordable, I'm sure it would find a broad readership among members of the CFIDS community who tend to be knowledgeable, discriminating consumers of infomation about this devastating disease. ... Read more

Product Description
(Whurr Publishers) South Bank Univ., London, UK. Discusses this illness and its management by offering a detailed exploration of the role of the occupational therapist in facilitating the CFS patient's recovery. Gives an overview of the etiology, treatment, and evidence-based management of CFS. Emphasizes intervention. For clinicians and medical students. Softcover. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Your source for inducing iatrogenic morbidity!
Regurgitates uncritically the anti-scientific positions of the Wessley school of psychiatry.These views have been throughly discredited and shown to cause tremendous iatrogenic morbidity. Shameful. ... Read more

Product Description
Complete Coverage of chronic fatigue syndrome

The Handbook of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome provides authoritative coverage of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). A leading group of international contributors present up-to-date information and guidance to improve the understanding, proper identification, and treatment of this debilitating disease.

The handbook’s comprehensive, multidisciplinary format draws on the medical, as well as mental health—related, aspects of CFS, including:

• History, diagnosis, and classification
• Phenomenology
• Symptomatology
• Assessment
• Treatment and intervention
• Pediatric and community issues

Topics covered include complexity of diagnosis, social effects of chronic disorders, and a variety of treatment techniques, including phase-based therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapies, exercise therapy, and nutritional approaches.

An insightful and unique resource, the Handbook of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is an enlightening book for all mental health professionals, including psychologists, social workers, and counselors, as well as medical personnel, such as nurses, physicians, and physical-occupational therapists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not just for patients
Chronic Fatigue SYNDROME is not the same thing as the SYMPTOM of "chronic fatigue".Too many doctors use the term interchangeably.This book will explain the difference.

CDC has recently announced that CFS is a "real disease", and that they have determined that the people most likely to get CFS after a viral illness are the ones who were most severely sickened by the virus.

This book is written like a medical textbook -- while it's an excellent addition to your library if you're already a student of CFS, it's not a good choice for the layperson patient as a first book.(For that purpose, I'd suggest David S. Bell or Katrina Berne.)It would, however, make a nice Christmas gift for your doctor, who can actually understand all the technical stuff in it.

I would recommend that every medical group and medical library get a copy of this book for reference.It explains the disease and its effects (medical and social) in ways that are hard to understand unless you're living with it 24/7.You'll be able to understand what your patients are experiencing in ways that they may not be able to explain, either because they lack the words or because a 7-minute appointment is not enough time.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Exposes the War on Science
Details the very underreported war on science by a small cadre of British psychiatrists.Simon Wessely has made a cottage industry of kicking the disabled when they're down including military veterans. Nicely exposes this emperor of charlatans' complete lack of clothes.Also see Prof. Malcolm Hooper's excellent works, posted free on the internet. ... Read more

Product Description

CFS starts as a persistent fatigue that lasts six months or more. Physical and mental activity may worsen the condition, and sleep does not produce any new energy. Originally dubbed The Yuppie Flu in the 1970s, it is accompanied by four or more other maladies—short-term memory loss or inability to concentrate, sore throat, muscle pain, joint pain, and/or tender lymph nodes. It is a therapeutic challenge, says Naturopath Bharadvaj. But this author explains naturopathic approaches that are proving effective in the treatment of CFS, either alone or in concert with Western medicines.

The reader is guided to a comprehensive understanding of this condition from its controversial history to its growing acceptance and evolving definition. Written from a foundation of scientific research, the book elaborates current theories of the cause of CFS, discusses how the disorder can display in different people, and presents alternative diagnostic methods. Naturopathic medicine, homeopathy, Ayurveda, acupuncture, clinical nutrition, and botanical medicines for CFS are all explained in this excellent resource.

Product Description
In the beginning, it was called the Yuppie Flu and Epstein-Barr Syndrome. One doctor calls it "AIDS minor."

12 million Americans have been stricken by it, yet few of us know the truth about the mysterious ailment that attacks the immune system and leaves its victims totally incapacitated.

Neenyah Ostrom, author of What Really Killed Gilda Radner? Frontline Reports on the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Epidemic probes all the facts and answers questions about today's most misunderstood syndrome:

* What causes it?
* Is it contagious?
* Is it a form of AIDS?
* Can it lead to cancer?
* Can children get it?
* What is the government doing about it?
* And much more

Simple. Readable. Understandable. In depth. 50 Things You Should Know About the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Epidemic gives you a quick but thorough look at a disease that threatens us all.

Exclusive update for this edition.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Awful book
This book is appalling - gives no proper evidence but instead ludicrous facts that are insensitive and inaccurate about CFS.

Read at your own risk...
This book contains SOME interesting, appropriate and correct information. However, the majority of it is out-dated and alarmist by nature. Based on my recent research, CFIDS is not the same thing as AIDS (although it appears she was hoping for more research funding if the association stuck), and it can not be caught from someone like the common cold. And I've never read that you can give it to your pet as is suggested in this book! I would not give this book to my family or friends to help them understand CFIDS.

You had better know about this condition BEFORE you venture into this book.

A good idea that's out-of-date
Neenyah Ostrom's "50 Things You Should Know abouy the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Epidemic" contains some good information; unfortunately, even with the Update section, it's badly out-of-date. A number of the statements made as fact have since been disproven or contradicted by research done in the 10 years since the books publication, and a number the blanket statements made are just plain wrong. This book could needlessly frighten someone just diagnosed with CFS. A similar book(1-2 page sections, easy reading) with updated information and more careful wording would be helpful to the general public and to those of us with CFS(I've had it for 5 years now); there are many good books available with more accurate & helpful information. My favorite is Dr. David Bell's "The Doctor's Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome"; while the section on possible causes is dated, the rest of the book is excellent: thoughtful, accurate, and helpful.

Making SENSE of the fibroyalgia/chronic fatigue epidemic
I found the author made perfect sense -- although I've heard criticisms that she is rather "radical."

She draws parallels between Fibromyalgia (FMS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and AIDS by discussingthe scientific evidence.There are common chemical markers in the blood,etc.

Fascinating reading! ... Read more

Product Description
Written from firsthand experience about the hardships, frustrations, and uncertainties facing sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), this book is a useful and optimistic guide to a little-understood and frequently trivialized disease. Often labeled as being "all in the mind" or "the yuppie flu," CFS is a devastating condition that afflicts increasing numbers of people throughout the world. The current thoughts on the causes, symptoms, and diagnosis of CFS are discussed, as are strategies for coping with the illness and treating its symptoms. Also provided are case histories that give insight into others' experiences, as well as suggestions for diet, exercise, meditation, and alternative medicine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not for people with M.E.
This is a book about what seems to be a mild case of a post-viral fatigue syndrome, which the author refers to as CFS.

This is not a book about M.E. and this book will not be useful in any way to anyone who actually has the neurological disease Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

M.E. and CFS are not the same, contrary to popular opinion and in fact there simply is no distinct disease known as 'CFS' - if only the author had been aware of this before writing this book may have been so very different, because the author very obviously means well and could have really been a wonderful advocate...as is, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone! ... Read more

Product Description
State Univ. of New York at Stony Brook. Covers the physical and psychological aspects of chronic fatigue syndrome. Presents many cognitivebehavioral methods of treatment and gives an overview of the history, definition, prevalence, and models of the illness. For clinicians, psychologists, and psychoneuroimmunologists. DNLM: Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic--diagnosis. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
As a PhD psychologist and a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferer since 1987, I found this book exceptionally helpful.This is the first book I have read on the topic that demonstrated that the authors truly understood theillness from a patient's and professional's perspective, AND offerreduseful and effective treatment suggestions.I have recommended it to myprimary care physician and my shrink!I think it has much to offerpatients as well. ... Read more

Product Description
This informative, accessible guide to eating for better health will help you regain control of your health whether you're fighting a chronic condition or want to prevent problems in the future. Bestselling author Jane Plant and dietician Gill Tidey show how eating the right foods can help you manage - and even prevent - a range of other common health problems, including: allergies; heart disease; high blood pressure; digestive problems; diabetes; skin problems; and many more. With clear advice on what to eat - and what to avoid - for each of the conditions, and featuring over 200 easy-to-make, delicious recipes to get you on the road to optimum well-being, this is a book for everyone who wants to live a healthier life. It includes a new foreword by Dr Michael Dixon, Medical Director of the Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health and Chair of the NHS Alliance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

a useful guide to CFS
this is a very informative book written in a non-technical way. journalists (i am a freelance writer) will find lots of interesting background material here - the symptoms of CFS, various natural treatmentoptions as well as worldwide resources for further research. one veryhelpful feature in this book is the personal experience ofCFS patients,and this i found enlightening.i highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
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 much 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. ... Read more

Product Description
In this enlightening and compassionate guide, one of the foremost specialists in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome--himself a ten-year survivor of the disease--helps victims and their loved ones regain control of their lives. This updated edition includes new information about current medical treatments, related disorders, and strategies for living with the CFS. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Woefully out of date
I bought the ebooks version of this, and was extremely disappointed to find it was a re-issue of a book last issued in 1989. The author's personal story is interesting, but the medical information is seriously outdated, and the tone is very depressing.

Don't read if you're looking for current or accurate scientific data
While reading how others have coped with illnesses can be encouraging, especially for the new patient, this book is definitely not your source for the best, most accurate, up to date information on this topic.Though the illness termed "CFS" is mysterious, lacks diagnostic tests and a true treatment protocol, the organic, neurological illness M.E. has none of those problems.It is not mysterious, it is the same in every patient, there are a variety of diagnostic tests that can accurately and reliably identify M.E. patients, and are there are some specific medications and coping techniques that can help.If you want to learn about the real illness M.E. you'll have to look for a book by Dr. Byron Hyde.

The author is lovely, but this is outdated and incorrect
This book means well, the author clearly means well, but this book reinforces all the misinformation spread about 'CFS' by people like the CDC etc. Almost all of the medical information here is outdated, incorrect and irrelevant to those with actual M.E. Some desciptions of symptoms (including the author's) related to M.E. but that was about it. Most of the information was about 'CFS' and almost all of the medical information given was about 'CFS.'

The poor quality information in this book was a real lost opportunity to do some good. This type of misinformation and lack of political awareness is a big part of why we have made so very little progress over the last 20 years. I don't understand why some patients still recommend this book to fellow M.E. patients. It's hugely problematic. It is so outdated, and so propaganda supporting.

Not recommended, unless perhaps you just read the comments on coping (and ignore all the medical information) which are quite good in some places.

To be clear, the author is a lovely man and he wrote some great stuff in this book about the disease and the symptoms and coping and so on, really wonderful, it is just that all the medical and political information is wrong and unhelpful.

If you have a 'CFS' (mis)diagnosis, do everything you can to find your correct diagnosis, do not accept 'CFS' ever as an end point to the process of diagnosis. 'CFS' is always a misdiagnosis and 'CFS' is NOT M.E.! That needs to be point one of any activism campaign if we are ever to get anywhere!

Jodi Bassett, HFME

Painfully insightful book by an author with CFIDS
As a newly diagnosed person, this is one of the first books that I read.The explanation of CFIDS and general treatments available is well written.Author sites his specific symptoms and how it has affected his life, which at times is painful to read.My favorite chapters included the one ondealing with family and friends and the interview with the doctor fromMassachusetts.This interview lends credibility to the disease and wasconcise.Happy reading! ... Read more

Product Description
Much of the current literature describes fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and other related syndromes in terms of anecdotes and sales pitches without benefit of medical fact.Dr. Duclos is a practicing internal medicine physician who treats patients with these conditions every day and has found striking similarities among these conditions.

He uses the latest scientific research to support his theory that the problem common to these disorders lies in the central nervous system.He describes the underlying disease process in clear terms for non-medical professionals and offers hope for treatment.“For years,” Dr. Duclos says, “patients have been told that their symptoms are all psychological.Now we know better.” ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Too little too late
This book got off to a great start and confirmed much of what I already knew about my own "somatoneural dysfunction."In rather technical language, Dr. Duclos describes several chronic illnesses in great detail and makes a great case for their interrelatedness.So far so good BUT throughout, he makes references like "more on this later".In the last two chapters suddenly I discover there is supposedly a part two with the conclusions and suggestions for treatment!No part two is available online in this or other bookstores!I feel horribly cheated!But maybe this is due to my "hypersensitivity!"Be wary of this book unless you just want to know about the disorders, not how to feel better! ... Read more

Product Description
Documents the latest results and opinions on the causes and possible cures for this disorder. Coverage includes retroviral involvement, immunity, pathophysiology and pharmacological treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. ... Read more