AHRQ Evidence Review Changes Its Conclusions (Big ME/CFS News!)

Occupy M.E. ^ | August 16, 2016 | Jennie Spotila

[Seizethecarp]

In response to requests by U.S. patient organizations and advocates, the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has issued an Addendum to its 2014 ME/CFS evidence review. This Addendum downgrades the conclusions on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET), and this has tremendous implications for medical education and treatment recommendations. GET is Ineffective for ME Patients. CBT Is Barely Effective.

[wastoute]

I have dropped some of my sceptic ism a few years back. I suppose it was about five years ago I decided that, my skepticism not withstanding, in regard to a few things like ADD and CFS the fact that there were people whom I could help through things like trigger point injections and what not that my intellectual skepticism was irrelevant. The Oath I took did not mention anything being required of me other than alleviating suffering. If I could do that my understanding of how was not required. I still find it unsettling but that is my problem.

[Seizethecarp]

The latest medical definition of ME/CFS, which includes my direct experience, is one of intolerance of more than minimal daily exercise. I can do no more than 5 reps of pushups, situps, leglifts, backlifts, climbing 4 flights of stairs. I have used this routine to prevent muscle atrophy which I have followed for 15 years that I have had ME/CFS.

Orthostatic intolerance...inability to remain sitting or standing upright without loss of blood to the brain as long as a normal person (which I have) has been added as one of two criteria in this new government IOM report!

See:

http://www.webmd.com/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/news/20150210/new-name-new-criteria-for-chronic-fatigue-syndrome?page=2

...the new IOM report lays out new diagnostic criteria to help streamline the process. According to the new report, people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome suffer three core symptoms:
•Impaired ability to engage in pre-illness levels of activities that persists for more than six months and is accompanied by often-profound fatigue.
•A worsening of these symptoms after any type of exertion, including physical or mental exercises or emotional stress.
•Sleep that does not alleviate fatigue.

To diagnose someone with chronic fatigue syndrome, a physician also must find the person is suffering from one of two additional problems:
•Impaired ability to think.
•The inability to remain upright, with symptoms that improve when lying down.