#10-many ME/CFS/FM can "also" have PTSD

Every day I seem to Learn something NEW that

amazes me, as a 22 yr ME/CFS patient, even tho

my cluster of symptoms is "Classic" to ME, due

to the lack of credible research/Respect for the
last 25 yrs by the CDC for their "so called CFS",

and only recently have some others come forth

with some truly enlightening info, so we have

been able to "get some Validation" about the
things we have been "feeling & suspecting"
for years now.

One of the phrases that particularly rang true

for me was: "I've had patients who met 

post-traumatic stress disorder criteria... 

where their trauma was their interaction 

with their physician around this illness. 

They came to a doctor with Chronic 

Fatigue Syndrome; they left the doctor 
with PTSD. 

         – Nancy Klimas, M.D.
Miami Herald, March 24, 2009
www.miamiherald.com/living/story/963475.html


I have experienced that myself....
be it from either arguing over labeling me as
the Wrong diagnosis with an illness I displayed
NO symptoms of, to a 2nd opinion Dr. that was
 "suppose to be" the "enlightened one" but was 
FORCED to comply with the restrictions of the 
HEAD Dr that ran the medical group he was 
practicing within, thus his actions were limited 
and could not even do the things that Obama IS 
asking the Medical Profession to DO right now, 
and I was, like "confer with another Dr" so they 
could compare records and history so I could 
have what we call "Continuity of Care" and 
not be "made to" duplicate/rePeat everything
and we could ALL be on the same page...

Add in the many that have experienced 
"spousal abuse", that has also now been
by the Medical Insurance Industry as labeled as
"a Pre- Existing Condition", of what I say.?
Hello, yes, you've guess it.. PTSD...
aka years of battering and the "shock"
involved and stress to the psyche.

Because of the MANY that may not have

the external physical scars, but DO have the 

internal scars, I am also adding a wonderful

PTSD blog site (in the Right column) I have found 

that you might find will mirror many of the CBT 
and other therapies that many recommend for us.

And ADD to the list not only spousal abuse but

natural disasters, terrorism, war , medical 
dramas, sexual and child abuse, and the list 
gets HUGE.

Mind you these therapies can help us deal with 

the abuses that have been hurled in our direction

but they can NOT CURE ME/CFS and the 

physical "organ damages that it CAN 
cause" and HAS in many of it's 28 million
patients..

All of the issues surrounding the cause of 

the added PTSD is "in addition TO" NOT

the cause OF the ME/CFS...........Period.

Yes, it causes the ME/CFS to Flare,

and causes many of us to relapse, but these  

are/were totally separate issues, but can be 
related, because they ADD insult to the injury.

MOST Dr's seem as of yet, unable to distinguish

the chicken from the egg, although if they simply

would take and LISTEN to a GOOD HISTORY

it would help them make a differential diagnosis

a LOT easier...

The WHO categorizes us under

"G93.3 Postviral fatigue syndrome 

Benign myalgic encephalomyelitis", 

and it effects the Central nervous System

it is considered a Brain Disorder, but

it is NOT simply "all in your head."

Your Brain is your body's computer..

So it effects your Entire Body and 

ALL of its' related symptoms, and maybe

even for many other's organs, as we are

all ruled by our circuitry. 

As a matter of fact, after the 1st Gulf War the 

Medical head of the Army told  soldiers that 

presented with PTSD to tell their Dr's 

they had CFS and they would be treated 

appropriately, as PTSD was not being 

acknowledged at that time.

Please continually check the Links listed

on the Left, as I may add new ones in between

blog posts many times. Also, if you come across

a blog/website that you feel would serve our

community at large, either patients or those that

help us, please let me know and I will add it 

to the list for all to have access to, OK?

Till next time... Remember to be Gentle

with yourself... and Rest WELL ♥