FM-CFS Canada's 'Health Practitioner Awareness' initiatives

1. Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols, References for Medical Practitioners

• Fibromyalgia Guidelines
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Guidelines

2. New Educational Materials

• A Fibromyalgia guide for Pharmacists
• A CFS guide for Pharmacists
• Psychiatrists & ME/CFS: Assessment and Treatment of Patients with ME/CFS
• Nursing & FMS: Reviewed by a team of six Canadian pain nurses
• Physiotherapy & FMS
• Massage & FMS

And much more. See the FM-CFS Canada‘s website.

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CFIDS & Fibromyalgia Self-help

Offering groups and resources for improving your quality of life as a person with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or fibromyalgia. Founded in 1998, we have conducted over 250 self-help groups.

CFIDS & Fibromyalgia Self-help

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Treatment of CFS/ME

There are almost one million individuals in the US who suffer with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), which is also known as Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME). Specialists in CFS / ME are few, however, and many sufferers are not able to consult them. This website is designed to help you help yourself — following proven techniques that have worked for many PWCs (persons with CFS) at the Hunter-Hopkins Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Treatment of CFS/ME

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The International Association for CFS/ME

International Association for CFS/ME

The mission of the IACFS/ME is to promote, stimulate and coordinate the exchange of ideas related to CFS, ME and fibromyalgia (FM) research, patient care and treatment. In addition, the IACFS/ME periodically reviews the current research and treatment literature and media reports for the benefit of scientists, clinicians and patients. The IACFS/ME also conducts and/or participates in local, national, and international scientific conferences in order to promote and evaluate new research and to encourage future research ventures and cooperative activities to advance scientific and clinical knowledge of these illnesses.

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Online Resources for Checking Drug & Supplement Interactions

There’s a lot of risk for potentially harmful supplement/drug/herb interactions among ME/CFS and FM patients. For example, according to surveys in ProHealth’s newsletters:

* 70% of respondents take four or more nutritional supplements regularly
* 50% take four or more prescription drugs for ME/CFS and FM symptoms
* 53% of respondents’ doctors don’t ask about what supplements they’re taking
* 35% of patients don’t tell their doctors about all the supplements they take.

So ProHealth has compiled the following list of online databases that you can use to do your own detective work. Once you do, you’ll quickly realize how important it can be to keep your professional healthcare team fully informed about what you’re taking, and to explicitly ask them for their insights and advice.

Also, it’s important to recognize that though an interaction may not be noted in these databases, that’s no guarantee. Every person reacts differently to medications and supplements, and should always consult with their physician or pharmacist before starting any new protocol if they are on prescription meds.

ProHealth

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Manufactured Food Database

The Manufactured Food Database has been compiled from information voluntarily supplied by New Zealand food manufacturers. Companies are requested to supply the following data on their products:

• List of ingredients.
• List of additives including chemical name and code number.
• Presence/absence of the following clinically significant components: gluten, wheat, egg, milk, lactose, soya and peanut.
• A value for the total amount of protein, fat and carbohydrate expressed as g/100g.
• Sodium and potassium content expressed as mg/100g.

Company information is updated on an annual basis.

The Manufactured Food Database (MFD) is a national resource with data collection, processing, production of exclusion booklets and resource centre co-ordinated by one office.

Manufactured Food Database

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AVOIDING GLUTEN

The people at Diet Net have an interesting post on Avoiding Gluten. This post has information on alternative flours  and how to use them. Recommended reading for anyone who is wheat/grain intolerant.

Diet Net

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The M.E. Society of America

The M.E. Society of America is an organization that seeks to promote understanding of the disease known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), a multi-system disease adversely affecting the cellular mitochondria and the heart, brain, neuroendocrine, immune, and circulatory systems.

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A 'Hummingbirds' guide to M.E

Because hummingbirds are tough little things with a lot more strength, bravery and determination than most people ever give them credit for – a lot like many of the people who have severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) .

This site – A ‘Hummingbirds’ guide to M.E is the work of Jodi Bassett, 30 who lives in Western Australia. She has had Myalgic Encephalomyelitis for over 11 years now.

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Vitamins and Nutrition Center

The Vitamins and Nutrition Center is where you will find information on vitamins, the latest vitamins research, expert knowledge on vitamins and tips for proper supplementation with vitamins.

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