The Real Story About Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A devastating illness that needs a better name
Garnet News October 19, 2016

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is an illness that many may have heard of, but few, in reality, know much about.

The misconception of the seriousness of the disease is in part caused by the use of the name Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), coined in 1988 by a committee convened at the Centers for Disease Control. Prior to that recommendation, the disease was known by the more intimidating name Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), which is favored by many patients and still used in many countries overseas. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome trivializes the nature of the disease and its impact on the lives of the people who suffer with it.

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Millions Are Missing: Will The World Finally Notice?

by Maureen Hanson
Huffington Post September  30, 2016

This week, demonstrations occurred in 25 global cities world-wide to focus attention on a neglected, devastating disease — Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), an illness that also goes by the misleading name Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). At this event, the most powerful demonstrators were those who could not attend — the bedridden and housebound patients.

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Be Aware and Beware: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is an Equal Opportunity Disease

by Maureen Hanson
Huffington Post   May 20, 2016

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or CFS, is an innocuous name given to a debilitating disease. Its seriousness is better indicated by the term Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), a label preferred by many of its victims. On May 17-18, the Department of Health and Human Services hosted the biannual public meeting of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee by webinar. This was a fitting time for such a meeting, as May is International ME/CFS Awareness Month.

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When the hoofbeats are zebras

by Maureen Hanson
The Hill    May 11, 2016

An analysis by Johns Hopkins researchers claims that a third of all deaths in the US annually are due to medical errors.  This finding not only calls for better reporting of such errors, but also for better medical training to prevent them.  But death is not the only outcome of medical errors—instead, unnecessary patient suffering can result.

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