The ME/CFS Society of NSW Inc.

Dr Stephen Graves, Director of Hunter Area Pathology and the Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory spoke with me about the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Conference held in Cambridge in July 2008. What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? What are the causes, and what is it like to be struck down by the illness? Why is it still the invisible illness so many years after its

The interview was broadcast on Diffusion Science Radio on 2SER on the 4th of August 2008 You can download the whole show here

-by Ros Vallings

Scepticism has been a problem for people with ME for a very long time. In this article, Dr Rosamund Vallings takes a look at scepticism and disbelief in ME from a medical practitioner’s point of view.

General Benefits of Massage

• There is evidence of physical, psychological and physiological benefits of massage.
• Physical contact with skin and muscle and fascia can loosen and soften stiff muscles.
• Massage may improve the immune system.
• Massage can assist the body to release certain chemicals to help with relaxation, improve blood circulation and get rid of toxic substances which build up in our bodies and muscles as they work.

A recent University of Iowa study reveals a biological link between pain and fatigue and may help explain why more women than men are diagnosed with chronic pain and fatigue conditions like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a relatively common disorder defined as a status of severe persistent disabling fatigue and subjective unwellness. While the biological basis of the pathology of this disease has recently been confirmed, its pathophysiology remains to be elucidated. Moreover,
since the causes of CFS have not been identified, treatment programs are directed at symptom relief, with the ultimate goal of the patient regaining some level of pre-existing function and well-being.

This year, Awareness Week is Monday 12 May – Sun 18 May, with Awareness day falling on the 12 May. Each year we work hard to spread awareness of this dreadful illness in the hope of garnering better understanding from friends, family, colleagues and the community-at-large, as well as appropriate treatment plans and an increase in research into ME/CFS and related conditions. It would be great if you could all wear a blue awareness ribbon during the week to catch people’s attention.