The ME/CFS Society of NSW Inc.

The Society created this brochure in response to a number of clients' experiences in the hospital system. It outlines major symptoms of ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia, explains ways that a medical setting can be detrimental to a patient's health, and suggests ways that health professionals can make a patient's time in hospital more comfortable.

Please feel free to print and distribute this brochure as required. If you want a large number, contact the Society for more information.

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.

by Jana Fleming

How easy it is to listen but how hard it is to hear.

How often do we miss hearing what we need to, just because we don’t know how to listen? I know I have, often. Much of my illness has been about learning how to listen. Listen to my body, my mind, my spirit and most of all myself. How often did you miss hearing what ‘you’ were actually saying because the noise around you was so much louder? That noise might be family, friends, doctors, all with valid things to say but if all you hear is them then what about you? What about your voice?

by Jennie Sharpe

Your backache runs from the tip of your spine to the base, spreading tentacles through muscles you never knew existed. You can’t sit, lie or stand without a cacophony of silent protest rippling through your body. What have you done to deserve this? Yoga.

Telling other people that you have ME/CFS is not always easy. Because there are still people who do not accept that this is an organic illness, there remains considerable scepticism in some quarters and disparaging terms like "yuppie flu" are still used. With increased awareness and education, this situation is changing, but knowing who, when and what to tell other people can present a problem.

What are the causes of ME/CFS?
Despite ongoing research, the cause of ME/CFS is not yet clear. In fact, there are a number of "causes". In many cases, onset appears to be linked to a stress to the immune system such as an acute infection (particularly viral), chemical exposure or immunisation. The symptoms do not clear up as would be expected; instead, they become chronic or may intensify and abate but never completely disappear, and are accompanied by profound fatigue and feelings of malaise. Occasionally, onset may be slow and insidious. There is also some evidence that certain common viruses are involved in the development of the syndrome.

By Elizabeth Ho

To celebrate the Society’s 25th Anniversary, a seminar with Dr Richard Schloeffel, a GP who specialises in treating CFS, was held. Dr Schloeffel addressed a capacity crowd of 90 attendees. He spoke for approximately four hours and answered individual questions for another couple of hours following that.

In his address, Dr Schloeffel said he has been working with CFS since 1981. Today his practice has over 2500 people his books are full. He said his intention is to get information out into the wider community so practitioners can be trained up in the diagnosis and treatment and management of CFS.