Often patients seeking our clinic’s help become very educated about what their doctors can’t seem to figure out. For this reason, we are often required to offer our thoughts about diagnoses such as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), immune dysfunctions syndrome (CFIDS), fibromyalgia, neuroimmune syndromes, undermethylation, adrenal fatigue, and the list goes on.
While these terms are merely descriptive and the conditions themselves “waste baskets” for the doctor’s “failed search,” these conditions are real and significantly reduce one’s quality of life.
Not too long ago, research concluded that the best approach for conditions such as myalgic encephalomyelitis and other neuroimmune syndromes was gradient physical exercise and cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. And while this is true, there is also much more to it.
Our clinic attracts patients from all over the country with conditions such as ME, chronic fatigue, and types of neuroimmune abnormalities. For patients ranging from children to seniors, our primary goal is to improve one’s constitutional baseline by addressing genetic susceptibilities, repairing brain inflammation, improving immune regulation, addressing neurochemistry collapse, and rebalancing the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-gonadal-thyroid (HPAGT) axis.
Our approach is intensive, but for the motivated patient it can truly increase the quality of one’s life and reverse the impending health collapse.
There are other ways to look at “therapy” as well. For example, reframing one’s understanding of the situation, transforming the “hopeless” to “hopeful” through group education sessions, and encouraging full understanding of one’s genetics IS, in fact, “therapeutic.”
Cognitive behavioral approaches have value, but there are also other approaches. Energy kinesiology, emotional release techniques and self-directed approaches to reversing PTSD, all are worthy of one’s consideration.
Our clinic performs a number of conventional and functional medicine diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of illness. We cross-reference single nucleotide polymorphisms (genetic susceptibilities) with blood, urine, and stool tests. We use neuroimaging, brain electrical testing, survey assessments, and any number of tools to help us solve the puzzle. We encourage our patients not to give up.
While many conditions we treat do not have clear diagnostic criteria, myalgic encephalomyelitis does. Please note I have provided the conventional description as well as the diagnostic and treatment focus that often leads to reprieve and reversal of symptoms.
Diagnostic Criteria for ME/CFS
In order to be diagnosed with ME/CFS, you must have “post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion.” This means unexplained and severe fatigue after simple activities, not otherwise explainable by medical conditions like anemia, hypothyroidism, etc. In addition, a patient needs to present with at least one symptom from each of the following 3 categories:
