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The long wait for a breakthrough in chronic fatigue syndrome

BMJ 2015; 350 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h2087 (Published 05 May 2015) Cite this as: BMJ 2015;350:h2087

Rapid Response:

Re: The long wait for a breakthrough in chronic fatigue syndrome

In response to the article stating that Chronic Syndrome is basically the same thing as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, I strongly disagree that the two are the same thing !

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Is " A completely 'testable' through 'medical ' testing! On the other hand Chronic "Fatigue " Syndrome IS NOT " Medically Testable !

There is no medical test for Fatigue, nor for Pain, Nor for Weak and Cramped Muscles ! NONE ! In order to be officially recognized as a disease an illness HAS to be " Medically Testable " ! The so -called CFS cannot meet the requirements to be classed as a Disease. So let's just stop using that nomenclature please. If you have the symptoms that " are testable, and listed s being symptoms of M.E. ". Find a medical practitioner who is educated on the correct testing and get the tests done. If they all come back positive, "then" you officially have M.E. If they don't you probably have another condition or your symptoms could be a combination of a current illness you have or caused by various other conditions. To refer to a condition that is actually not medically tested and proven to be M.E , is to discredit the integrity of the true actual disease of M.E.

Competing interests: No competing interests

12 May 2015
Leigh Caldwell
Retired
Belleville. ontario