Making A Difference in ME/CFS
(Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and Fibromyalgia

Latest Interview

• 'Right Living' Part I - interview with Dr. Friedberg - who has ME/CFS - on how to achieve surprising results by engaging in 'right living' practices.
• Dr. Chia - who stunned the ME/CFS research world with findings of enteroviral infection in the guts of ME/CFS patients engages in a two-part interview.
• Dr. Friedman wraps up a three-part interview on a wide variety of subjects examining the possibilities that local and national advocacy holds for ME/CFS patients and what the future holds.

The Interviews

Rik Carlson - founded the first state Vermont CFS group, the Vermont CFIDS Association (VT CFIDS Association. In 2003, after six years of work he published a blunt, articulate, darkly humorous biography "We’re Not in Kansas Anymore" that chronicled his (fascinating) life before and after CFS. In 2006 the VT CFIDS Associations efforts culminated in the Vermont legislature’s passing a bill with the object of providing an ME/CFS Manual to every physician in the state. (October 2007

 

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Dr. John Chia (MD)> - Dr. Chia jolted the small chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) research world when he published a paper indicating that 80% of his patients had a previously undiagnosed enteroviral infection. In this two part interview Dr. Chia talks about his sons return to health, and his enteroviral findings and what they mean for ME/CFS diagnosis and treatment.

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 Pat Fero  - Pat Fero is the leader of one of the oldest CFS Support/Advocacy groups in the U.S. - the Wisconsin Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association (WCFSA). She was presented the PANDORA Female CFS Advocate of the Year at the 2007 IACFS Convention. (April 2007

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Dr. Ken Friedman - Dr. Ken Friedman is a researcher, advocate, author and father of a daughter with ME/CFS. From 2003 to 2006 he was a member of federal advisory committee on ME/CFS, the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee (CFSAC).

• I : The Federal  Response 
• II: Research - Roadblocks and Opportunities
• III: Advocacy, A Surprising Success, The Name Change and The Future

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 Ashok Gupta  - Ashok Gupta recovered from chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) almost ten years ago. His research lead him to develop a new theory of the disease and  a novel technique for treating it. He believes that the fear center of the brain - the amygdala - has become chronically activated - causing the body to over-respond to virtually every stimulus presented to it, over time resulting in exhaustion, hyper-sensitivity, increased pain, etc. After treating patients for about five years in his clinic in London he created a DVD program patients can use to guide themselve through his program.(May 2009)

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Tom Hennessy - A dynamic in-your-face advocate Tom Hennessy cut a wide swath in the late 1980's and early 1990's as he demanded that the medical establishment respond to the needs of chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients. Originator of International CFIDS Awareness Day and founder of RESCIND Tom's activities were curtailed were by worsening illness. In this interview he talks about the heady days of the past and the issues ME/CFS patients confront today. (2008)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Leonard Jason - Dr. Jason lead the Pediatric definition group, produced the first complete economic costs estimate of ME/CFS and was instrumental in coming up with the correct prevalence estimates.  He is a board member of the IACFS/ME and a committee member of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee.  Here he addressespotential implications of the CDC's Empirical Definition of CFS. (August 2007)

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 Martha Kilcoyne - A CFS Patient Returns - Ten years after she came down with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and seven years after she recovered from it  Martha Kilcoyne returned to tell her story in "Defeat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: You Don't Have to Live With It." Martha talks about how she beat ME/CFS and the techniques she and her husband pioneered, many of which are becoming standard practice amongst forward thinking doctors (March 08)

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 Dr. Logan is a board certified naturopathic physician who gradua ted magna cum laude from the State University of New York. An invited faculty member at the Harvard School of Continuing Medical Education and published researcher he is the author of “The Brain Diet” and the co-author with Dr. Alison Bested of a recently updated book on chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) - “Hope and Help for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.” In this interview he focuses on gut issues including fiber, lactic acid, probiotics and hydrogen sulfide. (2009)

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Marly Silverman - In a few years Marly Silverman has created one of the most dynamic chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) support/advocacy organizations P.A.N.D.O.R.A. in the U.S. (Jan 2007)

 

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Dr. Suzanne Vernon - A molecular biologist and leader of the innovative CDC chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) research team for 11 years, Dr. Vernon became the CFIDS Association of America's first Scientific Director in November, 2007 (Dec 07).

 

 

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Dorothy Wall - Dorothy Wall, a longtime ME/CFS patient, is the author of the widely applauded book "Encounters With the Invisible : Unseen Illness, Controversy, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" (Nov. 2006)