Knowledge Is Power

WHY DO PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM CHRONIC ILLNESSES LIKE CHRONIC FATIGUE (CSF) OR FIBROMYALGIA NEED TO BE EMPOWERED TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES?

Notable Recovery Principles:

“Knowledge is Power”. “Older and Wiser”. “Health is Wealth”.

Introduction

  • As a psychiatrist who has been in practice for more than fifteen years, I have grown accustomed to seeing patients with so-called “Invisible Illnesses”. But over the years, I have noticed quite an alarming trend: I am seeing more and more cases of so called “treatment refractory” depression meaning depression that failed to heal after several trials of antidepressants. In almost all cases the patients with treatment resistant depression have superimposed or underlying medical issues which, as I found out later through my research some authors have aptly labeled “Unexplained Illnesses”. A visit at the CDC website recently has shed some light.
  • Apparently CDC has noted an alarming increase in the prevalence of debilitating chronic fatigue in general and CFS and Fibromyalgia, in particular. . What got my attention is that more than 80% of Americans with CFS are undiagnosed. Now that explains why I have been seeing more and more of them in my office! Who would not get demoralized and depressed after months if not years of unexplained illness????

  • I believe providential circumstances have equipped me to guide my depressed patients with CFS in their healing and recovery journey. Invariably, I have noted that without adding complementary or alternative treatments to this particular group of patients’ traditional treatment (consisting of prescription medications), their depression would not go away! I had to learn how to evaluate and manage some of their co-existing conditions when I can and refer the more complicated cases to other holistic practitioners. Elsewhere I explained why I have become an integrative psychiatrist. I gain so much insight and tools from reading books like this one. This book reported how 26 doctors reversed conditions related to Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia and environmental illness using clinically proven alternative treatments.

078902389X Explaining ‘Unexplained Illnesses’
Author: Martin L. Pall; Buy New: $35.96

1887299114 Alternative Medicine Guide to Chronic Fatigue, Fibromy…
Author: Burton Goldberg;

LIST OF POPULAR BOOKS

  • What I recently found at the CDC website were sobering statistics indeed! Just look at the following and see for yourself how mind blowing they are! CDC had no choice but to declare CFS as a public health concern. Was I so pleased to find out that CDC has even established a Public Awareness Campaign so that CFS sufferers can get the help that they so desperately need ASAP! Keep reading….

“WHY IS CFS A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN?

There are several reasons health professionals should be knowledgeable about CFS:

  • At least 1 million Americans have CFS. This illness strikes more Americans than multiple sclerosis, lupus, lung cancer or ovarian cancer.
  • Less than 20% of Americans with CFS have been diagnosed. The low rate of diagnosis supports a need for increased CFS awareness among individuals experiencing the symptoms of the illness and among providers throughout the health care system.
  • CFS can be debilitating. By definition, all CFS patients are functionally impaired. While symptom severity varies from patient to patient, CDC studies show that CFS can be as disabling as multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, end-stage renal disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and similar chronic conditions.
  • CFS has a severe economic impact. The annual economic impact of chronic fatigue syndrome in the United States is estimated to be $9.1 billion in lost productivity, not including medical costs or disability payments. The average family affected by CFS lose $20,000 a year in wages and earnings.
  • The percentage of CFS patients who recover is unknown, but there is some evidence to indicate that the sooner a person is treated, the better the chance of improvement. This means early diagnosis and treatment are important. While there is still no cure for CFS, there are treatment options that help patients improve their quality of life and increase activities of daily living.”
  • When CDC investigated, they identified the attitude or ignorance of the health care professionals (HCP) as one of the major obstacles in diagnosing the CFS sufferers. It seems like many practitioners of the healing profession still have either misconceptions or uncertainties concerning CFS:some may still not know that it is a”real” disease. Others tend to misdiagnose CSF as “Hypochondriasis” or “Depression”. Still others may find it difficult to diagnose someone as having a disease without definitive or confirmatory evidence by way of a physical or laboratory finding.

BE EMPOWERED AND ADVOCATE FOR YOUSELF OR YOUR LOVED ONE!!!

  • So you see, why I cannot emphasize enough the importance of learning as much as you can about whatever chronic condition or illness you may be struggling with? Especially when what you or your loved one suffers from falls under the categories of “Invisible Illnesses” or “Unexplained Illnesses”. Now that you have seen how HCPs albeit unintentionally may serve as obstacles to the diagnosis, treatment or recovery of their patients, as consumers, BEWARE!!!! If you suspect that you may have CFS, Go ahead download and print the Toolkit to show your doctor.
  • I have always maintained that It is possible for patients to know more than their doctors when it comes to the conditions or illnesses they or their loved ones have been struggling with! Why, because most of the doctors nowadays are expected to have information overload; considering the number of medical issues or illnesses that they have to continuously keep abreast with on top of the additional work load (paper work!) when Manage Care entered the picture.
  • You on the other hand can put the spotlight on your own or loved one’s medical issues to be able to thoroughly research them. ARM YOURSELF WITH KNOWLEDGE AS YOU PREPARE TO ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF OR YOUR LOVED ONE. I KNOW IT CAN BE TOO DRAINING…I HAD BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT!

  • That is why Dr. T’s Online Diagnostic and Treatment Planning for CFS/Fibromyalgia Sufferers was developed in the first place. To simplify it for CFS and Fibromyalgia sufferers! If you have reason to believe you may have CFS or CFS Spectrum Disorder , bring the Treatment Plan that you obtained from the program and the copies of the toolkit addressed to the HCPs by CDC to your appointment and see what he or she says. You may have to keep looking until you find somebody who will agree or know how to treat you properly or adequately.
  • Whether you choose to do the program or not, I recommend that you read Dr. T’s book From Fatigued to Fantastic. He himself is a CFS (?FM) Survivor.You may also want to read the uplifting books written by other CFS/Fibromyalgia Survivors. Consider them as you your trailblazers who may just give you some valuable golden nuggets of wisdom that may buy you some tools as you move along in your healing journey.You don’t have to buy the books. Just borrow them from a library near you.

LIST OF POPULAR BOOKS WRITTEN ABOUT PERTINENT FATIGUE ISSUES

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The information in this website is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Inspire.Equip.Achieve., LLC cannot be held liable for decisions made by the visitors based on what they read here. OvercomeFatigue.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Read more…

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