Korean press conflates CFS, fatigue, SAD, & depression

[ixchelkali]

Poor information about ME/CFS in news articles is nothing new, but this article is remarkable for the amount of confused misinformation it manages to pack into a short article. For example "In the past, the major causes were physical ailments, but the syndrome has become more complicated with the increase in psychological problems and stress." I know nothing of attitudes toward ME/CFS in Korea, but if this is an example, my heart goes out to the patients.

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/12/09/2011120900477.html

Many people feel depressed and tired now that the days are getting shorter and the temperatures plummet. But if fatigue persists for over a month despite a long rest, the problem could be chronic fatigue, a state of lethargy that makes it difficult to perform daily activities or tasks that require concentration. If this goes on for more than six months, the reason could be chronic fatigue syndrome.

CFS causes an imbalance of hormones and weakens the immune system, which leads to reduced ability to concentrate and remember, sleep disorder, headache, muscle ache, stomach ache, eating disorder, depression, anxiety, and cold feet and hands. It affects every aspect of people's lives.

According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, there were 100,000 people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome as of 2008. The symptoms worsen when the weather gets cold. In the past, the major causes were physical ailments, but the syndrome has become more complicated with the increase in psychological problems and stress.

Depression has similar symptoms to CFS, but depression can also be one of the factors that cause it. When stress becomes chronic, it is very difficult to overcome and sometimes develops into CFS.

Song Sang-wook, professor at the Catholic University of Korea St. Vincent Hospital, said, "It's hard to tease out what causes CFS, and it's very difficult to cure it when the symptoms persist for a long time. It's important to differentiate between depression and CFS, and find a way to manage stress as well as seeking experts' help. But when symptoms emerge and persist, patients need to seek professional diagnosis and treatment."

 

[Wonko]

It's accurate in as much as in the past ME was recognised as a physical condition but now, thanks to the actions of some, it's been broadened to include mental health issues, victims of lazy doctor syndrome etc. the situation is more confusing. Whats wrong is they imply "in the past" means 2008.

I'd love to seek professional diagnosis and treatment, unfortunately my plumber doesnt know much about it (but thats better than my doctor who simply smiles at me and invites me to leave when my 10 minutes is up). Not entirely sure that doctors are professional anymore than double glacing salesmen are.

 

[Enid]

My plumber much more useful than local GP's too. (He stopped a flood).

 

[alex3619]

I think a witchdoctor or shaman would be more useful than many doctors for treating ME. This is because they are less likely to cause major harm - just avoid therapies like drillling holes in skulls.

The entire medical profession is revealed as not competent to assess the medical science or treatment. This is a global systemic failure. Those individual doctors who try to point this out, to actually treat patients using recent science, are often singled out for special censure. The system is designed to protect the system, not for the benefit of patients or society, or the advancement of medical science. Even if we get a cure for ME soon, this will not change without drastic action.

Bye, Alex

 

[WillowJ]

The system is designed to protect the system, not for the benefit of patients or society, or the advancement of medical science.

this cannot be repeated often enough. if only there were a way to get people to hear it.

 

[taniaaust1]

Depression has similar symptoms to CFS, but depression can also be one of the factors that cause it

I never knew depression can actually "cause" CFS, as far as I knew the cause was unknown. This article was certainly a real bullsup. Its a pity that medical professionals can publically make up whatever they want and have it published and not have any consequences put onto them for doing that. (they should have to be forced to do a correction).

the paper "should" do a correction

 

[heapsreal]

I think a witchdoctor or shaman would be more useful than many doctors for treating ME. This is because they are less likely to cause major harm - just avoid therapies like drillling holes in skulls.

The entire medical profession is revealed as not competent to assess the medical science or treatment. This is a global systemic failure. Those individual doctors who try to point this out, to actually treat patients using recent science, are often singled out for special censure. The system is designed to protect the system, not for the benefit of patients or society, or the advancement of medical science. Even if we get a cure for ME soon, this will not change without drastic action.

Bye, Alex

Yes the skull drilling didnt help me, i got a strange side effect of a headache????

lol!!

 

[floydguy]

this cannot be repeated often enough. if only there were a way to get people to hear it.

I've often wondered whether pressure could be put on MDs to establish whose interest they are working towards. Sort of like a medical fiduciary (rather than a financial one). In my opinion, one of the biggest problems these days is that MDs are almost certainly not working on behalf of the patient. As insurance companies, are the ones generally footing the bill, the MD is more tied to them than the patient. Of course, there are other factors involved too like kow-towing to the AMA and other professional groups that have lord knows what kind of agenda going on. The bottom line is that the patient is often at the bottom of the list in terms of whose interests are represented.

 

[floydguy]

Yes the skull drilling didnt help me, i got a strange side effect of a headache????

lol!!

No wonder we all have brain fog

 

[heapsreal]

I've often wondered whether pressure could be put on MDs to establish whose interest they are working towards. Sort of like a medical fiduciary (rather than a financial one). In my opinion, one of the biggest problems these days is that MDs are almost certainly not working on behalf of the patient. As insurance companies, are the ones generally footing the bill, the MD is more tied to them than the patient. Of course, there are other factors involved too like kow-towing to the AMA and other professional groups that have lord knows what kind of agenda going on. The bottom line is that the patient is often at the bottom of the list in terms of whose interests are represented.

I think many docs feel that if they diagnose someone with cfs/me then they will be seen as quacks as well. The establishment just doesnt cater for cfs/me. When i first came down with cfs, the doc i was seeing just shock his head, not in disbelief but more in away that i was going to have a hard time. I needed a doctors letter for work and he was reluctant to write one and was very careful how he worded it but still warned me that it probably wasnt going to be helpful. This doc had been around awhile and i think he had probably seen a few cases like this and seen what had happened to them. He was not a cfs specialist but a gp. He was the doc who saw me come down with all the initial infections and knew what was going on with me. Later on i was diagnosed with depression by a workplace doctor in a 20 min appointment even though i stated i didnt feel right since i had several infections. my gp shock his head like he had hit that wall before with other patients. I think this is why many of us dont push the establishment but just work with a sympathetic gp, specialist etc for many of us are just of no help. GP's/MD's definately have their hands tied too????

cheers!!!

 

[floydguy]

I think many docs feel that if they diagnose someone with cfs/me then they will be seen as quacks as well. The establishment just doesnt cater for cfs/me. When i first came down with cfs, the doc i was seeing just shock his head, not in disbelief but more in away that i was going to have a hard time. I needed a doctors letter for work and he was reluctant to write one and was very careful how he worded it but still warned me that it probably wasnt going to be helpful. This doc had been around awhile and i think he had probably seen a few cases like this and seen what had happened to them. He was not a cfs specialist but a gp. He was the doc who saw me come down with all the initial infections and knew what was going on with me. Later on i was diagnosed with depression by a workplace doctor in a 20 min appointment even though i stated i didnt feel right since i had several infections. my gp shock his head like he had hit that wall before with other patients. I think this is why many of us dont push the establishment but just work with a sympathetic gp, specialist etc for many of us are just of no help. GP's/MD's definately have their hands tied too????

cheers!!!

Now why would they have their hands tied if their commitment was to the patient? It sounds like your PCP was more afraid of blowback that would affect him than serving you, his patient. It doesn't sound like your PCP represented your situation - he was too afraid of the AMA (or equivalent) and what others might think. That's the problem!

 

[heapsreal]

Now why would they have their hands tied if their commitment was to the patient? It sounds like your PCP was more afraid of blowback that would affect him than serving you, his patient. It doesn't sound like your PCP represented your situation - he was too afraid of the AMA (or equivalent) and what others might think. That's the problem!

You might be right there I have sinced moved onto a much better doc, which was probably because he was sitting on his hands. But many docs still have their hands tied eg many medications like antivirals that can help alot of cfs patients are classed as off label prescription and so have to pay full price for these which then becomes out of reach for many, also viral testing like viral titres just arent done in australia, maybe so they cant find proof of viral infections and prescribe antivirals which could then possibly be covered by the healthcare system in australia. Sometimes i think its all about the dollar not about patient care.

cheers!!!