ScottTriGuy
Stop the harm. Start the research and treatment.
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Welcome to Phoenix Rising!
Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of, and finding treatments for, complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.
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Not only did the "paper point in two contradictory directions", Walitt's interview seemed to as well. I watched the entire video, and found the content to be a confusing, jumbled mess. My opinion of what he was saying repeatedly switched from agreement (that he was "on our side"), to indignation (that his views were "way off base"), and back to at least partial agreement. In the end, I was left wondering if even he knew what he thought.
Sorry, but no.
Not surprisingly, the comments to that were both anguished and furious.
He suggests one such a narrative might be that FM patients are "dealing with the difficulties of just being a human". Given his belief that there's little modern medicine can do to help FM, that approach makes some sense.
This perspective could be construed as being is similar to that seen in Buddhism where having an illness is simply part of being human. We're all going to be sick - have our bodies break down - whether earlier or later - at some point; i.e. this is one of the difficulties of being human.
Wallitt asserted that FM patients brains are creating sensations that are causing them pain and inhibiting them from doing what they want to do. That's inherently upsetting particularly to people in western societies who believe that good health is their god given right but Wallets asserts that that narrative is unhelpful in FM.
Wallitt asserted that FM patients brains are creating sensations that are causing them pain and inhibiting them from doing what they want to do.
"Walitt does characterize ME/CFS and FM as psychosomatic disorders but he does not believe they are psychological illness..."
The treatment guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America dismiss persistent symptoms of patients with chronic Lyme disease (CLD) as no more than the “aches and pains of daily living”
You are not mentally ill your symptoms are normal, everyone has them.
I just dont umderstand why they have it out for us FM and CFS/ME folks whats there problem?
The big multinational insurance companies have literally billions of dollars invested in portraying us as mentally ill malingerers who are out to defraud them.
Our corrupt congress has allowed big donors to write laws that say “if you are physically ill, they have to pay you disability until you are age 65! – but if you are declared MENTALLY ill, they can either deny your claim completely, or just pay you two years TOTAL, and then they can let you starve to death.
This interview of Tom Hennessey by Cort explains the situation quite clearly. It is just as timely today as when it was first published.
I think we also live in a culture that is repulsed by the notion of laziness and not pushing forward against any obstacles such as a chronic illness. Just think of how most friends/family members/coworkers treat us: "Are you taking vitamin xxx, are you exercising, are you getting enough rest, are you meditating, have you given up gluten/sugar/meat, etc.?"I just dont umderstand why they have it out for us FM and CFS/ME folks whats there problem? We could be their husband, wife, child, aunt, uncle, etc. That is sick help us legistimize this illness that the powers to be have covered up for years.
It comes down to lay persons and doctors thinking that if ME/CFS sufferers would just change their behavior, we would be cured, or at least improved.