- Messages
- 32
- Location
- Leeds - UK
I spoke to Sue Pemberton last week as I am trying to get my treatment transferred to the Yorkshire Fatigue Clinic from the Newsam Centre. I spoke to her at length and found her to be understanding, supportive and caring. I explained to her the focus of treatment I have been receiving at the Newsam Centre and how I have been told to start grading back up when I clearly am unable to. She sounded shocked, explained that their approach at the YFC is to never pressure you to do more than you are able to, and that the treatment is patient led. Regardless of what the website says, which does sound like a load of jargon, this approach sounds right to me.
We may be able to receive a diagnosis in the UK, but treatment on the NHS is usually some form of GET/CBT carried out by mental health professionals who have no clue of how to treat CFS/ME. If you don't see someone who understands the condition and knows how to treat it, and as a patient you put your faith in that person and trust them, you can end up a whole lot worse than you did when you went in. I speak from experience.
Just to clarify, for referral into YFC symptoms should be present for more than 6 months and other conditions investigated and excluded. Full blood tests also need to be carried out. See here for referral guidelines. When I was diagnosed I was interviewed for an hour and a half about my health and how it affected me. This was after 10 years of reporting the same symptoms to my GP. Even after that, my case had to be reviewed by a panel of staff because they couldn't be sure that I didn't just have 'anxiety' so I'm sure they don't just hand out a diagnosis after 3 months.
We may be able to receive a diagnosis in the UK, but treatment on the NHS is usually some form of GET/CBT carried out by mental health professionals who have no clue of how to treat CFS/ME. If you don't see someone who understands the condition and knows how to treat it, and as a patient you put your faith in that person and trust them, you can end up a whole lot worse than you did when you went in. I speak from experience.
Just to clarify, for referral into YFC symptoms should be present for more than 6 months and other conditions investigated and excluded. Full blood tests also need to be carried out. See here for referral guidelines. When I was diagnosed I was interviewed for an hour and a half about my health and how it affected me. This was after 10 years of reporting the same symptoms to my GP. Even after that, my case had to be reviewed by a panel of staff because they couldn't be sure that I didn't just have 'anxiety' so I'm sure they don't just hand out a diagnosis after 3 months.