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CFS Doctors in the Philippines?

Messages
6
Hi guys, new here! Would anyone know if there's an ME/CFS specialist here in the Philippines? After being hospitalized twice last year and seeing around 15 doctors so far I've settled with a good Neurologist/Psychiatrist who has been helpful in terms of ordering several tests. He uses the term "chronic fatigue" in our consultations but after 6 visits and a thorough discussion of my history and symptoms for the past year he is still hesitant to give a diagnosis, although he did diagnose my OI.

I know that patients in the US, UK and Australia are still having a difficult time getting diagnosed or at the very least finding doctors who will not dismiss them as having pure psychological problems but for someone who lives in the Philippines, I could not find a single doctor who is an expert on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

My family and I have been trying to find the doctor of one of our senators who has been diagnosed with CFS but since she is a public figure and, of course, due to doctor-patient confidentiality, her office cannot disclose details.

Miriam: DOH must attend to chronic fatigue syndrome problem
April 30, 2009 1:57pm

0 0 0 29

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago chided the Department of Health on Thursday for not giving attention to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a still poorly understood debilitating disorder supposedly afflicting many Filipinos.

In a press statement, Santiago said the DOH must conduct studies on the disorder and determine the number of Filipinos suffering from it.

“It appears that CFS has slipped under the DOH’s radar, despite the fact that more and more Filipinos are being afflicted by it," she said.

Santiago earlier filed Senate Bill 3195, which tasks the DOH and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) to carry out a national campaign to increase public awareness and knowledge of CFS.

The campaign is aimed at the dissemination of information on the causes, prevention, and diagnosis of CFS, as well as available treatments for sufferers.

“One of the challenges faced by CFS-affected persons is the apparent lack of recognition regarding the seriousness of the disease. A CFS patient faces the social stigma that he or she is just malingering, wants attention, or is feigning CFS-like symptoms," she said.

She added that the stigma can have a negative psychological effect on the patient and may cause prolonged recovery from the disease.

In late 2008, Santiago was diagnosed by her doctors to be suffering from CFS. She had to take a leave of absence from the Senate upon the advice of her doctors.

Recently, Cristina Ponce Enrile, wife of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, resigned from her post as ambassador to the Vatican, after being diagnosed with CFS.

CFS is defined as a complex illness that produces extreme fatigue over a prolonged period. The condition has also been called post-viral fatigue syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis, or chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome. The condition impacts primarily on the immune system, nervous system, muscles, and endocrine system.

Although the number and severity of the symptoms may vary, the major symptoms of CFS are: extreme tiredness lasting at least six months; impairment of short-term memory or concentration; sore throat; tender lymph nodes; muscle and joint pain without swelling or redness; difficulty sleeping; headaches; and prolonged muscle fatigue and feeling ill after even mild exertion.

CFS sufferers may also experience abdominal pain, earaches, intolerance to alcohol, chest pain, coughing, dizziness, nausea, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, bloating, dry eyes and mouth, jaw pain, joint stiffness in the morning, night sweats, depression, and weight loss.
Since the disorder carries varying symptoms, CFS is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed. The condition is more prevalent among women aged 25 to 45, but it can affect children and adults of any age and people from all ethnic groups. In the United Kingdom alone, it is estimated that there are 150,000 people suffering from CFS.

Santiago complained of dizziness, nausea, and arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat prior to being diagnosed with CFS. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/stor...st-attend-to-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-problem
* Based on what I've researched so far I think the Senate Bill has only gone through the introductory reading and hasn't been discussed since.
 
Messages
10,157
Hi Elaine. Welcome to the forums. I personally don't know of any doctors who are ME specialists in the Philippines. There might be a few listed in this database. :)
 

SanDiego#1

SanDiego#1
Messages
280
Location
SouthEast USA
Hi guys, new here! Would anyone know if there's an ME/CFS specialist here in the Philippines? After being hospitalized twice last year and seeing around 15 doctors so far I've settled with a good Neurologist/Psychiatrist who has been helpful in terms of ordering several tests. He uses the term "chronic fatigue" in our consultations but after 6 visits and a thorough discussion of my history and symptoms for the past year he is still hesitant to give a diagnosis, although he did diagnose my OI.

I know that patients in the US, UK and Australia are still having a difficult time getting diagnosed or at the very least finding doctors who will not dismiss them as having pure psychological problems but for someone who lives in the Philippines, I could not find a single doctor who is an expert on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

My family and I have been trying to find the doctor of one of our senators who has been diagnosed with CFS but since she is a public figure and, of course, due to doctor-patient confidentiality, her office cannot disclose details.

Miriam: DOH must attend to chronic fatigue syndrome problem
April 30, 2009 1:57pm

0 0 0 29

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago chided the Department of Health on Thursday for not giving attention to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a still poorly understood debilitating disorder supposedly afflicting many Filipinos.

In a press statement, Santiago said the DOH must conduct studies on the disorder and determine the number of Filipinos suffering from it.

“It appears that CFS has slipped under the DOH’s radar, despite the fact that more and more Filipinos are being afflicted by it," she said.

Santiago earlier filed Senate Bill 3195, which tasks the DOH and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) to carry out a national campaign to increase public awareness and knowledge of CFS.

The campaign is aimed at the dissemination of information on the causes, prevention, and diagnosis of CFS, as well as available treatments for sufferers.

“One of the challenges faced by CFS-affected persons is the apparent lack of recognition regarding the seriousness of the disease. A CFS patient faces the social stigma that he or she is just malingering, wants attention, or is feigning CFS-like symptoms," she said.

She added that the stigma can have a negative psychological effect on the patient and may cause prolonged recovery from the disease.

In late 2008, Santiago was diagnosed by her doctors to be suffering from CFS. She had to take a leave of absence from the Senate upon the advice of her doctors.

Recently, Cristina Ponce Enrile, wife of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, resigned from her post as ambassador to the Vatican, after being diagnosed with CFS.

CFS is defined as a complex illness that produces extreme fatigue over a prolonged period. The condition has also been called post-viral fatigue syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis, or chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome. The condition impacts primarily on the immune system, nervous system, muscles, and endocrine system.

Although the number and severity of the symptoms may vary, the major symptoms of CFS are: extreme tiredness lasting at least six months; impairment of short-term memory or concentration; sore throat; tender lymph nodes; muscle and joint pain without swelling or redness; difficulty sleeping; headaches; and prolonged muscle fatigue and feeling ill after even mild exertion.

CFS sufferers may also experience abdominal pain, earaches, intolerance to alcohol, chest pain, coughing, dizziness, nausea, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, bloating, dry eyes and mouth, jaw pain, joint stiffness in the morning, night sweats, depression, and weight loss.
Since the disorder carries varying symptoms, CFS is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed. The condition is more prevalent among women aged 25 to 45, but it can affect children and adults of any age and people from all ethnic groups. In the United Kingdom alone, it is estimated that there are 150,000 people suffering from CFS.

Santiago complained of dizziness, nausea, and arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat prior to being diagnosed with CFS. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/stor...st-attend-to-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-problem
* Based on what I've researched so far I think the Senate Bill has only gone through the introductory reading and hasn't been discussed since.
Hi guys, new here! Would anyone know if there's an ME/CFS specialist here in the Philippines? After being hospitalized twice last year and seeing around 15 doctors so far I've settled with a good Neurologist/Psychiatrist who has been helpful in terms of ordering several tests. He uses the term "chronic fatigue" in our consultations but after 6 visits and a thorough discussion of my history and symptoms for the past year he is still hesitant to give a diagnosis, although he did diagnose my OI.

I know that patients in the US, UK and Australia are still having a difficult time getting diagnosed or at the very least finding doctors who will not dismiss them as having pure psychological problems but for someone who lives in the Philippines, I could not find a single doctor who is an expert on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

My family and I have been trying to find the doctor of one of our senators who has been diagnosed with CFS but since she is a public figure and, of course, due to doctor-patient confidentiality, her office cannot disclose details.

Miriam: DOH must attend to chronic fatigue syndrome problem
April 30, 2009 1:57pm

0 0 0 29

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago chided the Department of Health on Thursday for not giving attention to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a still poorly understood debilitating disorder supposedly afflicting many Filipinos.

In a press statement, Santiago said the DOH must conduct studies on the disorder and determine the number of Filipinos suffering from it.

“It appears that CFS has slipped under the DOH’s radar, despite the fact that more and more Filipinos are being afflicted by it," she said.

Santiago earlier filed Senate Bill 3195, which tasks the DOH and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) to carry out a national campaign to increase public awareness and knowledge of CFS.

The campaign is aimed at the dissemination of information on the causes, prevention, and diagnosis of CFS, as well as available treatments for sufferers.

“One of the challenges faced by CFS-affected persons is the apparent lack of recognition regarding the seriousness of the disease. A CFS patient faces the social stigma that he or she is just malingering, wants attention, or is feigning CFS-like symptoms," she said.

She added that the stigma can have a negative psychological effect on the patient and may cause prolonged recovery from the disease.

In late 2008, Santiago was diagnosed by her doctors to be suffering from CFS. She had to take a leave of absence from the Senate upon the advice of her doctors.

Recently, Cristina Ponce Enrile, wife of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, resigned from her post as ambassador to the Vatican, after being diagnosed with CFS.

CFS is defined as a complex illness that produces extreme fatigue over a prolonged period. The condition has also been called post-viral fatigue syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis, or chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome. The condition impacts primarily on the immune system, nervous system, muscles, and endocrine system.

Although the number and severity of the symptoms may vary, the major symptoms of CFS are: extreme tiredness lasting at least six months; impairment of short-term memory or concentration; sore throat; tender lymph nodes; muscle and joint pain without swelling or redness; difficulty sleeping; headaches; and prolonged muscle fatigue and feeling ill after even mild exertion.

CFS sufferers may also experience abdominal pain, earaches, intolerance to alcohol, chest pain, coughing, dizziness, nausea, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, bloating, dry eyes and mouth, jaw pain, joint stiffness in the morning, night sweats, depression, and weight loss.
Since the disorder carries varying symptoms, CFS is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed. The condition is more prevalent among women aged 25 to 45, but it can affect children and adults of any age and people from all ethnic groups. In the United Kingdom alone, it is estimated that there are 150,000 people suffering from CFS.

Santiago complained of dizziness, nausea, and arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat prior to being diagnosed with CFS. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/stor...st-attend-to-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-problem
* Based on what I've researched so far I think the Senate Bill has only gone through the introductory reading and hasn't been discussed since.
Hi guys, new here! Would anyone know if there's an ME/CFS specialist here in the Philippines? After being hospitalized twice last year and seeing around 15 doctors so far I've settled with a good Neurologist/Psychiatrist who has been helpful in terms of ordering several tests. He uses the term "chronic fatigue" in our consultations but after 6 visits and a thorough discussion of my history and symptoms for the past year he is still hesitant to give a diagnosis, although he did diagnose my OI.

I know that patients in the US, UK and Australia are still having a difficult time getting diagnosed or at the very least finding doctors who will not dismiss them as having pure psychological problems but for someone who lives in the Philippines, I could not find a single doctor who is an expert on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

My family and I have been trying to find the doctor of one of our senators who has been diagnosed with CFS but since she is a public figure and, of course, due to doctor-patient confidentiality, her office cannot disclose details.

Miriam: DOH must attend to chronic fatigue syndrome problem
April 30, 2009 1:57pm

0 0 0 29

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago chided the Department of Health on Thursday for not giving attention to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a still poorly understood debilitating disorder supposedly afflicting many Filipinos.

In a press statement, Santiago said the DOH must conduct studies on the disorder and determine the number of Filipinos suffering from it.

“It appears that CFS has slipped under the DOH’s radar, despite the fact that more and more Filipinos are being afflicted by it," she said.

Santiago earlier filed Senate Bill 3195, which tasks the DOH and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) to carry out a national campaign to increase public awareness and knowledge of CFS.

The campaign is aimed at the dissemination of information on the causes, prevention, and diagnosis of CFS, as well as available treatments for sufferers.

“One of the challenges faced by CFS-affected persons is the apparent lack of recognition regarding the seriousness of the disease. A CFS patient faces the social stigma that he or she is just malingering, wants attention, or is feigning CFS-like symptoms," she said.

She added that the stigma can have a negative psychological effect on the patient and may cause prolonged recovery from the disease.

In late 2008, Santiago was diagnosed by her doctors to be suffering from CFS. She had to take a leave of absence from the Senate upon the advice of her doctors.

Recently, Cristina Ponce Enrile, wife of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, resigned from her post as ambassador to the Vatican, after being diagnosed with CFS.

CFS is defined as a complex illness that produces extreme fatigue over a prolonged period. The condition has also been called post-viral fatigue syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis, or chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome. The condition impacts primarily on the immune system, nervous system, muscles, and endocrine system.

Although the number and severity of the symptoms may vary, the major symptoms of CFS are: extreme tiredness lasting at least six months; impairment of short-term memory or concentration; sore throat; tender lymph nodes; muscle and joint pain without swelling or redness; difficulty sleeping; headaches; and prolonged muscle fatigue and feeling ill after even mild exertion.

CFS sufferers may also experience abdominal pain, earaches, intolerance to alcohol, chest pain, coughing, dizziness, nausea, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, bloating, dry eyes and mouth, jaw pain, joint stiffness in the morning, night sweats, depression, and weight loss.
Since the disorder carries varying symptoms, CFS is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed. The condition is more prevalent among women aged 25 to 45, but it can affect children and adults of any age and people from all ethnic groups. In the United Kingdom alone, it is estimated that there are 150,000 people suffering from CFS.

Santiago complained of dizziness, nausea, and arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat prior to being diagnosed with CFS. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/stor...st-attend-to-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-problem
* Based on what I've researched so far I think the Senate Bill has only gone through the introductory reading and hasn't been discussed since.
Hi Elaine- Contrary to what most people think- we do not have alot of CFS Drs. in the US either. The Data base is your best bet. Depending on how far you want to travel. We are just like MS, Lupus , Parkinson Pts. There may be treatments but no cure, no one cause. Hope you do find someone that can validify your Diag.There are Dr. that want to help. I agree with a former poster "We need some new blood" in diagnosis and treatment.
Hang in there!!!

San Diego
 

SanDiego#1

SanDiego#1
Messages
280
Location
SouthEast USA
Hi Elaine- Contrary to what most people think- we do not have alot of CFS Drs. in the US either. The Data base is your best bet. Depending on how far you want to travel. We are just like MS, Lupus , Parkinson Pts. There may be treatments but no cure, no one cause. Hope you do find someone that can validify your Diag.There are Dr. that want to help. I agree with a former poster "We need some new blood" in diagnosis and treatment.
Hang in there!!!

San Diego

Forgot to say. If Neurologists are the Doctors treating MS then why not CFS???

San Diego
 
Messages
6
Forgot to say. If Neurologists are the Doctors treating MS then why not CFS???

San Diego

Thank you, San Diego! I think I must now take on the role of "responsible citizen" and conduct a more thorough research as to how far the CFS bill has gone and if our Dept. of Health knows anything about it.

Also, maybe Neurologists recognize MS more because there's more evidence based on labs and procedures? I'm not sure...

When I was hospitalized for the second time I remember one of the doctors saying that they've done the test and good thing I didn't have lupus and they seem to just have stopped there as if lupus is the only condition one could possibly have in the world.

On my last checkup 3 days ago my Neuro agreed to conduct an exercise tolerance test in January, in order to "trigger" the fatigue and OI. Is this a good idea? Might ask this on another thread.
 

SanDiego#1

SanDiego#1
Messages
280
Location
SouthEast USA
Thank you, San Diego! I think I must now take on the role of "responsible citizen" and conduct a more thorough research as to how far the CFS bill has gone and if our Dept. of Health knows anything about it.

Also, maybe Neurologists recognize MS more because there's more evidence based on labs and procedures? I'm not sure...

When I was hospitalized for the second time I remember one of the doctors saying that they've done the test and good thing I didn't have lupus and they seem to just have stopped there as if lupus is the only condition one could possibly have in the world.

On my last checkup 3 days ago my Neuro agreed to conduct an exercise tolerance test in January, in order to "trigger" the fatigue and OI. Is this a good idea? Might ask this on another thread.

Elaine-

You could try the test- but be prepared to be in bed for 2-3 weeks. Nuclear stress tests put me under the covers and they said mine was OK. I am thinking along the line of a Neurologist to test for everything. Have friend with MS and everyone thought she had CFS. They had to do Spinal Tap. However-since our symptoms overlap-may be another
choice we have with diag???? I can also tell you this. None of my Dr recommend the Tilt Table test. NONE.
Too dangerous-if we are really sick.

Stay well and let me know what you do.

San Diego
 

SanDiego#1

SanDiego#1
Messages
280
Location
SouthEast USA
Elaine-

You could try the test- but be prepared to be in bed for 2-3 weeks. Nuclear stress tests put me under the covers and they said mine was OK. I am thinking along the line of a Neurologist to test for everything. Have friend with MS and everyone thought she had CFS. They had to do Spinal Tap. However-since our symptoms overlap-may be another
choice we have with diag???? I can also tell you this. None of my Dr recommend the Tilt Table test. NONE.
Too dangerous-if we are really sick.

Stay well and let me know what you do.

San Diego


Elaine- Forgot to add- With all the research on MS and they still don't know the cause. (MANY). We are far down on the totem pole.

San Diego
 
Messages
1
hi Elaine,

Have you gone to a doc yet? I'm also from the Phils. and desperate for a diagnosis. I have a long history of illness that doctors can't quite figure out because most of my tests come out okay (or at least on the periphery of what they still consider normal). I've been diagnosed with MVP by a cardiologist, IBS and GERD (with corresponding ulcers and esophagitis) by my GI doc and fibromyalgia by my rheumatologist. All things considering I think my symptoms are those of CFS. I don't believe I have fibromyalgia but there may be some form of auto-immune abnormality. I am intolerant of wheat, dairy, and eggs. I'm currently being treated by an alternative med practitioner also via acupuncture.

My husband is a surgeon and he and his friends all look at CFS as some kind of "wastebasket diagnosis" (his term, not mine) meaning that's what the docs say when they are clueless of your illness. It's so frustrating! Even the rheumatologist I went to was so patronizing and tell me, "Don't think about it so much," as if I do this deliberately. I've lived with this fatigue for 15 years. Lately, it has gotten so much worse. Normally, I wake up tired but if I need a burst of energy, I can usually push myself. It scares me that lately even my energy reserves are depleted and the fatigue is just overwhelming. I get depressed a lot lately, too, and that's not like me at all.

I hope you can share with me your experience with CFS diagnosis. Please let me know which doctor has helped you.

Thanks!

Cecil
 
Messages
1
Hi, any updates on available CFS specialists in Metro Manila, Philippines? I found 3 doctors in the database posted above but none were listed as "treats CFS". All were rheumatologists, & being a noob, I'm not sure that's the specialist I need.

I came to this website via http://www.tmswiki.org/forum/thread...chronic-fatigue-neurasthenia.4162/#post-25374, & believe that the CFS that I may have is due to TMS/PPD.

Can anyone point me in some appropriate direction?

Thanks,

Jampa
 
Messages
6
Cecil and Jampa,

After almost four years, I'm still struggling with fatigue, although I've been having mostly flares and rarely do I relapse. I can detail my diagnosis here but I'm not sure if you guys are still here in this forum.

I can tell you though that a doctor from St Luke's Global diagnosed me and prescribed me meds, but as I expected, CFS is not yet truly recognized as a serious medical condition here in the Philippines. Just came from the neurologist today since I've been having a worsening of symptoms this week, he ordered more tests.

Anyway, maybe the forum's moderators can help me get in touch with you two? :)

Elaine

hi Elaine,

Have you gone to a doc yet? I'm also from the Phils. and desperate for a diagnosis. I have a long history of illness that doctors can't quite figure out because most of my tests come out okay (or at least on the periphery of what they still consider normal). I've been diagnosed with MVP by a cardiologist, IBS and GERD (with corresponding ulcers and esophagitis) by my GI doc and fibromyalgia by my rheumatologist. All things considering I think my symptoms are those of CFS. I don't believe I have fibromyalgia but there may be some form of auto-immune abnormality. I am intolerant of wheat, dairy, and eggs. I'm currently being treated by an alternative med practitioner also via acupuncture.

My husband is a surgeon and he and his friends all look at CFS as some kind of "wastebasket diagnosis" (his term, not mine) meaning that's what the docs say when they are clueless of your illness. It's so frustrating! Even the rheumatologist I went to was so patronizing and tell me, "Don't think about it so much," as if I do this deliberately. I've lived with this fatigue for 15 years. Lately, it has gotten so much worse. Normally, I wake up tired but if I need a burst of energy, I can usually push myself. It scares me that lately even my energy reserves are depleted and the fatigue is just overwhelming. I get depressed a lot lately, too, and that's not like me at all.

I hope you can share with me your experience with CFS diagnosis. Please let me know which doctor has helped you.

Thanks!

Cecil
 

SOC

Senior Member
Messages
7,849
Anyway, maybe the forum's moderators can help me get in touch with you two? :)

@Elaine Florido, @cezwho, @thargomjampa
You can tag each other with the @ to bring your posts to each others' attention. You can also PM each other. Depending on their settings, your compatriots might get notices in their email if they get a PM here.

You can start a PM conversation by clicking on Inbox in the upper right, then Start a Conversation. Use the person's username, not their real name in the address.

Good luck!
 
Messages
6
Hi @SOC, thanks for the info. I hope they're able to read this, I really want to find other people in the Philippines who might be battling CFS as well.

@Elaine Florido, @cezwho, @thargomjampa
You can tag each other with the @ to bring your posts to each others' attention. You can also PM each other. Depending on their settings, your compatriots might get notices in their email if they get a PM here.

You can start a PM conversation by clicking on Inbox in the upper right, then Start a Conversation. Use the person's username, not their real name in the address.

Good luck!