charles shepherd
Senior Member
- Messages
- 2,239
ME/CFS Frequently asked questions and answers: MEA A-Z index for ME Essential magazine updated to December 2016
Part 1 – A to H
Acne treatment and ME, including Roaccutane (Autumn 2011)
Activity management - gym based programme (Autumn 2009)
Acyclovir and oral herpes (Summer 2012, page 14)
Addison’s disease (Winter 2009)
Adrenal gland function – short synacthen test (Autumn 2012)
Aids and adaptions (Autumn 2012)
Alcohol intolerance (October 2007)
Alcohol intolerance - what is the cause? (Spring 2012, p15)
Allergies (Autumn 2014)
Allodynia (Summer 2015)
Amantadine (Summer 2016)
Amitriptyline (Summer 2010, p9)
Amitriptyline for headaches (Spring 2011)
Amitriptyline for pain and sleep (Spring 2016)
Ampligen – and FDA decision to not approve use in USA (Summer 2013)
Anaemia - iron deficiency (Autumn 2009)
Animal testing (Winter 2009)
Antibiotics - are they safe for people with ME/CFS? (April 2008)
Antidepressants – withdrawal symptoms (Spring 2014)
Antidepressants – safe in ME/CFS? (Summer 2015)
Appetite – change in (Summer 2012, p14)
Appetite – loss of (Summer 2016)
APPG on ME – information to give to MPs (February 2013)
Asthma and ME/CFS overlap (Winter 2016)
Autism (Winter 2013)
Balance problems (Spring 2016)
Beetroot juice – can it boost energy levels? (Summer 2016)
BENEFITS
Atos interviews – permission to record (Summer 2012, p19)
Benefit medical examinations at home (Spring 2005)
Carer's credits (Autumn 2011)
ESA appeals (Winter 2010 and Autumn 2011)
ESA – is the situation getting any better? (Spring 2015)
ESA – preparation for medical assessment (Autumn 2016)
Fit notes – what is a fit note (Summer 2014)
Industrial Injury Benefit (Winter 2010, p13)
Maximus taking over the DWP contract from Atos (Summer 2015)
PIP Tribunal advice (Autumn 2015) advice
Sickness certificates from a GP (Spring 2011)
Supportive medical evidence – what can the doctor do? (Autumn 2013)
Test results – is it worth including them on an ESA application? (Summer 2014)
Tribunal – attending one (Summer 2012, p14)
Tribunal for PIP (Autumn 2015)
Beta blockers (April 2007)
Biobank - donations of blood samples (Spring 2011)
Blepharospasm – eyelid twitching (Summer 2013)
Blood donation and ME/CFS - can I give blood? (April 2008)
Blood pressure – high/hypertension (Winter 2013)
BLOOD TESTS:
CRP and ESR (Winter 2015)
Blue Badge problems (April 2008)
Blue Badge refusals (Spring 2012, p15)
Body piercing - hazards of (Winter 2010, p12)
Book list (Autumn 2011)
Burrswood Hospital – What happens there? (Winter 2014, p8)
Burrswood Hospital – in patient care (Spring 2016)
Caffeine – how much is safe? (Spring 2014)
Car driving - can I still drive? (February 2009)
Car driving – DVLA guidance (Autumn 2013)
Carer's credits (Autumn 2011)
Cavity wall insulation (Winter 2012)
Changing a GP (Summer 2010, p8)
Chocolate (January 08)
Classification of ME/CFS (Winter 2012)
Classification: Illness or Disease? (Summer 2012, p15)
Clinical trials – how do they work (Summer 2013)
Coeliac disease (April 2006)
Coeliac disease - home testing kits (January 2008)
Coeliac disease and wheat intolerance (Winter 2010, p13)
Coeliac disease/gluten free diet (Summer 2015)
Coenzyme Q10 – Does it work? (Winter 2014, p8)
Coffee drinking – how much is safe? (Spring 2014/p128)
Cognitive dysfunction – severe (Winter 2013)
Cognitive dysfunction – deteriorating (Spring 2014/p128)
Cold fingers and toes (Spring 2010)
Cold sores – treatment (Winter 2016)
Colds and a cough that won’t go away (Spring 2016)
Contagious - is ME/CFS? Can it be passed to other family members (July 2008)
Contraception choices in ME/CFS (Spring 2015)
Coughs and colds in winter – that won’t go away (Spring 2016)
Cortisol - investigating low levels (November 2008)
Creatine kinase blood test (Winter 2010, p14)
Creatine supplements (April 2006)
Critical Illness Insurance (Autumn 2009)
CRP blood test (Winter 2015)
Curcumin for fatigue (Summer 2011)
Dental anaesthetics (Spring 2010)
Dental amalgam filling removal (Autumn 2015)
Depression (February 2013)
Diabetes (Winter 2013)
Diabetes type 2 – is it more common in ME/CFS? (Summer 2016)
Diagnosis - is it correct? (July 2008)
DIET
Dietary management of irritable bowel syndrome - Sue Luscombe ( Winter 2015)
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS:
MS or ME? (Autumn 2015)
DISABILITY
Disability Discrimination Act (April 2007)
Aids and adaptions (Autumn 2012 and Summer 2013)
Disabled Facilities Grant (Summer 2013)
Disability leave – what is it? (Autumn 2013)
Disability rating scale (Autumn 2013)
Disabled students allowance (Winter 2009)
Dorsal root ganglionitis (Autumn 2012)
Driving a car with ME/CFS (Autumn 2013)
Dry eyes (Autumn 2009)
DLA care component: cooking test (January 2008)
Drugs, including statins, that can cause muscle problems (November 2008)
Dysphagia (Winter 2016)
EPA/Eicosapantaenoic acid (Winter 2014, p9)
EMPLOYMENT
Employment problems (Autumn 2005)
Employment: gradual return to work (Winter 2009)
Employment: ill health retirement criteria (Spring 2011)
Employment: should I tell my employer that I have ME/CFS (Spring 2011)
Employment: sickness certificates from a GP (Spring 2011)
Endometriosis (July 2007)
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (Spring 2011)
Epidemiology - how many people have ME/CFS (Winter 2012)
Epileptic type seizures in ME/CFS (Spring 2012, p15)
ESR blood test (Spring 2010 and Winter 2015)
Examination findings – who don’t doctors examine patients any more? (Autumn 2015)
Exercise testing – Vo2 max test ((Autumn 2014)
Eyelid twitching - blepharospasm (Summer 2013)
Fasciculations (Summer 2015)
Fatigue levels increasing – explanations for (February 2013)
Fertility (February 2009)
Fit notes (Summer 2014)
Functional neurological syndrome (Winter 2015)
Gabapentin for pain (Autumn 2012)
Gastric distress/motility problems (Winter 2009)
GENERAL PRACTICE
GPs – Home Visits (Winter 2014, p9 and Autumn 2016)
GPs - unhelpful: what to do (Jan 2008)
GPs - changing to another one (Summer 2010, p8)
Gilbert’s syndrome (February 2013)
Ginseng (Spring 2016)
Gluten free diet (Summer 2015)
Good days and bad days (Summer 2009)
Hair problems (Winter 2012)
Headaches (Winter 2009, p15)
Headaches – getting worse (Spring 2014)
Headaches - use of amitriptyline (Spring 2011)
Headaches – use of tinted glasses (February 2013)
Haemochromatosis - misdiagnosis (July 2008)
Heat sensitivity (July 2007)
Herpes and acyclovir (Summer 2012, p14)
HIV/AIDS - as part of the differential diagnosis (Spring 2011)
Home visits by GPs (Winter 2014, p9 and Autumn 2016)
Hospital services (February 2009)
Housing – rehousing on medical grounds (Autumn 2014)
HRT – what are the alternatives? (Summer 2015)
Hyperacusis/sensitivity to loud noise (November 2008 and Autumn 2016)
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (Spring 2015)
Hypermobility syndromes (Spring 2011; pwme contribution Spring 2012, pages 32 – 33; Winter 2013))
Hypertension (Winter 2013)
Hypoglycaemia (Autumn 2016)
Hypnosis for sleep disturbance (Summer 2014)
Hypnotherapy (Summer 2012, p15)
Hypothalamic function (Spring 05 and Autumn 2011)
Hypothyroidism (Spring 2014)
Part 1 – A to H
Acne treatment and ME, including Roaccutane (Autumn 2011)
Activity management - gym based programme (Autumn 2009)
Acyclovir and oral herpes (Summer 2012, page 14)
Addison’s disease (Winter 2009)
Adrenal gland function – short synacthen test (Autumn 2012)
Aids and adaptions (Autumn 2012)
Alcohol intolerance (October 2007)
Alcohol intolerance - what is the cause? (Spring 2012, p15)
Allergies (Autumn 2014)
Allodynia (Summer 2015)
Amantadine (Summer 2016)
Amitriptyline (Summer 2010, p9)
Amitriptyline for headaches (Spring 2011)
Amitriptyline for pain and sleep (Spring 2016)
Ampligen – and FDA decision to not approve use in USA (Summer 2013)
Anaemia - iron deficiency (Autumn 2009)
Animal testing (Winter 2009)
Antibiotics - are they safe for people with ME/CFS? (April 2008)
Antidepressants – withdrawal symptoms (Spring 2014)
Antidepressants – safe in ME/CFS? (Summer 2015)
Appetite – change in (Summer 2012, p14)
Appetite – loss of (Summer 2016)
APPG on ME – information to give to MPs (February 2013)
Asthma and ME/CFS overlap (Winter 2016)
Autism (Winter 2013)
Balance problems (Spring 2016)
Beetroot juice – can it boost energy levels? (Summer 2016)
BENEFITS
Atos interviews – permission to record (Summer 2012, p19)
Benefit medical examinations at home (Spring 2005)
Carer's credits (Autumn 2011)
ESA appeals (Winter 2010 and Autumn 2011)
ESA – is the situation getting any better? (Spring 2015)
ESA – preparation for medical assessment (Autumn 2016)
Fit notes – what is a fit note (Summer 2014)
Industrial Injury Benefit (Winter 2010, p13)
Maximus taking over the DWP contract from Atos (Summer 2015)
PIP Tribunal advice (Autumn 2015) advice
Sickness certificates from a GP (Spring 2011)
Supportive medical evidence – what can the doctor do? (Autumn 2013)
Test results – is it worth including them on an ESA application? (Summer 2014)
Tribunal – attending one (Summer 2012, p14)
Tribunal for PIP (Autumn 2015)
Beta blockers (April 2007)
Biobank - donations of blood samples (Spring 2011)
Blepharospasm – eyelid twitching (Summer 2013)
Blood donation and ME/CFS - can I give blood? (April 2008)
Blood pressure – high/hypertension (Winter 2013)
BLOOD TESTS:
CRP and ESR (Winter 2015)
Blue Badge problems (April 2008)
Blue Badge refusals (Spring 2012, p15)
Body piercing - hazards of (Winter 2010, p12)
Book list (Autumn 2011)
Burrswood Hospital – What happens there? (Winter 2014, p8)
Burrswood Hospital – in patient care (Spring 2016)
Caffeine – how much is safe? (Spring 2014)
Car driving - can I still drive? (February 2009)
Car driving – DVLA guidance (Autumn 2013)
Carer's credits (Autumn 2011)
Cavity wall insulation (Winter 2012)
Changing a GP (Summer 2010, p8)
Chocolate (January 08)
Classification of ME/CFS (Winter 2012)
Classification: Illness or Disease? (Summer 2012, p15)
Clinical trials – how do they work (Summer 2013)
Coeliac disease (April 2006)
Coeliac disease - home testing kits (January 2008)
Coeliac disease and wheat intolerance (Winter 2010, p13)
Coeliac disease/gluten free diet (Summer 2015)
Coenzyme Q10 – Does it work? (Winter 2014, p8)
Coffee drinking – how much is safe? (Spring 2014/p128)
Cognitive dysfunction – severe (Winter 2013)
Cognitive dysfunction – deteriorating (Spring 2014/p128)
Cold fingers and toes (Spring 2010)
Cold sores – treatment (Winter 2016)
Colds and a cough that won’t go away (Spring 2016)
Contagious - is ME/CFS? Can it be passed to other family members (July 2008)
Contraception choices in ME/CFS (Spring 2015)
Coughs and colds in winter – that won’t go away (Spring 2016)
Cortisol - investigating low levels (November 2008)
Creatine kinase blood test (Winter 2010, p14)
Creatine supplements (April 2006)
Critical Illness Insurance (Autumn 2009)
CRP blood test (Winter 2015)
Curcumin for fatigue (Summer 2011)
Dental anaesthetics (Spring 2010)
Dental amalgam filling removal (Autumn 2015)
Depression (February 2013)
Diabetes (Winter 2013)
Diabetes type 2 – is it more common in ME/CFS? (Summer 2016)
Diagnosis - is it correct? (July 2008)
DIET
Dietary management of irritable bowel syndrome - Sue Luscombe ( Winter 2015)
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS:
MS or ME? (Autumn 2015)
DISABILITY
Disability Discrimination Act (April 2007)
Aids and adaptions (Autumn 2012 and Summer 2013)
Disabled Facilities Grant (Summer 2013)
Disability leave – what is it? (Autumn 2013)
Disability rating scale (Autumn 2013)
Disabled students allowance (Winter 2009)
Dorsal root ganglionitis (Autumn 2012)
Driving a car with ME/CFS (Autumn 2013)
Dry eyes (Autumn 2009)
DLA care component: cooking test (January 2008)
Drugs, including statins, that can cause muscle problems (November 2008)
Dysphagia (Winter 2016)
EPA/Eicosapantaenoic acid (Winter 2014, p9)
EMPLOYMENT
Employment problems (Autumn 2005)
Employment: gradual return to work (Winter 2009)
Employment: ill health retirement criteria (Spring 2011)
Employment: should I tell my employer that I have ME/CFS (Spring 2011)
Employment: sickness certificates from a GP (Spring 2011)
Endometriosis (July 2007)
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (Spring 2011)
Epidemiology - how many people have ME/CFS (Winter 2012)
Epileptic type seizures in ME/CFS (Spring 2012, p15)
ESR blood test (Spring 2010 and Winter 2015)
Examination findings – who don’t doctors examine patients any more? (Autumn 2015)
Exercise testing – Vo2 max test ((Autumn 2014)
Eyelid twitching - blepharospasm (Summer 2013)
Fasciculations (Summer 2015)
Fatigue levels increasing – explanations for (February 2013)
Fertility (February 2009)
Fit notes (Summer 2014)
Functional neurological syndrome (Winter 2015)
Gabapentin for pain (Autumn 2012)
Gastric distress/motility problems (Winter 2009)
GENERAL PRACTICE
GPs – Home Visits (Winter 2014, p9 and Autumn 2016)
GPs - unhelpful: what to do (Jan 2008)
GPs - changing to another one (Summer 2010, p8)
Gilbert’s syndrome (February 2013)
Ginseng (Spring 2016)
Gluten free diet (Summer 2015)
Good days and bad days (Summer 2009)
Hair problems (Winter 2012)
Headaches (Winter 2009, p15)
Headaches – getting worse (Spring 2014)
Headaches - use of amitriptyline (Spring 2011)
Headaches – use of tinted glasses (February 2013)
Haemochromatosis - misdiagnosis (July 2008)
Heat sensitivity (July 2007)
Herpes and acyclovir (Summer 2012, p14)
HIV/AIDS - as part of the differential diagnosis (Spring 2011)
Home visits by GPs (Winter 2014, p9 and Autumn 2016)
Hospital services (February 2009)
Housing – rehousing on medical grounds (Autumn 2014)
HRT – what are the alternatives? (Summer 2015)
Hyperacusis/sensitivity to loud noise (November 2008 and Autumn 2016)
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (Spring 2015)
Hypermobility syndromes (Spring 2011; pwme contribution Spring 2012, pages 32 – 33; Winter 2013))
Hypertension (Winter 2013)
Hypoglycaemia (Autumn 2016)
Hypnosis for sleep disturbance (Summer 2014)
Hypnotherapy (Summer 2012, p15)
Hypothalamic function (Spring 05 and Autumn 2011)
Hypothyroidism (Spring 2014)