Quick reply to one thing Cort (I am working on something more detailed)
You wrote:
I think most people understand your position Cort. The issue for us is that ANY exercise, or even basic activities, can be harmful to some patients. And telling doctors that an exercise programme is theraputic (there is no good evidence for this) is a problem in the context of the real world. Most patients are already at their activity limit so cannot add an exercise programme on top of what they are doing but doctors, even good ones, often don't get this basic and simple fact.
Sometimes patients can be quite high functioning, and getting regular exercise, and the doctors will still tell them to exercise and that it will help their condition, which makes no sense at all. So clearly some doctors don't think these things through. It happens often enough that it is a problem worth worrying about.
I think that Dr Yes in his satirical take on Dr Joe got it exectly right as to how at least some doctors would read this document. I think that the document is not strong enough to counteract the prevailing trend to promote exercise for the population in general (which I generally agree with), or the prevailing medical "wisdom" on ME/CFS.
And loved your take on it Gerwyn.
Orla
(CBS haven't read your post yet)
You wrote:
Maybe I'm in a world of my own but my understanding was that the gist of your post was that I did not understand that vigorous exercise was potentially harmful to CFS patients.....
I think most people understand your position Cort. The issue for us is that ANY exercise, or even basic activities, can be harmful to some patients. And telling doctors that an exercise programme is theraputic (there is no good evidence for this) is a problem in the context of the real world. Most patients are already at their activity limit so cannot add an exercise programme on top of what they are doing but doctors, even good ones, often don't get this basic and simple fact.
Sometimes patients can be quite high functioning, and getting regular exercise, and the doctors will still tell them to exercise and that it will help their condition, which makes no sense at all. So clearly some doctors don't think these things through. It happens often enough that it is a problem worth worrying about.
I think that Dr Yes in his satirical take on Dr Joe got it exectly right as to how at least some doctors would read this document. I think that the document is not strong enough to counteract the prevailing trend to promote exercise for the population in general (which I generally agree with), or the prevailing medical "wisdom" on ME/CFS.
And loved your take on it Gerwyn.
Orla
(CBS haven't read your post yet)