From another thread:
In my opinion, another way to view ME/CFS is an alternative variation of the CDR- Cell danger response theory. Instead of the CDR, the ADR - Autonomic danger response may explain why many of our feel worse after eating a meal. An insult or trigger such as a viral illness, bacterial infection or toxin exposure may trigger an autonomic danger response but ME/CFS may be a manifestation of perpetual autonomic danger response or autonomic danger response loop ADRL.
I often try to describe to my friends that living with this disease is like chronically fighting the flu while having a severe hangover. It is relatively easy to endure these symptoms for a week but what about years or even decades. I am not sure why more children and adolescents manifest with POTS but I suspect it may fall under the spectrum of autonomic nervous system derangement.
The challenge is figuring out what is causing this autonomic danger response loop. Many of us have read about the vagus nerve theory. Perhaps further research in this area may prove to be fruitful but I also worry that from a tissue level, the autonomic nervous systems is difficult to study (ie brain stem, spinal cord, sympathetic ganglia, autonomic nervous system of the gut.) Also what is the interplay between the immune system and autonomic nervous system.
In my opinion, another way to view ME/CFS is an alternative variation of the CDR- Cell danger response theory. Instead of the CDR, the ADR - Autonomic danger response may explain why many of our feel worse after eating a meal. An insult or trigger such as a viral illness, bacterial infection or toxin exposure may trigger an autonomic danger response but ME/CFS may be a manifestation of perpetual autonomic danger response or autonomic danger response loop ADRL.
I often try to describe to my friends that living with this disease is like chronically fighting the flu while having a severe hangover. It is relatively easy to endure these symptoms for a week but what about years or even decades. I am not sure why more children and adolescents manifest with POTS but I suspect it may fall under the spectrum of autonomic nervous system derangement.
The challenge is figuring out what is causing this autonomic danger response loop. Many of us have read about the vagus nerve theory. Perhaps further research in this area may prove to be fruitful but I also worry that from a tissue level, the autonomic nervous systems is difficult to study (ie brain stem, spinal cord, sympathetic ganglia, autonomic nervous system of the gut.) Also what is the interplay between the immune system and autonomic nervous system.