From: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: The Medical Facts and Smoke and Mirrors

What can trigger or cause the onset of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis? M.E. expert Dr Byron Hyde explains that: ‘[The] prodromal phase is associated with a usually short onset or triggering illness. This onset illness usually takes the form of either, or any combination, of the following, (a) an upper respiratory illness, (b) a gastrointestinal upset, (c) vertigo and (d) a moderate to severe meningitic type headache. The usual incubation period of the triggering illness is 4-6 days. (1998 [Online])

There is no link however between having M.E. and being a 'perfectionist' or having a ‘type A’ or over-achiever personality. M.E. is also not caused by a period of long-term or intense stress, trauma or abuse in childhood, becoming run-down, working too hard or not eating ‘right.’ (Carruthers et al 2003). M.E. is not a form of ‘burnout.’

M.E. is three times more common then Multiple Sclerosis. It is also more common than lung cancer, breast cancer, or HIV (in women) with an estimated 2 million sufferers in the US (Bell 1995, p. 231), 250 000 sufferers in the UK and around 36 000 in Australia and many more worldwide. Children and teenagers are also susceptible to the illness and children as young as five have been diagnosed with M.E. One hundred thousand kids are estimated to have M.E. in the US alone (Munson 2000, p. 198) and a recent study in the UK found that M.E. was by far the most common reason for a child’s long term absence from school. (Dowsett 1997 [Online])

There appears to be somewhat of an occupational bias towards teachers (students) and health care workers in the incidence of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis cases (and outbreaks). These higher risk groups do not work in environments which are more stressful than the average job, but these are jobs which require higher rates of immunisation than others. This relationship with inoculation is often seen in infectious illnesses. (Hyde et al. 2002) All ages are affected but most commonly sufferers are under 45 at onset. Women are affected around three times as often as men, a ratio common in autoimmune disorders (although in children the sexes seem to be afflicted equally). M.E. affects all races and socio-economic groups and has been diagnosed all over the world (Hooper et al. 2001 [Online]).

Substantial evidence exists to show that it is simply not possible that somatisation, secondary gain, malingering, aberrent illness beliefs, too much focus on normal bodily sensations, irrational fear of exercise leading to deconditioning, being rich and white, being poor and from an ethnic minority, being lazy and unwilling to work, being too highly driven and perfectionistic and working too hard, faulty thought processes, lack of motivation, long-term stress, acute stress, abuse in childhood, a genetic inability to deal with normal levels of stress, inadequate coping strategies and contagious sociological hysteria – or any or the other ridiculous and often contradictory ‘theories’ put forward by these vested interest groups – play a role in causing or perpetuating authentic M.E.

The Doctor's Guide to CFS by David S. Bell MD

'Stress aggravates symptoms but does not cause them, a condition no different in CFIDS from that in other illnesses. Walking on a twisted ankle may aggravate the pain but did not cause the twisted ankle originally.'

The Clinical and Scientific Basis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Edited by Byron Hyde, M.D p. 115

'It is a fact that the majority of M.E. patients are not in high-stress occupations as the popular press frequently suggests, but are teachers, nurses, physicians, and other health care workers. This group represents those most closely related to infectious illness, frequent immunisations and those most frequently immunised.'

'It is a fact that the majority of M.E. patients are not in high-stress occupations as the popular press frequently suggests, but are teachers, nurses, physicians, and other health care workers. This group represents those most closely related to infectious illness, frequent immunisations and those most frequently immunised. This relationship with inoculation is often seen in infectious illnesses.'

Are Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Synonymous Terms? by Byron Hyde MD

'[The] prodromal phase is associated with a usually short onset or triggering illness. This onset illness usually takes the form of either, or any combination, of the following, (a) an upper respiratory illness, (b) a gastrointestinal upset, (c) vertigo and (d) a moderate to severe meningitic type headache. These are only the most common onset illnesses or symptoms of which there are several. The onset illness is associated with either a low grade or subnormal temperature, headaches, sometimes persisting and accentuated by movement with intermittent attacks of vertigo or dizziness. Evidence of a previous immune insult [such as a recent immunisation] is found regularly in both epidemic and sporadic cases. The usual incubation period of the triggering illness is 4-6 days. The second and third phases of the illness are usually always different in nature from the onset illness and usually become apparent within 1-4 weeks after the onset of the infectious triggering illness.'

There's More to the CDC's Conclusions About CFS Than Meets the Eye' Craig Maupin

'Despite the spin about "biology", the three genes which Dr. William Reeves claims will direct future research and clinical care for CFS are primary to the biological footprint of post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Reeves claims a recent study's outcome has alerted the Centers for Disease Control to the importance of stress response in the pathophysiology of CFS. In the study, abnormal expression of genes involving stress were uncovered in a broad array of research samples which included people with fatigue, CFS, and other unexplained conditions. And now, CDC researchers insist the study will change the way CFS is handled clinically by physicians, scientists, and insurers - very soon.

The CDC is well-positioned to enact this shift. At the moment, they possess a strong facade of flawed, yet "empirical", evidence. Reeves has also worked diligently to build strong financial and philosophical ties to advocacy leaders who are eager to assist his efforts. But more importantly, the CDC team is well-versed in the technical, yet gentle, terminology that can help move their ideas forward politically and socially. Terms like "biologically-based", "genetic predisposition", "homeostatic imbalance", "glucocorticoid receptors", and "allopathic load' assuage many CFS sufferers to a new post-traumatic stress disorder. Reeves made use of that knowledge on Thursday.'

Hillary Johnson: 'Garbage in, Garbage out'

The likelihood that the CDC was even studying [any] bona fide CFS sufferers is slim to none. As they used to say in the computer industry, GIGO— garbage in, garbage out. Expect more of the same from the CDC where this disease is concerned.

Mary Schweitzer Ph.D.: Presentation to the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee July 17, 2006

'Jumbling everything together into the vague useless category of “fatiguing illnesses” will not help anybody get well. All it can do is please the insurance lobbyists on K-Street, and a government wholly lacking in compassion for those less fortunate.

The job of the CDC is to understand the current threat of serious illness and communicate that threat to the citizens of the United States. Dr. Reeves has failed in that mission.'

A New and Simple Definition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and a New Simple Definition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & A Brief History of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis & An Irreverent History of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome  (an extract, PDF format) Dr Byron Hyde MD

NEW DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

The patient has:

1. A gradual onset fatigue syndrome,

2. This is usually due to a missed major disease in which common things are common: i.e. the patient has:

1. a. Missed cardiac disease,

2. b. Missed malignancy,

3. c. Missed vascular disease,

4. d. Missed brain lesion either of a vascular or space occupying lesion,

5. e. Missed test positive rheumatologic disease,

6. f. Missed test negative rheumatologic disease,

7. g. Missed endocrine disease,

8. h. Missed physiological disease,

9. i. Missed genetic disease,

10. j. Missed chronic infectious disease,

11. k. Missed pharmacological or immunization induced disease,

12. l. Missed social disease,

13. m. Missed drug use disease or habituation,

14. n. Missed dietary dysfunction diseases,

15. o. Missed psychiatric disease.