Millions are missing. This tragically summarizes the status of research funding for ME/CFS and FM, the staggering financial blow to the economy as patients and caregivers decrease or withdraw their workforce involvement, and most importantly, the millions of people...
Fibromyalgia
Navigating the School System with Chronic Illness
School can be an exceptionally challenging struggle for students with ME/CFS and FM. This May, in our monthly education meeting, guest speaker Doctor Lane Valum shared crucial strategies for how to work with, instead of against, the school system in getting students...
Building Communities of Understanding and Hope
“Loneliness has the same impact on mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, making it even more dangerous than obesity,” reports Douglas Nemecek, MD, Chief Medical Officer of behavioral health in a major new study on loneliness that outlines the prevalence and...
Keeping Spirits Bright: Managing the Post-Holiday Letdown
Some people, especially those with chronic disease, experience depression and/or seasonal affective disorder (SAD) after the holidays are over. Dr. Stuart Drescher, a psychologist experienced in working with patients with chronic diseases including ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia, gives tips on how to manage the letdown that often occurs in January and February, when the holidays are over and the days seem dark and dreary.
When Mommy Can’t Dance: How to Be a Chronically Ill Mom
It’s a hard to be a sick mom. For most mothers, a few days of illness may mean a back-up of laundry and a night or two of frozen pizza or cold cereal for dinner. For those of us moms that are chronically ill, it’s a whole other ball game. Certainly we have to adapt, get creative, and employ as many mom hacks as we can (i.e. Amazon prime, grocery pick up, self-serve kid snacks, and yes, we still have an above average number of cereal dinners). Beyond the physical demands and limitations, however, are the mental and emotional obstacles that we face. The mom guilt is present enough when you are healthy; it can be even more crushing when you are not.
BHC Program and Research Update
BHC’s mission is to empower patients, advance research, and improve clinical care. What is happening to further those goals? At the November education meeting, Dr. Lucinda Bateman and Dr. Suzanne Vernon shared updates on the programs BHC is developing to ensure that this mission is accomplished. Highlights include development of a patient education program to empower patients, a practitioner education program that will improve clinical care, and implementation of a major research grant to advance the search for biomarkers.
ME/CFS and Related Illness: Putting It All Together
Understanding how ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia are related to and affected by other illnesses is key in helping patients find relief from symptoms. At the BHC Education Meeting in October, Dr. Nathan Holladay gave a broad view of the key aspects of the various problems that can cause these diseases or make them worse, including infections, immune system issues, and mitochondrial, metabolic, and endocrine dysfunction. Making the connections between these illnesses can help doctors and patients decide on customized treatment methods rather than “one-size-fits-all” treatments.
Nutrition: How Food Choices Impact How You Feel
The Whole Sisters (Nan Jensen and Nicole Bangerter) shared their journey with chronic illnesses at the September education meeting. View this presentation to learn about how food choices can affect symptoms. Visit their website for ideas on healthy food choices. Nan and Nicole discuss the importance of organic choices, the “dirty dozen” and the “clean fifteen”. They share tactics to develop self awareness and guidelines for reducing symptom presentation including recipe ideas.
Building the Ranks of Skillful and Informed Medical Providers
BHC Strategies for Bringing Doctors up to Speed on ME/CFS and FM presented by Lucinda Bateman, MD, BHC Founder and Medical Director Improving the way medical providers understand, diagnose, and treat ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia is critical to progress and a primary...
Life Happens: Sleep, Weight, and Activity in Fibromyalgia
On July 5, Akiko Okifuji, PhD, presented "Life Happens" at the monthly Bateman Horne Center education meeting. Dr. Okifuji is a professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Utah. She has been actively conducting clinical research in chronic pain...
May 12 ME/CFS FM Awareness Day Celebrates 25 Years
On May 12th, individuals around the globe will be celebrating International ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia Awareness Day and 2017 marks the 25th anniversary. The May 12th date was chosen because it is Florence Nightingale's birthday and she was believed to have suffered from...
Living With a Partner Who Has ME/CFS or FM
Chronic illness and marriage is a complicated combination. It’s rare to see or hear a healthy spouse’s perspective on their partner’s disease because it is a topic that can be very difficult - as much for the one speaking as for the one hearing it. With an estimated...