Category Archives: Commentary

This Week in Virology Covers ME/CFS

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

You may remember This Week in Virology (TWiV) from their XMRV coverage several years ago. I’ve remained an avid listener of the show, simply because it is such a great ongoing conversation about science. And TWiV has continued its coverage … Continue reading →

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Case Definition Bingo

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

Our disease is plagued by too many case definitions, with the Institute of Medicine’s Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (SEID) being the most recent. Our federal agencies are thus far continuing the agnostic position of accepting whatever case definitions are proposed … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Commentary | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 40 Comments

PEM Differential

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

One of the post-IOM controversies consuming advocates at the moment is the concern that SEID criteria are non-specific and will include people who do not have our disease. The failure to list exclusionary conditions, including psychological disorders, has drawn criticism … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Commentary, Research | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 42 Comments

Your Move, HHS

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

Since the IOM report came out, the patient/advocate online community has been on fire. Everyone is staking out a position. You like the name, or you don’t; you think the definition will work, or it won’t. And I have plenty … Continue reading →

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NPR Interview

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

Miriam Tucker has been covering ME/CFS for some time now, and published a great piece for NPR about the IOM report today. I was interviewed for the piece, and I can say that Miriam understands this disease, much like David … Continue reading →

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IOM: Report Card

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

It’s here. A new case definition and a new name. It will take some time for me to get through the 300 page report and prepare a more detailed analysis. But based on the press conference and summary, how did … Continue reading →

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IOM: The Big Day

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

On February 10th, the Institute of Medicine committee will release its report Beyond ME/CFS: Redefining an Illness. The release event will be webcast at 11am Eastern. The report contents are under embargo until the release, although rumors are flying about … Continue reading →

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Guest Post: Slightly Snarky

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Jennie Spotila

Joe Landson authors this guest post on the chasm between patient experiences and the people who need to understand them. We suffer through many devastating symptoms, but today I’m only thinking of one. It’s perhaps the most devastating effect of … Continue reading →

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P2P: Eating Your Cake

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Jennie Spotila

In a surprising move at the P2P Workshop yesterday, Dr. Beth Smith from the Evidence Practice Center (authors of the systematic evidence review) suggested: “Consider retiring the Oxford case definition.” Why was this remarkable? Because the systematic evidence review had … Continue reading →

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The Oxford Problem

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Jennie Spotila

Today, I’m very pleased to share this guest post by Chris Heppner. I loved Oxford when there as undergraduate (1951-4)–truly a city of dreaming spires, peaceful libraries, walks in the country to a lovely old pub by a waterfall with … Continue reading →

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