Tag Archives: stress

Draft Systematic Review is UP

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Jennie Spotila

The draft systematic evidence review on the Diagnosis and Treatment of ME/CFS has been published. This review is extraordinarily important because it is being presented to the P2P Panel in a closed door session any day now. This review will … Continue reading →

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Guest Post: Longtime Patient, New Advocate

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Jennie Spotila

I am very pleased to share this guest post from Darlene Prestwich in which she shares her experiences as a new(ish) advocate. I’ve been doing this so long, sometimes I forget what it was like to jump in the deep … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Commentary | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Guest Post: Frustration

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Jennie Spotila

I continue to struggle with the crash from hell, but Denise Lopez-Majano has graciously provided a guest post. Her thoughts on ME-frustration are right on target for me this week! As a caregiver for her two adult sons, Denise is … Continue reading →

Posted in Occupying | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Heart Rate and Beta Blockers

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Jennie Spotila

Beta blockers are routinely prescribed to ME/CFS patients who have orthostatic intolerance. But because of the medication’s effects on heart rate, it can be challenging to incorporate heart rate monitoring into the picture. After some uncertainty, I have managed to … Continue reading →

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Sometimes It’s One of Those Times

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Jennie Spotila

Sometimes, life just vomits in your lap. One thing after another goes wrong, and you feel like you’re juggling roaring chainsaws while pedaling a unicycle. Or maybe that’s just me. 2013 has been challenging, to say the least. I’m fully … Continue reading →

Posted in Occupying | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

I Heard the News Today, Oh Boy

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Jennie Spotila

What is there to say about something like the Boston Marathon bombing? There is no sane way to reconcile the gruesome images, the suffering and destruction with our need to believe that we are safe. We are privileged enough in … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

Ring Theory

Posted on April 13, 2013 by Jennie Spotila

We’ve all had the experience of someone saying the wrong thing to us about our disease. “I hate that you always cancel at the last minute.” “You rest all day. Can’t you make dinner once in awhile?” “Work is killing … Continue reading →

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On the Shelf

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Jennie Spotila

I recently read Spillover by David Quammen, a book about human diseases that originate in animals. ME/CFS is not mentioned in the book, but a passage about the origin of HIV struck very close to home. Quammen describes how HIV … Continue reading →

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Best Laid Plans

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Jennie Spotila

This is not the day I planned to come back from my holiday hiatus, nor is this the post I planned for the beginning of a new year. But as they say: “The best laid plans of mice and men … Continue reading →

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Insufficient Data

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Jennie Spotila

One of the most frustrating aspects of coping with CFS is the lack of definitive data. A PubMed search for “chronic fatigue syndrome” yields 4,877 results (as of today), but as a patient on the front lines I have to … Continue reading →

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