In a recent post I discussed the disease that I have- ME/CFS, or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Like many illnesses and disorders these days it is identified and diagnosed by a list of symptoms rather than a specific test (yet another thing it has in common with autism). Because it's diagnosed by it's SYMPTOMS, rather than it's CAUSE, knowing that you have ME/CFS doesn't really tell you WHY you are sick- it is more of a "shorthand" way of describing your illness than an explanation of the illness. Knowing that I have ME/CFS doesn't get me any closer to knowing what is making me sick or what to do to get better. The cause- or causes, there may be many- are not be known, although there are a number of theories out there. Because the diagnosis focuses exclusively on the symptoms, any attempts to treat it tend to also focus on mitigating the symptoms rather than figuring out what is behind them.
In doing research for my own health as well as that of others I have come across a number of conditions and disorders that can be the cause of the symptoms that get labeled as ME/CFS (or Fibromyalgia). I will be doing a post on each of these, to give background information and resources for testing and treatment. These include:
Systemic Diseases:
MTHFR mutations
Mitochondrial disease and dysfunction
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Neuro Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (NIDS)
Pyroluria
Acute Intermittent Porphyria
Autoimmune Diseases:
Lupus
Sjogren's Syndrome
Autoimmune Encephalitis
PANDAS/PANS
Cerebral Folate Deficiency
Narcolepsy
Digestive and Gastrointestinal Disorders:
Food intolerances and allergies
Gut dysbiosis and dysfunction
SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth)
Celiac Disease
Gallbladder Disease
Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease (EGID)
Chronic Pancreatitis
Habba Syndrome
Gastroparesis
Autoimmune GI Dysmotility
Celiac artery compression syndrome
Brain Injury and Neurological Disorders:
Encephalitis
Vestibular Disorders
Tinnitus
Sleep Disorders
Narcolepsy
Circadian Rhythm Disorders
Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome
Hypersomnia
ADHD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Misophonia
Trauma and PTSD
Dysautonomia a.k.a. Autonomic Dysfunction (includes POTS and Orthostatic Intolerance)
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and here
Chiari Malformation and it's variations
Dystonia and here
Allergic Diseases, Immune System Diseases, and Infections:
Septic Arthritis
Immunodeficiency
Lyme Disease
Mast Cell Disease
Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS)
Electro-Hypersensitivity Syndrome (EHS)
Toxicant Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT)
Rosacea
Other:
Degenerative Spine Disease
Cushing's Syndrome
Endometriosis
Raynaud's Syndrome
