Dr Wright concluded that if you get an enterovirus and have oxidative stress you could develop ME. This causes dysfunction in the hypothalamus in the brain, which in turn has an effect on the hormonal and immune systems. These systems feed back to the hypothalamus and a vicious circle starts where the person’s health can spiral downwards.

As part of Dr Wright’s management of ME he attempts to identify and remove as many biological stresses as possible. He uses blood video microscopy to identify problems and formulate a management plan to renew the integrity of the nervous, hormonal and immune systems. He believes in an integrated approach using nutritional, herbal and hormonal treatments alongside medicine.

By the Co-ordinator of the Art Club

What makes a good subject for pure contour drawing? Anything, really – last time, we looked at ordinary household objects, like telephones and shoes. But why not have a go with people? If you work from magazine or newspaper photographs for practise, you can use the magazine or newspaper photographs itself to block your view of your work – hold it between you and your drawing while you’re working.

...and here's a picasso (oops, pure contour drawing), I did earlier...

If you are a member of the 25% M.E. Group and would like to join the Art Club, please email enquiry@25megroup.org  for further details.

The hallmark of CFS/ME was overwhelming fatigue after acute onset.  The condition fluctuates in severity and has physical and mental aspects.  It is associated with post-exertional fatigue, muscle pain, autonomic nervous system symptoms, sleep disorder, subtle immunological changes etc; often patients suffer from a mild allergy, e.g. asthma or food sensitivities.  90% of patients prefer the term 'M.E.'.   

He then spoke about the history of CFS/ME.  Finser in 1856 recorded a Coxsackie virus epidemic; another one was recorded by Ofjord in 1865; there was von Economo and others who recorded the 1917-21 outbreaks of influenza and Encephalitis Lethargica, which involved chronic dysfuncion of the basal ganglia and related organs.  In 1956 the Lancet reported a new clinical entity: 'Benign Myalgic Encephalomyelitis' and in 1978 Dr Melvin Ramsay recorded 'Epidemic Myalgic Encephalomyelitis' or 'M.E.' in the BMJ.  Both M.E. and neuromyasthenia are classified as neurological diseases by the WHO.  Between 1979-88 'Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome' was popular, in 1988 'CFS' was introduced and in 2002 we talk about 'CFS/ME'.   

Epidemic outbreaks included those in Switzerland (1937-39), described as 'abortive poliomyelitis', the Icelandic epidemic of 1948-49, described as 'Akureyri Disease', district epidemics in Adelaide (1949-51).  There had been outbreaks in schools.  With Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome the average estimated incubation period was 5 days; a 6% attack rate was consistent and Dr Melvin Ramsay had described these outbreaks as 'An endemic disease subject to periodic outbreaks of an epidemic kind, characterized by consistent symptoms and signs'. 

In 1970 McEvedy and Beard introduced the concept of 'Mass Hysteria/Neurasthenia' for these outbreaks (re-evaluating the Royal Free Hospital outbreak), which was opposed by the neurologist Dr Dinsdale.  Recently 'CFS/ME' was described as a 'non-disease' in the BMJ.  'Non-diseases' are described as the creation of a medicalized society for people with normal symptoms - these people suffer because their symptoms are accepted. - Professor Peter Behan, Glasgow, was involved in an epidemiological study, NMR spectroscopies, muscle biopsies; he found evidence of enterovirus persistence and neuro-endocrine changes.   

Dr Russel Lane, London, and Professor Leslie Findley, Romford, had given dedicated service. - Fatigue in CFS/ME was central in origin, affecting the lungs, circulation, heart rate, cardiac output, blood flow in muscles; the metabolism was disturbed; there were fibre type changes, nerve excitation due to contraction coupling (sodium/potassium).  It affected the brain with regard to effort, drive and concentration.  Deconditioning, depression and somatization could occur.  Mitochondrial problems were shown in ME patients and very clear changes can be seen in the morphology.  It was necessary to look at brain functions. 

He then spoke about clinical features of central fatigue, characterized by 'Impersistence of motor activity' (i.e. easy fatiguability) and of mental activity (i.e. easy distractibility).  There was evidence of systemic infections.  Investigations looking at the neuro-anatomy of fatigue in ME/CFS includes MR spectroscopy of the left basal ganglia.  He described results of a small study and concluded that highly significant increases in choline resonance were found in CFS/ME patients. This was equal to increased turnover of glial cell membranes and three paediatric cases had similar changes. - During the Q+A session the next set of experiments was discussed, involving glial cells, probably in Coxsackie B virus.  Dr Chaudhuri said CFS/ME was one of the most important chronic neurological diseases, requiring clinical research, which should be given equal priority to that of cancer, stroke or MS.  Dedicated service provision should be set up for every 500 CFS/ME patients.  He is supported by the Barclay Research Trust.

The machine is horrifically expensive (about £1,600) but social services have bought it for me and provide a bath nurse twice a week to use it.

For information on this product contact: - Genie Care Ltd, 25 Sea Lane, East Preston, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN16 1NH. Tel: 01903 733377/Fax: 01903 850165. Email: sales@geniecare.com

Website: www.geniecare.com