HOW WE TREAT ME/CFS
Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) affect many thousands of people of all types and ages.
Breakspear Medical has always had a policy of identifying causes and then offering treatment. With ME/CFS, we start by providing some wellness questionnaires specific to ME/CFS to get a clearer picture of your condition prior to the consultation. During the consultation, we will ask about your symptoms and medical history. Often with ME/CFS, there are other various infectious agents, such as Epstein-Barr virus and parasitic organisms, which have been reactivated and by using a variety of accredited laboratory tests, we will work toward determining the cause of your ME/CFS.
The treatments we offer include:
- anti-viral treatments, to address reactivation of latent viruses
- nutritional therapy, which includes addressing gut dysbiosis (an imbalance in the different microorganisms living together in the gastrointestinal tract)
- allergy/sensitivity testing and treatment
- oxygen therapy – many people benefit from using an oxygen concentrator, which helps increase the oxygen levels in the blood
- hyperthermia treatment – treatment sessions with our IRATHERM®, which provides intense near-infrared light which can help to relieve the pain and treat fatigue states
- detoxification – lifestyle changes may be recommended to help eliminate toxins in the body, including drugs.
- redox restorative substances
- rectification of your energy cycle – the Krebs cycle is the citric acid cycle which is the main source of energy for living things. There are 10 steps in the Krebs cycle and if any of the steps are not performing as they should, there is a knockdown effect, which can cause extreme fatigue and pain.
Where people with ME and/or CFS have developed intolerance to foods, these are also recognised and treated using antigen-specific low-dose immunotherapy (LDI). Combination therapies for the treatment of ME/CFS are more effective than single agents.
We’re very pleased that many of our patients have written articles about their recovery from ME/CFS. Some years ago, Lady Clare Kerr wrote an article describing her recovery from ME/CFS for the Sunday Times. This article lead to many ME/CFS sufferers coming to receive the treatment they needed. Today, many other patients have shared their recovery stories, which can be read on our Testimonials section.”
Alister Monro, Managing Director
You may wish to view booklet summary of the ME/CFS Treatment Programme. Alternatively, you may request a printed version of the CFS/ME Treatment Programme by emailing: info@breakspearmedical.com
Breakspear Medical’s ME/CFS Symptoms, diagnosis & treatment booklet:
If you suffer from ME or CFS, make an appointment for an initial consultation with a member of our Clinical Team.
SUPPLEMENTS FOR ME/CFS
For ME/CFS sufferers, taking multivitamins and minerals, together with various other supplements and treatments are all part of the first step to working towards feeling better.
There are many other nutritional supplements that may be used in combination to help with ME and CFS. Often supplements are used in prescribed doses, which may vary considerably from the standard, recommended doses. A wide range of herbal remedies can also help. Our Environmental Naturopath or Nutritional Therapy Practitioner can advise you on the best supplementation programme for you.
I will never forget our initial consultation year ago. I could barely walk into the consultation room, as every movement was slow and painful. I was too weak to leave my home on my own, I could not care for myself or hold a conversation. Today I am enjoying married life, have two fantastic children, a successful career and am training for my first marathon.
Laura Cook
Read Laura’s story in Issue 41
SYMPTOMS OF ME/CFS
ME and CFS are the common names for a group of significantly debilitating medical conditions characterised by persistent fatigue and other specific symptoms that lasts for a minimum of 6 months in adults (and 3 months in children or adolescents).
The symptoms of both ME and CFS include:
- debilitating low energy levels
- painful muscles and joints
- disordered sleep
- gastric disturbances
- neuropsychological complaints
- poor memory and concentration (brain fog)
- painful lymph nodes
- prolonged fatigue after exercise
ME/CFS & THE CYTOKINE SHIFT
We have found that the basis of prolonged ill health in ME/CFS involves a cytokine shift whereby allergies/sensitivities are perpetuated and the ability to wipe out viruses is compromised.
It is possible to correct the cytokine shift with a number of the chronic fatigue treatments that we offer. Treatment may start with a series of skin, blood, urine and stool tests. For example, the stool test is a marker for damage to the gut lining by bacteria, Herpes viruses, enteroviruses, coxsackieviruses, or by inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. We also now have available a bacterial product, a high potency probiotic preparation called Escherichia coli, which is known to help modulate the immune system.
ARTICLES ON ME/CFS
We have shared information about ME and CFS in our Breakspear Medical Bulletins over the years including:
FAQS
What do you offer at Breakspear Medical for ME/CFS which is different to other clinics?
The initial step in treating ME/CFS, is to start by taking a full medical history and performing an examination. Following this, a range of treatment approaches are undertaken to investigate and identify the possible cause of ME/CFS, such as immune activity, food allergies, viral or bacterial infections, mycotoxins and man-made pollutants. We do tests for viruses that are circulating or latent, enteroviruses, Lyme and co-infections including Bartonella Ehrlichia Babesia and Rickettsia, mycoplasma chlamydia parvovirus, for example. Addressing the cause of the illness is paramount.
We often use detoxification methods such as oral administration or intravenous injection, along with hyperthermia, to reduce inflammation in patients. Other approaches such as stabilising the gut flora, addressing sensitivities and using neuromuscular taping for pain relief have shown to be very successful in managing symptoms of ME/CFS.
We also offer psychological counselling to help with coping strategies.
Are there things I can change in my environment to improve my post-viral syndrome/fatigue symptoms?
Yes, very often minimising chemical over loads will help a great deal. By carefully maintaining a balanced lifestyle and diet, as well as reducing the burden of harmful chemicals and moulds on our bodies, we can improve immunity, digestion and overall wellbeing.
How long will it take to treat my ME/CFS?
Sadly, there is no easy answer to this question. At Breakspear Medical, we look at each patient individually and therefore your customised treatment programmes will be different from other patients and, depending on a variety of factors, it may take a few weeks to many months to start feeling better.
