Hope and Help for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia

Hope and Help for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia is designed to educate patients suffering from CFS/FM about their illnesses and to teach them coping skills that will improve their quality of life. And while the good news is that people who suffer from CFS/FM aren't dying, the bad news is that it's going to take a lot of time and effort to get better since there is no one specific treatment that works for everyone.

Some of the issues covered are:

• Understanding the symptoms and how diagnoses are made
• Causes of CFS/FM and common psychological consequences, including anxiety and depression
• The role of stress and how to manage it
• The connection between the mind and the body in coping with CFS/FM
• The potential of medications, nutrition, and lifestyle changes
• The role of complementary medications and dietary supplements in pain management
• The value and limitations of alternative and complementary therapies such as acupuncture, massage, homeopathy, and aromatherapy
• Legal issues about how to deal with medical and legal problems that may arise if insurance benefits have been stopped

Alison C. Bested, a graduate of McMaster University Medical School, is a hematological pathologist who specializes in the medical problems related to chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivities. In addition to private practice, she teaches medical students and residents at the Environmental Health Clinic at Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Center. She lives in Scarborough, Ontario. Alan C. Logan is a doctor of naturopathic medicine. He graduated as valedictorian from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and completed his training in Mind-Body Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is the nutrition editor of the International Journal of Naturopathic Medicine. Alan lives in Westchester, New York. Russell Howe is an attorney who specializes in medical disability cases. He lives in Aurora, Ontario.