Did you know?

• Federal funding for this illness is about $6 per patient per year. 
• We can band together to increase funding. Small amounts add up and make a difference. Could you contribute $15 to help fund research on YOUR behalf?
• Successful pilot studies can lead to major funding from other sources. What a way to leverage our donation!
• Activists for breast cancer, Alzheimers, and autism have been successful in raising money and awareness – we can be too!

Our Association has launched a campaign to raise funds for research.  We will add everyone’s contributions together, and send the pooled funds to one of the three research foundations which were selected by the Board – after making your donation of any amount, you can vote to help choose which one will receive our collective contribution!

The top vote-getter will receive our pooled contributions on June 30, 2013. All money contributed in this campaign will be sent to the selected foundation to directly support ME/CFS research projects.

Learn more here, and read about the research foundations the Board has selected for your consideration.

A Conversation with Erica Verrillo
The Massachusetts CFIDS/ME & FM Association enthusiastically welcomed Erica Verrillo, author of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Treatment Guide, 2nd Edition, on Saturday, May 18, 2013, in Sturbridge, MA. Read a summary of the talk.

NEW - Health Care Reform - what to expect in 2013:  Affordable Care Act - Preparing for Implentation

New CME course: A Case-Based Approach to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
This 30-minute online course, featuring clinicians Lisa W. Corbin, MD; Anthony L. Komaroff, MD; Benjamin H. Natelson, MD; and Peter C. Rowe, MD, was published on April 19, 2013 and is available for CME/CE credit until April 19, 2014, and also available to the public. Free registration on the Medscape website is required in order to view this course.

Have you ever thought about gardening? Potted flowers on your balcony or patio can create a colorful, fragrant and relaxing setting. Salad greens, veggies, or assorted herbs can go from containers to the kitchen table, adding nutrition and fresh flavor to your meals. Gardening for Health and Fun shares information and ideas for home-bound individuals looking for something different to explore this summer.

Significant concerns surround  Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD), a new psychiatric category in  DSM-5. 
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has rushed its fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to their publishers. The Manual provides diagnostic guidelines for the classification and coding of mental disorders and is widely utilized by medical practices, hospitals and insurance companies. The fifth edition, DSM-5, includes a new psychiatric category, Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD), that is flawed and dangerous. More details in DSM-5 Makes Way for Misdiagnosis of Physical Illness as Mental Disorders.

Harvard Researcher and Sleep Expert, Dr. Jo Solet, presented "The Science of Sleep" at Spring 2013 Lecture on April 6th
A video of the lecture is being prepared.  Watch the Newsletter for the announcement.

Videos of Dr. Byron Hyde's  Fall 2012 lecture are posted
On Saturday, October 27, 2012 Byron Hyde, M.D., Founder and Director of the Nightingale Research Foundation (www.nightingale.ca), Ottawa, Canada, was the featured speaker at the fall lecture co-sponsored by Massachusetts CFIDS/ME & FM Association and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Dr. Hyde is recognized as one of the world's most experienced and knowledgeable M.E. experts. Dr. Hyde spoke about the difficulties many physicians experience in diagnosing ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia, and how he approaches the diagnostic process.

If you missed this event, a video of the entire lecture, including the Q&A, are now posted on this site and are also available on YouTube. 

A written summary of Dr. Hyde's lecture has been added to this site. Link to the videos and written summary.

Advocacy - FDA webinar on Advocacy
On November 15, 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a webinar for the ME/CFS community on “Working Together for Change.” Jennie Spotila, creator and moderator of Occupy CFS, provides a summary of the FDA webinar highlights at her blog as well as thoughts about what the patient community needs to do for a successful outcome. Permission was granted by J. Spotila to link to articles/posts at Occupy CFS.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee (CFSAC)
The spring meeting of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee (CFSAC) was held in Washington, DC, on May 22-23, 2013.  This was the first meeting at which non-voting liaison representatives were present.  The organizations selected to serve in this role for a two year term are:

• CFIDS Association of America
• International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (IACFS/ME)
• New Jersey Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association, Inc. (NJCFSA)

The topics discussed at the meeting are listed on the Agenda.  To date no videos or transcript of the meeting have been posted.

Videos of the CFSAC Fall 2012 meeting (October 3-4) are available. For those interested in Disability issues, the presentation from the Social Security Administration is well worth watching. Representatives from our Association presented at the meeting. The recommendations made at the October 2012 CFSAC meeting and the HHS Secretary’s response to the recommendations have also been posted.