Chronic Fatigue Sydrome and Integrative Medicine in Arizona

Greetings everyone! As some of you already know, I have been in sunny Arizona since mid-December. So far, with the exception of a family medical emergency, this has been a fun and astonishingly fruitful sojourn.

One of the great advantages the people in this part of the country have is the vast array of cutting-edge, healthcare alternatives and practitioners (and unfortunately, silly New Age “healers” who waste people’s time and money, often doing more harm than good…but that is another post entirely!) to choose from. I knew this before I arrived here but I have to say that the quality and quantity (of both skilled practitioners AND silly New Age “healers”!) has far exceeded my expectations.

While here, I have had the opportunity to meet, work with and learn from some exceptional indivuals and can honestly say that the people around here are in good hands. Whether they reach those hands is their responsibility but they are here to help and help they will!

If I would have lived around here when I first started experiencing the symptoms of CFIDS and Celiac disease 12 years ago, I would have been spared years of suffering and confusion, not to mention tens of thousands of dollars. But I didn’t and that is okay because I would not know what I know and do what I do.

Moving on…

Today, I would like to share a little information on CFIDS, otherwise known as Chronic fatique immune deficiency syndrome or simply Chronic fatigue syndrome. I would like to thank the good folks at The Arizona Center for Advanced Medicine for being such a valuable resource.

Chronic fatigue (immune deficiency) syndrome, CFIDS, is a clinically defined condition characterized by debilitating fatigue, persistent for over 6 months, with associated muscle pains, tender lymph nodes, joint pains, low grade fevers, and problems with focus and memory.

Chronic fatigue is estimated to affect almost 1% of the population, and is not limited to white Caucasian middle aged females, as previously thought, but is found in all age groups, races, and economic strata. About twice as many women as men are affected.

However, men (surprise, surprise) are also more likely to due to societal pressures revolving around money and “strength” to keep plugging away or calling it something else despite their symptoms. Many self-medicate and dig themselves deeper by not seeking help. I know this all too well. No man wants to be perceived as “weak” or unable to be productive and successful financially and career/education-wise.

In the future, I will devote an entire post to the topic of CFIDS in men.

Back to our story…

CFIDS is not a condition which fits neatly into the allopathic model of illness. Diagnosis is made by ruling out all other “treatable” causes of fatigue. There are no definitive diagnostic tests. Patients suffering from chronic fatigue are often diagnosed with depression or other neuro-psychiatric labels.

Diagnostic criteria, as defined by the International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Work Group, are as follows:

* Clinically evaluated, unexplained, persistent or relapsing chronic fatigue that is of new or definite onset

[has not been lifelong]; is not the result of ongoing exertion; is not substantially alleviated by rest; and

results in substantial reduction in previous levels of occupational, educational, social, or personal activities;

and

* The concurrent occurrence of four or more of the following symptoms, all of which must have persisted or

recurred during 6 or more consecutive months of illness and must not have predated the fatigue:

1. Self-reported impairment in short-term memory or concentration severe enough to cause substantial

reduction in previous levels of occupational, educational, social, or personal activities;

2. Sore throat;

3. Tender cervical or axillary lymph nodes;

4. Muscle pain, multi-joint pain without joint swelling or redness;

5. Headaches of a new type, pattern, or severity;

6. Unrefreshing sleep; and postexertional malaise lasting more than 24 hours

By these criteria, chronic fatigue syndrome could very well be a disease of mitochondria – the tiny organelles inside cells which are responsible for energy production. There is some evidence for this. One study showed abnormal mitochondrial function in a subgroup of patients with abnormal lactate responses to exercise (production of lactic acid occurs when there is insufficient energy to fully utilize all the glucose presented to the cell).

Chronic viral or fungal infection is another possible causative factor. Some commonly performed tests are those for chronic viral infection (Ebstein-Barr virus, for example), Candida albicans, and immunologic function including cell population analysis. None of these tests is specific for CFIDS, but they may indicate contributing causes.

Although, the right kind and the right amount of exercise can help dramatically, most people with chronic fatigue syndrome have a significantly decreased ability to exercise. Decreased production of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system may also be a factor.

Excessive body burden of heavy metals is another possibility. Heavy metals can cause significant loss of function of enzymes which promote the cell’s biochemical reactions, experienced in the body as fatigue.

There is some thought that chronic fatigue is almost always a result of simple toxicity or nutritional imbalance, perhaps early metabolic syndrome, from years of eating the typical non-nutritious American diet of processed foods and sugars.

Author Mary Nash Stoddard has proposed that aspartame poisoning may give rise to a number of health problems including chronic fatigue and Fibromyalgia.

Once the diagnosis is established, allopathic medicine has little to offer in the way of treatment. Common wisdom states that most patients will take over 18 months to recover, although some will remain debilitated for the rest of their lives.

There is no need to suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. First, one needs to understand that mitochondrial dysfunction results in the generation of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Both can irreversibly damage DNA, and even cause cell death. Therefore, taking antioxidants like CoQ-10, glutathione, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and other similar substances can go a long way toward improving mitochondrial function and relieving the symptoms of chronic fatigue. These are sometimes best administered in IV form.

I personally made a huge step forward when I treated my mitochondria. I did this on my own by using specific doses of CoQ-10, alpha lipoic acid, acetyl l-carnitine, D-ribose, creatine and a few other supplements. If anyone wants more info on this cocktail you can reach me through the contact link. I do individualized nutritional and lifestyle counseling that gets results and get results fast. I am however, not a doctor and do not diagnose or treat diseases of any kind.

Second, it is known mitochondrial function is significantly disturbed by heavy metals. Workup for excessive body burden of heavy metals is very appropriate in the chronic fatigue patient.

Third, intolerance to gluten (wheat, barley, rye and a few other grains) and other food items can result in neurologic symptoms like extreme fatigue without any intestinal symptoms at all. Therefore investigation of gluten intolerance and other food sensitivities should be part of the initial work-up. Food intolerance has been shown to increase inflammatory mediators in the body and to erroneously activate the immune system.

Food intolerance may be determined in any one of several ways. The classic elimination diet works well for those who can tolerate its rigors. For those less tolerant, keeping a food and symptom diary may prove very helpful. There are many other ways of diagnosing this condition, including direct provocation tests, blood tests, and the classic intradermal injections.

Food intolerance has also been shown to be related to several other dysfunctions commonly associated with chronic fatigue syndrome: asthma or respiratory distress, inflammatory bowel disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

In my case, I just fell apart. First gradually, then suddenly. What I later figured out and my doctors confirmed through a multitude of tests was that I was walking around with several undiagnosed food allergies, undiagnosed Celiac disease, systemic Candidiasis, high levels of Mercury in my system and the collateral damage (like seizures, depression, cognitive impairment, etc.) that comes with not treating these conditions.

How does that happen to a perfectly healthy male athlete in his late twenties who meditates, does yoga, eats a mostly raw, organic, vegetarian diet and has lots of love in his life? That is also another story and parts of it are still a mystery to me and my doctors.

How am I now? Well let’s just say that these things don’t happen over night and they don’t clear up over night but I am definitely well on my way. Healing one’s brain, immune system and digestive tract is a process and it takes time, discipline and a continuous, deep and mindful understanding.

I will say that I am much wiser, much happier, much healthier and living a wonderful life. I am surrounded by intelligent, insightful, supportive, understanding, creative and deeply compassionate people. I have the greatest friends (especially my friends at the Singing Bowl and Fresh Horizons cafe’s in Erie, Pa who continuously create delicious, organic, vegan, gluten and allergy-free works of art…I mean meals for me), mother, son and girlfriend anyone could wish for.

With CFIDS, like many conditions and diseases, knowing is more than half the battle. It is a shame, a tragedy really, that it takes so many years for conventional doctors to figure these things out and that so many false and damaging diagnoses are often given out. Many healthcare providers are often too busy in general, over-focused on their specific modality or over-focused on treating symptoms and so called diseases with pharmaceuticals rather than treating people and looking for the root causes.

My advice to everyone is to take an active role in your healthcare. Ask questions, look into the matter, talk to different doctors and practitioners. Seriously, they work for you. You pay their bills! Don’t be an asshole, but don’t believe what you are told without doing some research and following your gut. We have no excuse these days when there is such an abundance of information and resources out there.

Again, for anyone seeking guidance, please feel free to contact me. I have traveled this path and know how to navigate it. I’d love to meet you and help in any way!

It’s your body, your life, your happiness. Reclaim them!!!

Until next time…

A