Chronic Fatigue Syndrome www.azpbs.org/horizon

More than one million Americans suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. However, it is still a misunderstood illness and it is difficult to find health care professionals who know how to diagnose and treat it. The Centers for Disease Control recently announced that CFS is a real illness and that it is a public health concern. We talk with a doctor who is a CFS specialist and a patient who is battling the syndrome. Horizon Host Ted Simons introduces the story. Merry Lucero reports. Videographer was Richard Torruellas. Learn more. Visit http://www.azpbs.org/horizon

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Eight
• KAET
• PBS
• CFS
• Horizon
• Phoenix
• Arizona
• ASU

[mylittlebuckaroo]

I have had CFS for over 16 years now, and it is truly horrible. I was a patient of Dr. Rigden for the first couple years of my illness, and he is great. I know I would be in much worse shape without what I learned from him.

[lawsandhaus1]

Chronic Fatigue syndrome disability seriously affects the lives of people who have it.  I'm glad to see more news coverage on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome so the public is aware of its symptoms, and has a better understanding of what can trigger CFS.

[bjsmit1]

Due to the support of many gracious donors who believe in the CFIDS Association, this milestone was attainable. As long as the federal government continues to fail the CFS patient population, The Association will continue to step up, and fill that role. This year's research campaign is the tip of the iceberg of what The Association is capable of, with support from us. As an individual living with CFS, I urge you to visit their website, and continue to support their efforts, as they support ours.

[bjsmit1]

The federal government has failed the CFS patient population too many times, for far too long. Because of the inadequate response to a major health crisis, The CFIDS Association of America has been tasked with the role of education, public policy, and most recently, a robust research program, lead by Dr. Suzanne Vernon, PhD. The Association launched a research campaign, with the goal of raising $1 million, strictly for research, in 2008. That milestone was met at the end of this past August.

[bjsmit1]

A recent DePaul study indicated that the economic impact due to CFS is $25 billion annually. Last year, a meager $114 million in lost productivity was attributed to psoriasis, yet the CDC & NIH spent a combined $10 million in research for the disease. Lost productivity due to diabetes cost $58 billion in 2007, and the NIH alone spent more than $1 billion on diabetes research. The NIH spent only $1.00 for research per patient with CFS in 2007; the NIH spent $48 per patient with diabetes in 2007.

[bjsmit1]

Last year, the CDC spent $4.7 million in CFS research, while the NIH spent $4 million; $8.7 million total. A CDC prevalence study published in 2007 estimated that between 1 and 4 million Americans have CFS; the annual economic impact per household is reported to be $20,000 per household, per year -- which only accounts for lost productivity, and not the costs associated with disability, insurance, etc. This translates to between $20 billion and $80 billion per year, in lost productivity alone.

[bjsmit1]

I share a similar story, and actually was a patient of Dr. Scott Rigden when I lived in Arizona. I have been ill with CFS/CFIDS for over 13 years following an acute bout of mono. Prior to that, I was a high functioning 15 year old boy; a 4 sport athlete, 4.0 student, etc. I testified in May 2008 before the CFS Advisory Committee, which makes recommendations to the Secretary of Health regarding CFS (within the DHHS). I have posted video of my testimony, and other informative videos about CFS.

[mesufferer]

His story is very similar to mine. I coped with work exactly the way he did by sleeping through weekends and going straight to bed whenever I wasn't working for up to 26 hours at a time. I think rest is the best thing in the acute stage - trying to work through that period resulted in me losing my ability to read for about three months not to mention the other symtpoms.

Glad to see another clip of them taking it seriously though, thanks for posting it. :)

[BretagneShrew]

was this aired just last nite?

its good that they are starting to take it more seriously but still treatment options aren't enough, a CAUSE and CURE needs to be found. Treatment options usually just entail living as healthily as possible, which I honestly believe there would not be a CFS ME patient out there who isn't trying to do that anyway.