Seminar in Sweden May 8th - Chronic fatigue and ME/CFS - what are the differences?

Läkartidningen (Doctor's newspaper) provides news on behalf of the Swedish Medical Association.

In May they invite to a seminar about the differences between chronic fatigue and ME.

Important topic perhaps particularly in Sweden where chronic fatigue/idiopathic or stress related fatigue goes under the name fatigue syndrome and is therefore often confused with ME. Dr. Per Julin and professor Jonas Blomberg will talk about ME. Both very knowledgable and trustworthy regarding ME.

From the programme:
Chronic fatigue - Background and topical research - prof. Marie Åsberg, Stress rehabilitation, Karolinska university hospital
Treatment and rehabilitation in chronic fatigue - physiotherapist Therese Eskilsson
ME - current clinical aspects - dr. Per Julin, ME/CFS clinic at Stora Sköndal
ME - current research - prof. em. Jonas Blomberg, Uppsala university

All lectures are in Swedish.

 

Finally... I have no words

@Jonas Blomberg, thank you so much for all your work for us!

 

https://twitter.com/user/status/993938866779361281


"Interesting training today about [burnout, stress-related exhaustion syndrome] and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CSF). If my own knowledge in this field is representative for doctors in general, I can conclude that it is very much inadequate."

 

https://twitter.com/user/status/993809770539896832


"125 GPs registered for today's seminar, there is a large demand for knowledge!"

https://twitter.com/user/status/993810711439650817


"In 2003 the National Board of Health and Welfare published diagnostic criteria for [burnout, stress-related exhaustion syndrome] according to the DSM model."

https://twitter.com/user/status/993812436905005056


"Marie Åsberg talks about different kinds of stress."

https://twitter.com/user/status/993814872214425600


"Marie Åsberg: mental fatigue in [burnout, stress-related exhaustion syndrome] is similar to the one in for example stroke"

https://twitter.com/user/status/993816648938414081


"According to Marie Åsberg there are brain damages in [burnout, stress-related exhaustion syndrome]."

See more tweets at https://twitter.com/Jessica_D_PhD

 

https://twitter.com/user/status/993835674540396545


"Per Julin on basic facts about ME/CFS"

https://twitter.com/user/status/993837359912374273


"Where does the name come from?"

https://twitter.com/user/status/993840849216819202


"There are different diagnostic criteria that have been developed over time. The more recent ones focus on PEM, [exertion-triggered worsening]."

https://twitter.com/user/status/993843944378257408


"Now Jonas Blomberg on ME/CFS research."

The title on the slide says "Laboratory medical evidence for a somatic cause behind ME/CFS"

https://twitter.com/user/status/993845227503996928


"Jonas Blomberg: In 70 percent there is a triggering event, often mononucleosis/EBV or other infections."

More tweets at https://twitter.com/Jessica_D_PhD

 

https://twitter.com/user/status/993846096362434560


"Jonas Blomberg: There is still no labtest that can easily detect ME/CFS."

https://twitter.com/user/status/993846322930290688


"The cardinal symptom is PEM"

Slide says:

"What is PEM?

'Postexertional malaise'

= Exertion-triggered worsening of symptoms

After moderate mental or physical exertion (cleaning etc) need for a long period of rest.
Can last several days.

Each patient has an activity threshold that cannot be crossed."

https://twitter.com/user/status/993847364732510208


"Jonas Blomberg: Data suggest an abnormal aerobic metabolism in ME patients."

https://twitter.com/user/status/993848981959729159


"Jonas Blomberg: Autoimmune comorbidity with ME/CFS is common; hypothyroidism, IBS etc. It is not proven that ME/CFS is an autoimmune disease. However, there is data to suggest it."

More tweets at https://twitter.com/Jessica_D_PhD

(Sorry about the rough translations. I copied most of them from Twitter's auto translate.)

 

Those of you who have been following the discussions on social media after the seminar, what's your impression? Do you think they "got it"? Do you think they now understand what PEM is, and that ME isn't "fatigue"?

 

So many humble doctors who want to learn to be able to help is nothing but a breakthrough since the first article in a big newspaper in December. All small and big efforts finally had an effect. And on Saturday hopefully many PWME will have the opportunity to put their shoes on squares in some cities. I was happy to see that the square Mynttorget beside the Royal Castle in Stockholm has been offered to the #Millions Missing" event. The event clearly wasn´t hidden in the outskirts of the city, on the contrary.

 

They are doing it again, 13 September. This time in Göteborg (Gothenburg).

https://magnetevent.se/Event/utmattningssyndrom-och-mecfs-nu-i-goteborg-20775/