New free short module for clinicians on severe ME/CFS, Dr Nina Muirhead, 2023

I did the module, it takes about 10 minutes. It's a hypothetical case study, with multi choice questions. I think it's useful; I didn't spot anything problematic.

Given the module is about ME/CFS, I wasn't surprised when the case showed typical ME/CFS symptoms, and the correct diagnosis was ....ME/CFS. I do wonder if this sort of approach doesn't acknowledge enough the difficulty a doctor trying to make a diagnosis in the real world faces. Possibly someone with a high white blood cell count and raised CRP should have other investigations? I don't know. Just maybe there needs to be a bit more of an acknowledgement of uncertainty in these materials sometimes, noting that it's important to keep thinking about alternative explanations?

 

I did it too. I think it's good for alerting clinicians to the fact that some people with ME/CFS get so sick they need help with feeding including tube feeding etc, and alerting them not to make false assumptions such as anorexia or needing psychotherapy. It also takes the patient several years on with his health stabilised and with some ability to function, though still at a very low level and needing specialist care.