- Paperback: 296 pages
- Publisher: OUP Oxford (28 Sep 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0192630490
- ISBN-13: 978-0192630490
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 647,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (The Facts)
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Product Description
Review
"This is a comprehensive, well-organised book that combines the current state of scientific knowledge with practical, self-help advice. It will be useful for both professionals and families." (Margaret Thompson and Judy Acreman, Ashurst Hospital, Southampton )
Product Description
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) remains one of the most controversial illnesses, both in terms of its causes, and the best ways to treat the illness. For years, sufferers have had to deal with scepticism from their families, employers, and even health care professionals. The vast amount of conflicting advice that has been published up to now has served only to confuse sufferers (and the professionals) even more. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Facts presents a compassionate guide to this illness, providing sufferers and their families, with practical advice, based solely on scientific evidence. It is unique in being written by both a sufferer and a physician, both of whom have had extensive experience, talking to, and helping patients. Included in the book is a detailed guide to self-help, written from a patient's perspective, but evidence-based. The book also deals with a number of special issues, advising on how to choose therapies and therapists, and how to deal with CFS in children. The book additionally includes an overview of the history of the illness, looking at the nature and causes of CFS, and the opportunities for the future. The book will be invaluable for sufferers from CFS, their friends and families, and the numerous health professionals who come into contact with sufferers from this illness.
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First Sentence
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed as having chronic fatigue syndrome (or even if that is just what is suspected) you are likely to have a lot of questions you want answered. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed as having chronic fatigue syndrome (or even if that is just what is suspected) you are likely to have a lot of questions you want answered. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you suffer from this illness you should definitely avoid this book.
Far more helpful books include 'Living with ME' (Charles Shepherd) and 'Chronic Fatigue Syndrome' (Anne Macintyre).
The book by Michael Sharpe is from one of the establishment who have held back understanding of this illness for many years.
Far more helpful books include 'Living with ME' (Charles Shepherd) and 'Chronic Fatigue Syndrome' (Anne Macintyre).
The book by Michael Sharpe is from one of the establishment who have held back understanding of this illness for many years.
84 of 91 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Oh dear... I'm just grateful I didn't find this book first when I got ill. The fact is there are no facts - no-one knows what the illness is, why people get it, how long it lasts or even how many people have it. Having not given us these facts it isn't even helpful or sympathetic in its advice - no mention of sources of help from organisations of fellow sufferers for example. They say one of the authors had this illness - if so, she's clearly forgotten what it's like. The tone is patronising, the presentation confusing and it completely lacks the facts it claims to offer. If anyone is newly diagnosed and reading this I'd suggest / strongly recommend two far more helpful and authoritative books written by doctors who have actually suffered from ME/CFS themselves: ME Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, A practical guide by Dr Anne Macintyre, and Living with ME by Dr Charles Shepherd. With the help of these books and their advice and understanding I'm now well on the way to recovery.
67 of 73 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is titled "CFS/ME: The Facts", and as such is immediately in a difficult position, as there are very few concrete facts known about this illness to date. This book's name comes about because it is part of the Oxford University Press's "The Facts" series (which implies reliable, dependable information), and is cause for some concern.
The initial pages in Section One give a straightforward, readable introduction to the features of CFS/ME, and also some of the theories that have been put forward to explain it. However, as this section progresses, some rather worrying points of view are expressed, for example that many sufferers are resting too much, (thereby "hindering recovery"), and are afraid of participating in "activity that seems to make symptoms worse". Perhaps those sufferers who have been ill for some time (and may be in vicious circles of inactivity and complacency) might improve if they increased their activity; but for the newly-ill, exhausted and confused sufferer, it is more important to avoid activity that exacerbates symptoms, and to take plenty of rest.
Also in Section One, we are introduced to the book's biggest bias, that of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy/Graded Exercise Therapy (CBT/GET). Although the book goes to some lengths to point out the CBT/GET is NOT a cure, it still trumpets this as the best way forward. Other treatments (for example, from the alternative field), although considered, are presented as generally unproven, unreliable and even possibly harmful; yet CBT/GET, which is itself a contentious treatment, is highly recommended, as is a referral to a Psychiatrist. However, in the book's defence, it must be said that the chapter on CBT/GET is well written and makes good sense.
The first section also presents us with the somewhat insulting statement that many sufferers are not recovering partly because of their behaviour patterns and "illness beliefs". This would be great news, if it were true. Most CFS/ME sufferers do everything they can to aid recovery; yet most remain ill, due to the physical nature of their illness. To state that many sufferers are in illness-perpetuating "vicious circles" of behaviour and beliefs is insensitive and, perhaps most importantly, wrong.
In Section Two, Self-Help, there is a good description of the basics of pacing and management; and a lot of well-thought out sound advice. Attention to communicating effectively, improving relationships with others (including doctors), and on planning for your future, are all covered. There is also a section on children with CFS/ME. Allowing yourself time and energy for pleasure is also, addressed, and the balance seems good. However, throughout the book there appears to be some mistrust of patient's perceptions of their illness - for example, it is stated that some sufferers "seem" to be sensitive to antidepressants. I find this sceptical undercurrent worrying, as the way that patients report how they feel is vital in approaching recovery plans. Also, in the "Gradual increase in activity" section, we are advised that an increase in symptoms is "safe" and not to be worried about. Apparently, this has "proved" to be safe and to "work"; yet I and many other sufferers have found quite the opposite when ignoring increased symptoms after increasing activity levels.
In conclusion, this book could well be helpful to sufferers who have been ill for some time and wish to practise self-help techniques for improving their condition and enhancing their recovery prospects. However, I feel it should be treated with considerable caution by the newly-diagnosed and those whose symptoms have yet to settle down, as there is a risk that, after reading the first 50 pages, they may push themselves out of bed and into exercise when it is least appropriate. A more accurate title than "The Facts" would be "Cognitive Behaviour and Graded Exercise Therapy in CFS/ME".
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Terribly Out Of Date!
Don't buy this book! There are far more helpful ones out there. This book is terribly out of date. Read more
Published 10 months ago by H. Astill
This book is not relevant to the disease ME
A truly awful book, written by people who are ignorant about the published biomedical research into the neurological disease ME. Read more
Published 17 months ago by P Carlo
A very good book
A very good book, easy to read and understand. This is because it is written by a doctor and a sufferer of chronic fatigue.
Published 17 months ago by J. T. Sibson
Chronic fatigue the facts
I wanted a review of Chronic fatigue which was accessible and avoided the constantly anecdotal. This book is a good concise summary of the relevant information available. Read more
Published on 19 Mar 2009 by John M. Macdonald
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME): The Facts
This is a very good book for someone who has just been diagnosed with ME/CFS. It was recommended to me by my Consultant @ the hospital I go to in Edinburgh, Scotland,UK. Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2008 by Love Books
An Informative Well Written Guide
Having had the experience of being a sufferer of M.E.(Chronic fatigue) myself. In my opinion, there are only two books which stand out from the crowds of others, which are... Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2007 by Christina Lightfoot
A psychiatric melodrama
If psychiatric pseudo-religious new ageism is your thing then this is the book for you. If you want to go to your doctor with a guide for proper investigation and treatment you... Read more
Published on 15 May 2007 by Martin Eden
helpful and understandable
A good clear book, that sets out what is known about CFS, and what isn't, and then in the second section gives sensible advice about what you can do about it. Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2005
Good for family and friends
This little book is very informative, helpfull if you have doubting friends or relatives.
If you are a carer or know someone just diagnosed well worth taking a look at. Read more
Published on 7 Nov 2002
The best advice available for any CFS or ME sufferer
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone suffering from ME or CFS, who wants the best advice about their illness & how to help them selves get better from it. Read more
Published on 4 Aug 2001 by Mr. Nicholas Clark
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