Latest ‘ME Essential’ magazine

The 44 page October issue of ME Essential is now available.

Contents include:

HOUSE OF COMMONS ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON ME

Update on what is happening plus a two page letter insert that you can sign and send to your MP to ask him/her to take part in the ballot for a House of Commons Adjournment Debate that the MEA is helping John Bercow MP to organise. The debate will cover all the current major concerns: DWP medical guidance for DLA applications; NICE guideline; NHS Plus leaflets and lack of research into the underlying physical cause.

CAMPAIGNING

John Bercow MP visits The MEA’s office in Buckingham to discuss the adjournment debate and the issues it will cover
Report on the MEA annual medical meeting in Peterborough in September at which representatives from NICE presented their recommendations and answered questions from the audience.
When NICE is not good enough – the MEA response to the final version
MEA statement on the final version of the DWP medical guidance for DLA applications
Joint charity response, co-ordinated by The MEA, to the three NHS Plus leaflets on employment issues
Report on the July APPG meeting at Westminster that covered problems with NHS service provision, including the presentation from Dr Terry Mitchell on the East Anglia model

FUNDRAISING

Update on plans for the two year Amazon Walk – to raise funds for an ME tissue bank and post mortem research unit. Watch the video as well!
Recycle your phones to help the MEA
MEA Christmas cards
Swaddles Organics – advert for the commercial partnership with The MEA.

GENERAL

Diary of forthcoming meetings and conferences in Belfast, Berkshire, Dumfries, Eastbourne, London, Lincoln, Maidenhead, Sunderland
Legal problems facing people with ME – how to find a good solicitor if you need one.
ME/CFS in the USA
News from local groups

MEDICAL

A disease of many names: ME, CFS, CFIDS, PVFS But what do they all mean?
Alcohol intolerance and ME/CFS
Benzodiazepine withdrawal
Disability Living Allowance – a new MEA Management File
DLA medicals – one person’s experience
Genes – is ME inherited?
Lightning Process – a range of views
Lumbar puncture – is it relevant to the clinical assessment of ME/CFS?
Nutrition – a three-page review from dietician Deborah Lycett
Private laboratories – using them for ME tests
Tonsils and recurrent tonsillitis – when should they be removed?
Total food allergy
Vaccines and ME
Valganciclovir – taking part in the new clinical trial
Weight gain – why do some people with ME put on weight? What can be done to reduce unwanted weight gain?

MEA MATTERS

Trustee elections
Report on the August Board of Trustees meeting
ME Connect – more telephone volunteers wanted for our telephone information and support service

NEW LITERATURE:

Our six-page literature order form insert contains details of:

How to obtain paper copies of the NICE guideline, plus the MEA response
The new (July 2007) edition of ‘ME/CFS/PVFS – An Exploration of the Key Clinical Issues’ – our essential 36 page fully referenced guide to research, clinical assessment and management.
Our new Management File on Employment – available in November
Canadian guidelines booklet – now back in stock
A summary of all our current information leaflets covering all aspects of management

NEWS

RESEARCH AND RAMSAY RESEARCH FUND NEWS

Risk factors for severe ME – summary of a major MEA funded research study from Dr Derek Pheby that is now being submitted for publication
Call for volunteers to take part in a new research study in Birmingham
More on the link with chronic enterviral infection in the stomach and ME/CFS – as published in the Journal of Clinical Pathology
MEA funded research into the role of diet in ME/CFS – this paper is about to be published in Human Nutrition and Dietetics
Volunteers wanted for a new research study into the value of pet companionship in chronic illnesses

NON MEDICAL FEATURES

MEA website: now number one on Google for M.E. The website also has a pdf literature order form.

ME Essential magazine is sent free to all MEA members. Single copies can be purchased for £5.