It was a pleasure to speak with Dr Nina Muirhead (Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS trust, Amersham, UK) about the updated guidelines on the diagnosis and management of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The guidance has been designed to improve awareness and understanding to aid early diagnosis.
A list of the symptoms for suspecting ME/CFS is included below and the updated NICE guidance can be found here: NICE ME/CFS guideline outlines steps for better diagnosis and management
- Symptoms for suspecting ME/CFS
- Debilitating fatigue
- Post-exertional malaise or symptom exacerbation, sometimes for hours days or weeks
- Unrefreshing or disturbed sleep
- Cognitive impairment
- Orthostatic intolerance and autonomic dysfunction
- Dizziness
- Palpitations
- Fainting
- Nausea
- Worsening symptoms on standing or sitting upright from a reclining position
- Temperature hypersensitivity
- Profuse sweating
- Chills
- Hot flushes
- Feeling very cold
- Neuromuscular symptoms, including twitching and myoclonic jerks
- Flu-like symptoms
- Sore throats
- Muscle aches
- Intolerance to alcohol, or to certain foods, and chemicals
- Heightened sensory sensitivities, including to light, noise, touch and smell
- Pain, including pain on touch, myalgia
- Headaches, eye pain
- Abdominal pain
- Joint pain without acute redness, swelling or effusion
Questions:
- Could you tell us a little about myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and the reasons behind the recent update of the NICE guidance? (0:26)
- What have been the failings of previous approaches to the diagnosis and management of people with ME/CFS? (0:51)
- What are the key take-home messages of the new guidance? (1:22)
- How will these recommendations impact clinical practice? (2:03)
Support: Interview and filming supported by Touch Medical Media. Interview conducted by Gina Furnival
