Doing My Part!

I got to set a CFS non-believer doctor straight this week, and I'm so proud!

My older son had bronchitis, so I had to take him to the doctor to get a prescription for antibiotics. There are 3 doctors in the pediatrician practice we go to. Our regular doc is fabulous and has learned a lot about CFS in order to help our two sons, but when you go for a sick visit, you just get whoever is available.

The doctor who came in the room happened to be one who I know doesn't get CFS. Another Mom I know (whose daughter has CFS) took her to see this doctor while trying to find a diagnosis. Mom said, "Do you think this might be Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?" and Dr. Non-believer brushed her off with, "Who isn't tired these days?" ouch.

So, I just happened to mention while Dr. Non-believer was examining my son that he has CFS which makes him extra-susceptible to bacterial infections. At first, she just gave me a non-committal, " uh-huh," but a few minutes later, she looked at me and said, "What you just said about CFS...has that been documented?" I saw my chance for a little education and jumped at it. I said yes and explained that CFS causes immune system dysfunction, including an imbalance of T-helper cells that makes the immune system under-react to bacterial infections. I added that most people with CFS also have low Natural Killer (NK) Cell function, and that Jamie's was recently measured and is very low.

I'm hoping that those few little facts will help her to think twice about dismissing CFS as "just feeling tired" and maybe even seek out recent information about it. Every little bit helps!