18. Information

1)** Anesthetic.   #940806- 82 
Anesthetics containing histamine-releasing agents
appear to cause problems in many M.E. patients.  
#93015-12   Dr. Paul Cheney states "I would
recommend that potentially hypotoxic anesthetic
gases not be used, including Halothane. Since
intracellular magnesium and potassium depletion
can result in untoward cardiac arrhythmias during
anesthesia... I would recommend the patient be
given micro-K using 10 mEq tablets, 1 tablet, BID
and magnesium sulphate 50% solution, 2 cc. IM
24 hours prior to surgery."

     a)Tonsillectomies (#940806-83; (#92056
     Video3  @ 3:21) to improve the symptoms
     of M.E. does not seem to have an effect,
     and after the surgery many children had
     more severe symptoms.   

2)** Driver's License Renewal.  
Every 5 years your Driver's License needs to be
renewed.  When you renew, they now ask, on the
signature card, whether or not you have a
disability that may affect your driving. 
{PO}{There are two ways to answer this question -
with either answer, you need to supply a further
explanation}  Keep a photocopy of the form that
you sign, so you have the information for your
records.  The answers to these questions will be
put into a computer, and your statement will
probably not be entered with it.  If you do not
answer truthfully, the Motor Vehicle Branch may
cancel your licence if you were to have an
accident.  ICBC could claim that you did not have
a valid licence, so your insurance would not cover
the cost of the accident. The question can be
answered:

     a)** "Yes, similar to Multiple Sclerosis,  I
     only drive at the times when the illness
     does not affect the quality of my driving."

     b)** "No, I have (Myalgic
     Encephalomyalgic or Fibromyalgia) which
     is similar to Multiple Sclerosis and I only
     drive when my abilities are not affected."

     c)** {PO}{You get treated badly no matter
     how you answer.}
The Motor Vehicle Branch may contact your G.P.
and ask him further questions about whether you
should be driving or not.  Discuss this possibility
with your doctor before completing this form, so
he is aware to be specific when he has to answer
their questions on your driving abilities.  He
should state that you do not have major driving
problems all of the time and, like M.S., are quite
capable of driving.  The Motor Vehicle Branch
may require you to take your Driver's test yearly. 
 ** Gulf War Syndrome.   #940806-13 
(reprinted from the Journal of American Medical
Association, May 25, 1994)  There are varying
opinions as to whether soldiers who served in the
Gulf War were affected by a chemical agent or by
an epidemic of M.E.  There is still some
controversy on whether or not this syndrome is
related to M.E.    #94022-10; #940701-10;
#941102-25; #950503-1.   Phone #1-800-644-6627
or #1-800-307-1330 for further information on the
Gulf War Syndrome.  {PO}{The other articles
seem to say that the two are not the same.  If you
look at the symptoms they are not.}

3)** Health care Professionals with
M.E.  It has long been suspected that medical
workers are at an increased risk for contracting
M.E.   Health care workers who suffer from M.E.
are encouraged to unite and develop advocacy
programs, exchange information and create
support for one another.  #940806-84.  If you are
a physician with M.E., a group of doctors forming
a new branch of the CFIDS Association of
America would like to hear from you.  As a
group, these doctors can speak with more authority
to physicians, health officials and the community
than they can as individuals. #940806-86.

4)** May 12 has been proclaimed as
International M.E. Awareness Day, in
memory of Florence Nightingale, who (in the later
part of her life at age 35) is believed to have
developed M.E.   She was incapacitated for the
remainder of her life.  After getting M.E. she
spent the remainder of her life bedridden yet still
organized the "menial nursing idea" into a
respected profession.  May 12 was declared "M.E.
Awareness Day" (#941109) by the Provincial
Government of British Columbia in 1995.  

5)** Seasonal Affective Disorder
(S.A.D.)   #940806-33  Studies have been
carried out comparing S.A.D. and M.E.  The
results show that the two are separate illnesses.

6)** Silicone Breast Implants. 
#94024-15   The U.S. government has printed a
(free) booklet regarding the dangers of silicone
breast implants.  Phone #1-800-532-4440/
#1-800-777-1418.  A study shows a slight 
connection between ruptured implants and F.M.,
but not as much of a connection with M.E.  
#93018-33