Got CFS? Dr. Oz Tackles the XMRV Virus

[Guest guest]

Got CFS? Dr. Oz Tackles the XMRV Virus

_http://www.endfatigue.com/health_articles_c/Cfs_fm-dr_oz_tackles_xmrv.html_

(http://www.endfatigue.com/health_articles_c/Cfs_fm-dr_oz_tackles_xmrv.html)

 

 

On Thursday’s show (12/3), Dr. Oz did a great job introducing the new

research showing the presence of XMRV viral infections in CFS (Chronic Fatigue

Syndrome). As the earlier show I appeared on focused on general fatigue, I

have been encouraging Dr. Oz to do a segment focusing on CFS, and on XMRV in

particular, and I think he did an excellent and compassionate job!

 

 

The XMRV research has a number of important implications:

 

 

1. CFS is validated within the mainstream medical community as a real,

physical and devastating illness.

 

The XMRV virus study clearly documents that CFS is a real and physical

illness, again proving that those who abuse patients by implying that the

disease is all in their mind are being cruel and unscientific nitwits. Though

the economics may cause a few insurance companies to continue to unethically

deny the science, so they can avoid paying for the health care and

disability costs they are responsible for, this research should help speed up

understanding of the illness. Meanwhile, for those with the illness, their

families and their physicians, it is now clear that this is a real and

devastating illness!

 

 

2. Testing.

 

Information on doing the XMRV virus blood tests can be found at VIPDX

_http://www.vipdx.com/press/_ (http://www.vipdx.com/press/) (order the XAND

- XMRV screen by PCR with virus culture confirmation: Test Code XAND). The

cost is $650, and the profits from the test will help support the Whittemore

Peterson Institute (WPI), which sponsored the XMRV study and is playing an

outstanding role in CFS advocacy. The testing will not immediately effect

most people’s treatment and it is not clear if insurance will cover it yet,

so it is OK for those who can’t afford the testing to wait (you will

benefit from others who do the testing and thereby further help us understand

the illness). For those who have doctors, insurance companies, or family that

are skeptical about their illness, this offers a good reason to do the

testing. Also, it is reasonable to simply do it to see what it shows. Do both

tests in the XAND panel though, as one test being negative does not mean

the infection is not there. You don’t need the grief of a “false

negativeâ€

test.

 

A negative panel does not mean you don’t have the illness, so don’t panic

if your test is negative. We’ll discuss test interpretation more over

time.

 

 

3. XMRV Virus Treatment.

 

This is where perspective is critical. Although there are a number of

antiviral medications for retroviruses (because of AIDS research), we do not

know which ones will work against XMRV or in what combination. It will take

at least a few years for research to answer this question (and possibly many

years). Because of this, it is important that we harness the power of the

Internet and the CFS community to begin to answer this question more quickly

(which will also help guide future research). Although I recommend people

begin with other proven treatments (see below) while this issue is

addressed, knowing the CFS community to have many wonderful cutting edge

activists,

people will be trying different mixes of anti-retroviral “cocktailsâ€

anyway. If any of you try these, please post your experience with the

treatments (include the medication names and doses, how long used, whether or

not it

worked and side effects) on our End Fatigue community discussion board

_http://www.endfatigue.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=18_

(http://www.endfatigue.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=18) . I invite you to note

this information even

when you first start treatment, and update our community occasionally so

that we can follow along with you. We would like to hear your experiences

whether or not the treatment has helped you.

 

Meanwhile, there is a lot that you can do NOW to start feeling better.

 

 

4. Treatment — What Can I Do NOW?

 

The good news is that there is a lot you can do now to both feel better

and probably suppress the virus. As Dr. Oz noted, about 4% of the healthy

population is XMRV positive, and only about 1% have CFS. This means that a

healthy immune system can often suppress the virus (only about 20% of those

with the virus get sick), which is really good news! Our published placebo

controlled study shows that, on a scale of 0 to 10 (with 0 being “dead†and

10 being “perfectly healthyâ€), the average CFS patient improved from a 3.5

to a 6.2 score at 3 months and to almost a 7 score at 2 years (by which

time most people had improved to where they could wean off of most

treatments). Treatment was based on our “SHINE Protocol.â€

_http://www.endfatigue.com/treatment_options/Shine_treatment_protocol.html_

(http://www.endfatigue.com/treatment_options/Shine_treatment_protocol.html)

[ Free Download

_http://www.endfatigue.com/documents/shine_protocol_download.pdf_

(http://www.endfatigue.com/documents/shine_protocol_download.pdf) ]

(Our free symptom analysis program

_http://www.endfatigue.com/treatment_options/Online_program.html_

(http://www.endfatigue.com/treatment_options/Online_program.html) can

determine what treatments will help YOU feel the

best, as specific treatments vary quite a bit from person to person.)

 

 

Doctors at the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers (FFC)

_http://www.fibroandfatigue.com/_ (http://www.fibroandfatigue.com/) are

staying up to date

on XMRV testing and treatment, and we are adding the information into our

diagnostic and treatment protocols as it becomes available. Our antiviral IV

treatments have also been very helpful for many FFC patients over the

years.

 

 

There is good reason for hope in this new research, and the good news is

that there is also a lot that you can do NOW!

 

 

We will keep you informed ;-)

 

Love and Blessings,

 

Dr. T

(http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm)