June 2021 Newsletter
Greetings! 

Welcome to our ME International newsletter. We hope you find some valuable information in these newsletters. If you want to contribute to our next newsletter or have comments and suggestions, please let us know. 
 
Sincerely,

Jim Lutey, Editor [email protected]
Colleen Steckel, Editor [email protected]

TIP FOR THE MONTH
Learn Effective Breathing Techniques

Click HERE to learn how.

ME INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Website Updates
Our Medical Practitioners Guide is now available in Dutch and Spanish.
The Spanish organizations page now includes materials translated into Spanish.
We Are Forming Groups By Countries

We have organized an Australian group, a Canadian group, a US group, a UK group and a European group. If you haven't joined a group and wish to join, please contact us at [email protected]. These groups of ME International members will each have administrators and can communicate among members of their country, discuss what is going on in their country, and provide ideas and suggestions to the ME International board.

If you are not already a member of one of these groups, please email [email protected] if you are interested.
Countries of current ME International members
PATIENT CARE
Pulse Oximeter Update

ME International distributed 26 more FREE Pulse Oximeters to our members who wanted one in mid-May. If you have not received yours, contact us at [email protected] so we can follow up on your shipment.

We still have 24 oximeters in stock, so if you didn't request one and would like one, please let us know.
 
We are still accepting donations to cover the costs of the devices and shipping. Donations can be made to help us with this project so as many of our members as possible can better manage their activity and heart rate. Please share with your family and friends.  
 
You, your family, and your friends can donate HERE. We sincerely appreciate all donations that have been made for this project.
  
ME International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit all-volunteer organization founded in November 2019. EIN 84-3568066
Dr. Byron Hyde Free Download Books

Click HERE to see three of Dr. Hyde's FREE books. You will need to enter your address and email address, but there is no financial information needed. The most recent addition is titled "Regarding SPECT Scans" which goes along with the recent textook.

ADVOCACY
Draft Report: The Systematic Review Report for Diagnosis and Treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a notice in the Federal Register on May 17, 2021 announcing the opening of a docket to obtain comment on the 419 page draft report. Comments are due by August 16, 2021.

ME International will be submitting comments on the draft report. This will be important because the final report will be used to guide physicians in managing and providing care for patients with ME/CFS. In addition, all comments received will be part of the public record and subject to public disclosure.

See the Federal Register notice HERE.

Also, see a blog on our website HERE that provides more information and background. You can download the full report from the blog.

We welcome any input you would like to provide that may help us in constructing our comments. Please send them to [email protected] or you can leave comments on the form at the bottom of the blog.

SCIENCE
Deconditioning Does Not Explain Orthostatic Intolerance in ME and CFS

"This study shows that in ME and CFS patients' orthostatic intolerance is not caused by deconditioning as defined on cardiopulmonary exercise testing. An abnormal high decline in cerebral blood flow during orthostatic stress was present in all ME/CFS patients regardless of their %peak VO2 results on cardiopulmonary exercise testing."

Patient selection: "Based on their symptoms, we established the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) according to the Fukuda Criteria and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) according to the international ME criteria. In all patients, alternative diagnoses which could explain the fatigue and other symptoms were ruled out."

Read the entire article HERE.

IN MEMORIAM
ME/CFS Memorial Page

"This page acknowledges all those who have passed from ME/CFS or secondary conditions. They acknowledge their suffering and promise that they have not died in vain. With love, we remember them." Click HERE for the memorial page.

The purpose of ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) International is to educate the general public, medical providers, and governments throughout the world as well as support ME patients, caregivers, advocates, organizations, family and friends.