Prognosis
Most studies and several doctors report that many people with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) feel better over time but that full recovery is rare and that a subset of patients regress or remain severely ill. These studies do not, of course, take into account the improved improvement/recovery rates presumably found in those under an experienced ME/CFS physicians care.
Treatment Success Rate
One encouraging sign is the consistent improvement rates experienced physicians report they see in their patients. Dr. Lapp, Dr. Teitelbaum, Dr. Holtorf and Dr. De Meirlier have all stated that 80% or more of their patients see significant improvement over time. Dr. Lapp reports that even ‘simple supportive care’ can yield real benefits. Dr. Pocinki reports that 15% of his patients recover fully. Several studies and several doctors statements suggest recovery rates are higher in the young people than in adults.
Rather remarkably, Dr. Teitelbaum states that symptoms are no longer ‘a major problem’ for more than fifty percent of his patients. These people are presumably -carefully – leading close to normal lives. Thirty-five to forty percent of his patients experience significant improvement and his methods do not work on 10-15% of his patients.
A Severely Ill Subset
This is encouraging news yet it still leaves approximately 50% of patients significantly hampered by this illness and a small but significant subset for whom treatments offer little help. After speaking with several prominent ME/CFS physicians Marcia Harmon of the CFIDS Association reported that :
“It would be wrong to conclude that if patients just work hard enough to find the right combination of all the treatment strategies…. then they’ll get better, or at least substantially improve. The bitter, unpalatable reality is that CFS patients can be proactive, they can have a good attitude, they can try various drug and nondrug interventions, and they can still remain ill, even profoundly disabled.”
Indeed several physicians (Dr. Teitelbaum, Dr. De Meirleir) report that a subset of ME/CFS patients (@10-20%) do not report significant improvement no matter what treatments they throw at them.
Relapse
While many ME/CFS patients appear to improve over time the danger of relapse is real even in those whose health has improved. One group of poorly delineated patients experience huge swings of health; feeling almost well -sometimes for years – only to relapse later on. Several prominent ME/CFS figures (Dorothy Walls, Tom Hennessey) have suffered horrific downturns in their health after periods in which they described themselves as pushing too hard.
- Dig Deeper! See Interview With Dorothy Walls
____________________________
Teitelbaum, 2007. From Fatigued to Fantastic, 3rd Ed. Avery Press