Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group

My answer to your question is no, we have never had a breakthrough like this before.

Actually there was interest in looking for a retrovirus decades ago, but the CDC and the medical establishment managed to put enough of a damper on it that it never got airborne. The difference this time is, I think, that this research did not involve the CDC at any stage of the process, and it built on recent work with viruses and cancers at the NIH and elsewhere. And also, there was money available for the research that wasn't there years ago.

When the dust settles, and this plays all the way out, we should all thank the people in Nevada and elsewhere for rescuing us from our nightmare we have lived all these years. At the very least, we will be vindicated in the media.

http://chronic-fatigue-syndrome.su...

Its hard to say how much this is going to pertain just to CFS because they are finding the virus in other health condtions too like fibro and austism. Plus they haven't done antibody testing on healthy controls yet, they were only tested for live virus.

While I had heard of CFS previous to getting it, I really didn't know that much about it so I really have nothing to compare this to. From what I've read I've heard several opinions:

1. This is just the next "big thing" and will blow over.
2. This IS the next "big thing" and major research will follow.

Personally? It seems pretty darned big. Too big to blow over. Even if it's not the proverbial "IT" .... we'll sure learn a lot and progress will be made.

KatDC ... I hear more and more that CFS/FMS/autism all have VERY similar 'stuff" (wish I had a better term.) The Yaskow protocol was originally designed for autistic patients and yet many of "us" are finding some success with it!

I guess it depends on what is considered 'a big thing'.

Back in the '90's, it was DON'T eat that food, DO eat this food, see THIS certain kind of health professional, take THESE supplements and you'll get all better.

And people spent a lot of money doing that, and didn't get better.

Then came the F&F Centers and our chiro was all excited about them when one opened here, and now does NOT recommend them. None of his CFS patients who went there, had any success. (I was not one of them, had been on too many wild goose chases already.) Some of them improved for awhile and relapsed, and also didn't improve well enough to stay employed at a job.

Most of us know, 'improved' is not enough. CURE is what we need.

This is major and something to keep watching. For this study to be printed in the Scince Journal it had to be reviewed. They won't publish any study. I think this is a break thru we've been waiting for. I've highlighted several articles I think are important and how I'm going to proceed. If you see something on XMRV just use caution there maybe scammers wanting to jump on the band wagon and rip you off. I would rely on the reports from WPI and NCI. Just make sure they are valid organizations

see my journal entry for high lights

ok what is xmrv ????

This is the first publicized discovery pertaining to CFS since Epstein and Barr released their findings in the 80's, was it? It could have been the late 70's.

The medical and drug communities have marginalized us for so long that now our blood supply is thoroughly contaminated and millions have been made to suffer needlessly. Millions have been disabled - this can't be good for our economy

Someone should be strung up for this one.

"Are those that have had cfs longer unfazed by these articles or does this seem to be something really big? "

I do not even get remotely excited by advancements in finding the cause and a cure for CFS. I have been sick for 14 years and have just gotten tired of holding my breath at the news of some new big discovery.

Know when I will get excited? When there is a cure that is being dispensed to all of us and CFS will go the way of Polio. Till then, I just cannot allow myself to get my hopes up. It is just to heartbreaking when the miracle treatment is nothing but a pipe dream.

I wouldn't call myself "unfazed".

But I'll only pay this so much attention. Paying attention is ENERGY USE. I'm not going to check some website every day to see if there's a magic pill.

When CFIDS.org lets me know what's up, then I'll do something. They let me know about XMRV, and they'll let me know when something else comes up.

In the meantime I have stuff I have to try and maintain around here.

KweebsLS - CFS sick for 17+ years.