Yes, happy New Year to all of you. I am glad you are with us. I am so grateful to be in this group as well. I had given into despair before I found this group and was so warmly received. I belong here and I'm received for who I am. That is a tremendous gift. Much love to all of you.

Really hope everybody feels at least a little bit better in 2016.

And who knows, maybe there will be more positive news from the research community. At least the IOM is calling our illness a disease now. Calling it a syndrome makes it sound like we have an attitude problem.

Wishing everyone a Happy Healthier New Year. Thanks for starting this thread. I have also gotten so much support and friendship from this group. I, too, hope research this year finds something useful.

Happy New Year Yes. Thank you for this post. I am also
grateful for this group and have also gained support which I
lacked before I came here. It has made a very welcome and
positive difference and so I too will be taking that forward to the
new year.
p.s I agree that the word 'disease' which Richie says
the IOM now calls what we have, and I assume this is an
important Institute of Medicine, is more official than a
syndrome, but I must say that there are many times when
I do 'have an attitude problem'. Now, whether it got bigger
after this illness came along, is hard to say.
Maybe, after they've
found a cure, they can do some research on that. No
big hurry. (insert smile)

Since the IOM report is one of the few really positive things that has happened for us in a long time, I thought it would be good to get a notion of just how important they are.

Here's a link to the "About Us" on their website...

http://iom.nationalacademies.org/About-IOM.aspx

The New York Times has called the IOM the United States' "most esteemed and authoritative adviser on issues of health and medicine, and its reports can transform medical thinking around the world".

In 2015 they were given upgraded status as "The National Academy of Medicine".

How important are they? I would say there's no authority higher or more respected for unbiased analysis of medical issues. That's why their report on ME/CFS is such a turning point for our illness. It's given us the high ground, we've been vindicated.

We've got the clout now to tell people off when they try to invalidate us.

Happy New Year, one and all! I love DS. My friends here have guided me through more CFS trauma than any doctor.

Maybe this year......a change, some validation from the CDC......peace in our nation. LOVE......towards each other.

Thank you for carrying me through the loss of my husband. You people were more "real" to me in love and support, than those in my own personal life. Now, THAT's sayin something!

Thank you. God bless every one. HAPPY NEW YEAR! XOX

Happy New Year to all my DS friends. Peace, prosperity and well being to us all.

Bless you for starting this, may the new year bring you loads of blessing also.

Thanks to all my DS friends you are strong, you are resilient, you are AWESOME!