CFS

[Liza Featherstone]

On the CFS/Epstein Barr thread, I follow this somewhat because my sister's 
girlfriend suffers from it. I tend to think most things have psycho-cultural roots 
including this, but I do understand why CFS sufferers feel that such analyses add  
to the disregard and lack of treatment  they're already getting from the medical 
profession...Western medicine is pretty selective about WHOSE suffering is all 
in their head, tho we'd probably all be a lot better off with a more integrated 
approach to health. there was an surprisingly excellent article in New York  
magazine by ajournalist  named Chris Norris who is afflicted with CFS, who 
reviewed some fascinating theories about the possiblitity of  environmental 
causes, and the idea that immune deficiency sufferers in general including 
HIV/AIDS patients could be "canaries in a coal mine" eg, the overall 
environment is becoming more and more poisonous, sothese epidemics, affecting 
those with more fragile systems, are foreshadowing more widespread suffering  
for the rest of us done the road. (probably a terrible Baudlerization of the 
argument but you could look it up) Kind of scary for those of us temporarily 
healthy people, but I know a lot of CFS sufferers found the piece affirming. 

Liza Featherstone