What Causes ME/CFS? Fibromyalgia?
"Researchers believe [ME/CFS] will ultimately prove to have multiple causes, including genetic predisposition and exposure to microbial agents, toxins and other physical and emotional traumas. Studies have linked the onset of chronic fatigue syndrome with an acute bout of Lyme disease, Q fever, Ross River virus, parvovirus, mononucleosis and other infectious diseases". (New York Times, "Chronic Fatigue No Longer Seen as 'Yuppie Flu'", David Tuller, July 17, 2007)
Dr. Joseph Montoya, a Stanford infectious disease specialist, believes there is a link between ME/CFS and Epstein Barr Virus as well as HHV-6.
David Brownstein, M.D., in his book Overcoming Arthritis states that CFS shares many of the same characteristics with fibromyalgia and that it is often very difficult to clinically distinguish between the two disorders. He states that "researchers have shown a link between mycoplasma infections and fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Aristo Vojdani, Ph.D., found 54% of individuals with fibromyalgia and 52% of individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome had evidence of a mycoplasma infection. ...Another researcher, Garth Nicolson, Ph. D., found that 70% of individuals suffering from fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome tested positive for a mycoplasma infection. In this study, only 9% of healthy individuals were found to have evidence of a mycoplasma infection." Overcoming Arthritis, See How Holistic Treatments Can Cure Arthritis, Fibomyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Other Conditions, David Brownstien, M.D., p.49
"There is not one causative factor for fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue. The causative factor (or factors) can vary from one individual to the next. In other words, one patient with fibromyalgia may be suffering from a viral illness while another with the same diagnosis may have a nutritional deficiency. ...almost all who suffer from these illnesses will have numerous causative factors occurring at the same time. It is imperative to simultaneously evaluate all possible causative factors ...and to treat all of these factors concurrently." Ibid. p.50
WebMD states that "Some doctors believe hormonal or chemical imbalances disrupt the way nerves signal pain. Others suggest a traumatic event or chronic stress may increase a person's susceptibility. Most experts agree that fibromyalgia probably results from a combination of factors rather than a single cause."
So, what does cause these as well as many other similar conditions such as lupus, multiple scelorosis and others? My theory is simply this - an overload of toxins in the body, especially heavy metals. And, once again, I challenge medical science to prove me wrong. The way I see it is that hormonal and chemical imbalances probably do play a huge role in the cause of MC/CFS and fibromyalgia. But my question is this? What caused the hormonal and chemical imbalances? What caused the viral illness or the nutritional deficiency? Could it be toxins in the body? I challenge medical science to get to the very root of the problem.