Dr. Ros Vallings and Dr. Sarah Dalziel are speaking at some events organised in New Zealand, Australia, and USA over the next few months.
If you’re interested in attending the NZ based talks please contact CCIS. Thank you.
Thursday 13th May 2021 – Dr Vallings to speak in Hamilton for CCIS Waikato providing a research update, and speaking about the implications of Covid-19. 10.30 am at Melville Methodist Church, Bader Street, Hamilton
Friday 14th May 2021 – Dr Sarah Dalziel to speak in an online event with CCIS. Dr Dalziel, is Dr Vallings’ daughter and also has a special interest in ME/CFS. Contact Tabitha if you would like to attend, and to submit your questions for Dr Dalziel: lakes@ccisupport.org.nz
Saturday 3rd July 2021 – CCIS Support 40th Anniversary in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty. Speakers include Prof. Warren Tate, Dr. Ros Vallings and Dr. Sarah Dalziel. Venue to be arranged.
Click above to be redirected to CCIS
Dr. Ros Vallings
19-21 August 2021 – IACFS Virtual conference (based in USA) – programme to be arranged. 16th and 17th November 2021 – NCNED, Griffith University, Queensland for the 2nd ME/CFS International Conference 2021 – Research Innovation and Discovery – programme to be arranged
The Checkup is an eight episode series airing on TVNZ.
EPISODE 7 will be on air at 8 PM, TV1 on the 1st March 2021. This episode includes stories : Colour Blindness, Activated Charcoal , Chronic Fatigue, Placebo and why do onions make us cry? It can also be found on TVNZ ondemand after it has aired.
Dr. Ros Vallings features in this episode, discussing ME/CFS.
News articles regarding Professor Warren Tate’s research that shows physiological and biochemical changes and dysregulation in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy controls. Read more here:
Watch Jenny-May Clarkson interview Richie Barnett and Professor Warren Tate on Breakfast (via Facebook Watch).
New Answers for People Suffering with Chronic Fatigue – A new study on Chronic Fatigue Disorder (ME/CFS) is set to help health services better support those living with the disease. While it’s often labelled as depression or made up symptoms, the research confirmed ME/CFS is not a psychosomatic illness. Former rugby league football captain Richie Barnett shares his story with chronic fatigue this morning, along with Professor Warren Tate who has undertaken extensive research.
There are some therapies which are commercially based, and they come under many names. The Lightning Process is one that has been widely known. This is a psychological approach based on neuro-linguistic programming, a therapy which may have benefits to some people with ME/CFS, especially those who have depression or anxiety.
There have been claims made that the Lightning Process is a cure and some have said it did cure or significantly help them, but as yet no scientific trials have been done with a group selected from stringent ME/CFS research guidelines. It is possible responders may have conditions other than ME/CFS.
We are concerned by its promotion of it as a “cure” for ME/CFS. At present this is not scientifically proven. We have received reports from those who have spent a great deal of money to try this or similar treatments who have made no improvement, were not cured or have relapsed severely. The guilt experienced by those who are not cured can be devastating. On 27 September, 2017, the ME Association in the UK published this article on their website:
The following is a quote from Dr Charles Shepherd, medical advisor to the ME Association: “The Lightning Process” is not a treatment that we endorse or recommend for people with ME/CFS.
“Patient evidence, gathered from our members over many years, indicates that some people who have gone through the LP try to make rapid and unrealistic improvements in their physical and mental activity levels. However, this is followed by a relapse or significant worsening of symptoms. “Others who have gone through the LP programme report that they have spent huge amounts of money with no obvious benefit. “It may well be that there are some people with a general fatigue state, resulting from stress, emotional or psychological problems who could benefit from a ‘mind over matter’ retraining approach such as this. Such fatigue states are a separate entity and not to be confused with ME/CFS. “There has been a very significant growth in biomedical research globally into M.E. in the past decade. This over-simplistic and largely psychological model of ME/CFS causation that is being put forward to patients is totally out of step with emerging scientific evidence as to the cause of ME/CFS.”
Since Dr Shepherd wrote this statement, there has been even more robust scientific research into ME/FS as a neuro-inflammatory disease. One might do well to remember that multiple sclerosis was once seen as a kind of “hysteria,” until MRI machines were able to identify the lesions associated with this disease on the myelin sheath of the spinal cord. Research into the biomedical causes and potential treatments of ME/CFS is proceeding at a rapid rate and new therapies are being developed, including the possibility of using existing medications to treat the illness.
Along with providing support, it is the aim of ANZMES to provide sufferers of ME/CFS with accurate and up-to-date medical information. We encourage all patients, medical practitioners, family members or the general public to contact us with any questions you may have.
Associated Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Society of New Zealand
