When emotions run hot about a topic, it’s not unusual to see the less desirable natures of people show themselves. Lately I’ve been the recipient of criticism that I didn’t deserve, because I didn’t do what the person accused me of doing.

On social media, I’ve noticed people getting snippy with each other and the end result is a lot of hurt feelings. I’ve also noticed scientists and researchers too disputing each others’ work and veracity. Is this normal? I think not. Surely this behavior is common in times of more stress. We in the Fibro & CFS community have surely endured that for a long time!

I find it unfortunate and unfair that we patients all too often have to fight our own battles. Instead, we should be protected, revered and set apart, like other classes of chronically ill people. No MS patient has to scream that they are tired and hurting. No cancer patient has to beg for adequate symptom management.

(Today’s audio podcast is 7 minutes 48 seconds long. Take time to listen!)

However, that situation has not come full circle for people with Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, ME/CFS. During those times when we don’t feel well, we may have no choice but to get by on a daily basis, much less be able to do another activity or cope with additional stress.

So why and how do emotions run so hot amongst us?

I think the following points may answer the question. Feel free to include your own tough questions and surely any answers that you can come up with. (Just know that there is not a complete consensus of opinion.)

• 
  
• One, what is wrong with us (think problem or ailment)?
  
• Two, what causes the resulting symptoms?
  
• Three, are they physically-based symptoms, mentally-based or a combination of the two?
  
• Four, how long are most patients sick?
  
• Five, what is the cause of the underlying illness?
  
• Six, what medicines or therapies work to reduce or cure the illness(es)?
  
• Seven, what scientific opinions and research work support such conclusions?
  

As you think about this topic and come up with your own questions and answers, take a quick peek at the dispute of two scientists (as reported on Co-Cure.org, 1/6/13). We merely mortal patients are not the only ones who disagree:

(Dr.) Byron Hyde:

The other thing he [Lombardi] says is that he studied under Dr. Suhadolnik at Temple University. So I picked up the phone and I [Hyde] phoned Robert [Suhadolnik] – who is a wonderful wonderful researcher man – and I said: ‘Tell me about Lombardi – who studied Chronic fatigue Syndrome under you and did research with you’.

He [Suhadolnik] said: ‘He never did’.

I said: ‘Oh? What do you mean he never did?’

[Suhaldolnik:] ‘Well, he came here for a few days and I got rid of him because he was a nuisance and he didn’t know what he was doing and that was it’.

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…however, see the following source…

Source: Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Vol. 5, No. 3-4 , Pages 223-242, Year: 1999

URL: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J092v05n03_19

Biochemical Dysregulation of the 2-5A Synthetase/RNase L Antiviral Defense Pathway in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

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Robert J. Suhadolnik, Vincent Lombardi, Daniel L. Peterson, Suzanne Welsch, Paul R. Cheney, Elizabeth G. Furr, Susan E. Horvath, Ramamurthy Charubala, Nancy L. Reichenbach, Wolfgang Pfleiderer and Karen O’brien

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Conclusion: Is either Hyde or Suhadolnik lying – or could the above paper be total fiction!

See folks. We don’t have to feel so badly. Even scientists can’t agree! When emotions run hot, everything surely goes haywire. Let calm, cool heads prevail.

Thanks for joining me today. Be sure to comment!

Cinda Crawford