Resources
For ME, CFS, FM, ES, LC and Chronic Pain

New Resources

My goal is for every patient in Canada to have access to respectful, effective health care within the publicly funded system. If you are looking for help and resources to help combat ME, CFS, FM, ES, Long COVID and chronic pain, see my courses and webinars


ME, CFS and FM Online Resources

US ME/CFS Clinician Coalition This website released in July 2020 has much of what you need to diagnose and manage ME/CFS in adults and children and the commonly associated conditions such as orthostatic intolerance and mast cell activation syndrome. There are videos on pacing and severe ME. There is information on documenting ME for disability purposes. The most comprehensive website written by the top US clinicians based on current evidence.

CFIDS Self Help An online education course with a focus on pacing, sleep, diet and more. The inexpensive registration includes a free self-management book by founder Dr. Bruce Campbell Ph.D.

Post Exertional Malaise (PEM) Avoidance toolkit This toolkit is in development at the Stanford ME, CFS research program. Lots of useful information and tips about managing PEM.

CFS Health This is the home of Toby Morrison, an Australian who has recovered from ME, CFS and is sharing what he has learned with others. He has developed a coaching program (fee for service) and an extensive Youtube channel with over 100 videos walking people through designing their own recovery program - emphasis on pacing.

 

Mindfulness and Mental Health Online Resources

The Breath Project Developed by Calgary Gastroenterologist, Dr. Phil Blustein, The Breath Project introduces mindfulness meditation.

HeartMath The stress of everyday life is increased with a chronic condition. HeartMath is a biofeedback tool that helps people increase coherence between their heart, breathing and brain. Alberta Health Services supports HeartMath use across the province.

The Meaning of Life Experiment This free (donation encouraged) app consists of 30 video segments describing how the mind works, quantum physics and more and 30 meditations on topics such as body awareness, expansion, compassion and more. The experiment is developed by Ashok Gupta the creator of the Gupta Program, an Amygdala Retraining Program designed to lessen the symptoms of ME, CFS and FM.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) can improve sleep in people with chronic insomnia even if they have a medical or mental health diagnosis. Go to cbtforinsomnia.com for information on an online course (running for 10 years) from Harvard for a nominal fee. The Sleepio app is very user-friendly and evidence-based (i.e., effective in research).

The Centre for Clinical Interventions offers detailed handouts on a host of useful topics such as assertiveness, building self-compassion, and finding balance.

Anxiety Canada This website hosts a free course and many resources for adults and children with anxiety.  

 

Symptom and Diet Tracking Apps

cronometer.com is a free website that provides detailed nutritional information when you enter your diet intake. You can determine how much protein, sugar or fat you are eating. You can determine if you are getting enough minerals, vitamins, amino acids and more.

nutritiondata.com is a free website that provides detailed nutritional information when you enter your diet, such as how much protein, sugar or fat you are eating. You can determine if you are getting enough minerals, vitamins, amino acids and more.

myfitnesspal.com is a free website where you can enter your daily diet information. It does not give the same degree of detail as Cronometer but is easier to use.      

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Available through Alberta Health Services

The Alberta Healthy Living program has numerous courses (all free) on topics of interest to people with ME, CFS. Enter Alberta Healthy Living Program in the search bar at albertahealthservices.ca

To access an online Chronic Pain Management lecture developed by the Calgary Chronic Pain Center for AHS, enter Chronic Pain Management in the search bar at albertahealthservices.ca

Many Primary Care Networks also run courses on related topics such as pain management. Talk to your family physician for more information.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

ME/CFS Education, Research and Advocacy

The National ME/FM Action Network Education, Research and Advocacy in Canada. The Network publishes four newsletters/year. The full text and overviews of the Canadian Consensus Guideline for ME, CFS and Fibromyalgia are available. There is free Disability Guide and Education Guide and a host of other information on their website.

Action CIND Provides support groups, services and education to individuals impacted by Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND) such as ME, CFS, FM and MCS/ES. They also promote May 12th International Awareness Day.

ME Society of Edmonton The Society is the longest existing in Canada. Yearly membership is $20 and compassionate memberships are available at no charge. The society publishes quarterly newsletters and offers a monthly support group. They are the only support group available in Alberta at this time.

Solve ME/CFS Initiative Formerly called the CFIDS Association of America, the SMCI has filled a gap as a major funder of medical research. They offer free webinars by top researchers. Subscribe to weekly research updates.

Health Rising is a website on which patient advocate, Cort Johnson, and his staff summarize medical research in terms the average person can understand.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Environmental Sensitivity (ES) Resources

List of fragrance free products from the Canadian Mennonite University.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Books for ME, CFS, FM and ES

Hope and Help for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. Alison Bested and Alan Logan 2nd edition 2008. The first comprehensive guide to self-management was published in Canada. It is still current and very useful.

Let Your Light Shine Through: Strategies for Living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. Eleanor Stein 2012. This manual introduces patients to the most important self management strategies. eleanorsteinmd.ca/manual

Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions. Kate Lorig, David Sobel and Virginia Gonzalez. James Bull. bullpub.com This book is the text for the Better Choices, Better Health program offered by Alberta Health Services. It can be purchased separately for those who are unable to attend a course in person.

Chronic Illness Workbook. Patricia Fennell. This book describes the phases of adjusting to a chronic condition. There are many exercises to facilitate self-reflection. This book can be ordered from Dr. Fennell’s website. albanyhealthmanagement.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Books for Pain, Mood, Sleep

Explain Pain. David Butler, Lorimer Mosely and Sunyata. 2003 Noigroup Publications. noigroup.com A clear and even humorous explanation of the biology of chronic pain.

The Feeling Good Handbook. David Burns. The classic approach to changing mood through cognitive therapy. For links to the book, Dr. Burns’ blog and a free podcast go to: feelinggood.com

Quiet your mind and get to sleep is one of many excellent books on Cognitive Behavior Thearapy for insomnia (CBTi) by Drs. Colleen Carney and Rachel Manber.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Best Books on Neuroplasticity (Changing your Brain) 

The Brain's Way of Healing.  Norman Doidge. 2015 A book that gives hope that no matter what our age and how severe our problems, the brain can rewire to help us heal. normandoidge.com

Neuroplastic Transformation. Michael Moskowitz and Marla Golden. 2012 This manual walks readers through the biology of persistent pain and how to change the brain to decrease pain. Note this method is not yet proven by research. Click on the workbook tab at neuroplastix.com

You are the Placebo and other books by Joe Dispenza explain how we can generate our own placebo effect to feel better and improve health. Note this method is not yet proven by research. drjoedispenza.com

Dynamic Neural Retraining System This program teaches strategies to calm the part of the brain that can keep people in fight or flight. In some people this can lead to improvements in symptoms, especially chemical sensitivities for which there is no proven treatment. retrainingthebrain.com

 

For Health Care Professionals

Diagnosis and Management of ME/CFS Accredited continuing medical education for physians in Mayo Clinic Proceedings October 2023.

New US Clinical Guidelines for Diagnosing and Treating ME/CFS. What you need to know to screen a patient for ME, CFS in 6 short pages.

JAMA Crticle by Harvard Professor Emeritus Dr. Anthony Komaroff. A concise summary of what is known about ME, CFS as of July 2019.

Clinical Practice Guideline on ME/CFS for physicians in Alberta Published in 2016, this evidence informed guideline includes a handy diagnosis checklist and executive summary.

Guidelines Paper for Physicians comparing ME/CFS and depression/anxiety. By Eleanor Stein, MD.

Free resource for Family Physicians. Ten clinical cases. One hour of CPD on completion of the course. From Study PRN. 

2014 IACFS/ME Primer for Practitioners Developed by the IACFS/ME, the International Scientific Organization for ME, CFS (2014).

Centers for Disease Control ME, CFS resource page for health care professionals                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Recorded Webinars

All of these webinars were recorded in Calgary by Mike Finch at a bookstore called Self Connection Books (no longer in business). Each presentation is accompanied by information about the presenters and an MP3 audio file.

June 16, 2017 - Disability Supports in Canada: This is a set of recordings from the five presentations recorded in Calgary on June 16th, 2017 to both an in-house audience and to an online audience across Canada. The content of these presentations will be of interest to anyone who is or may become unable to work. Generously sponsored by the National ME/FM Action Network.

Introduction by Dr. Eleanor Stein:

  1. Kris Johnson: Director of the CPP Disability Directorate

Question & Answer Session with moderator Dr. Stein and panelists James Ludwar, Hugh Scher and John Wodak.

May 11, 2016 - Using Neuroplasticity to Cure Chronic Pain

  1. Neuroplastic Transformation - Presented by Dr. Michael Moskowitz MD, MPH, author of "Neuroplastic Transformation" (featured in "The Brain's Way of Healing" by Dr. Norman Doidge).
  2. Explaining Pain and Neuroplasticity - Presented by Dr. Michelle DeLisle PhD, RPsych. In this talk, Dr. DeLisle reinforced many of Dr. Moskowitz's comments as well as added some further insight into the area of pain management from a Canadian clinic perspective.

May 19, 2015 - Awareness Days for ME, CFS, FM and MCS

  1. Progress in ME/CFS: Slow and Steady Wins the Race - Presented by Dr. Lucinda Bateman MD, director of the Bateman Horne Center in Salt Lake City for the treatment of ME, CFS and FM.
  2. Demystifying Popular Diets - Presented by Rory Hornstein, RD, BEd., AFLCA, a Registered Dietitian specializing in nutrition for sports, exercise, weight management (adults and pediatric/adolescent), eating disorders and body image, food intolerances/allergies, immune system enhancement, and digestive disorders.

May 4, 2014 - Awareness Days for ME, CFS, FM and MCS

  1. The Oral (dental) Connections with FM, ME, CFS, and MCS - Presented by Dr. Craig Young DDS, Biological Dentist in Calgary.
  2. Exercise Testing & Activity Intolerance in ME/CFS - Presented by Staci Stevens, BSM (Sports Medicine) MA (Exercise Physiology) - founder of the Stephens Protocol for identifying Post Exertional Malaise in ME/CFS.
  3. Fibromyalgia - future research and treatment - Presented by Dr. Jarred Younger PhD director of the Neuroinflammation, Pain and Fatigue Laboratory at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.


Film/Video

Unrest. Available on DVD and on iTunes, Google Play, Netflix and other streaming sources. A personal documentary by Jennifer Brea about real life experiences with ME/CFS. Excellent film to provide friends, family and others an inside look at the behind the scenes realities of ME/CFS.

Videos from the information session:
o   Most Challenging Symptoms
o   Impact of Symptoms
o   Keeping Hope Alive

What happens when you have a disease that doctors can’t diagnose
Jennifer Brea   Ted Talk (filmed in June 2016)