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At the human level, he said, simply trying to get a fimr diagnosis was tremendously frustrating for these people. It can take years. Beatty claimed it is almost a relief when some medical professional finally says, ‘Yes, you’ve got Myalgic Encephalomyelitis’ or ‘Postâ€"Viral Fatigue This does not mean the symptoms/are less painful or less difficult to handle psychologically. Typically, MB is characterized by physical and mental exhaustion out of all proportion to effort, fluâ€"like symptoms, headache, sore throat, nausea, lowâ€"grade fever, tender glands, muscle pain, sleep disturbances, memory loss, poor concentration, lack of judgement, and mental depression. The symptoms may run their course in six months or hang on for years. On a pragmatic note, Beatty pointed ofit that this was costing Canadians millions of dollars in disability support and medications (mostly, he added, doing more harm than good). Beatty said there is no longer any doubt about the authenticity of his disease. It is recognized by the World Health Organization and defined by the Centre for Disease Control in the USA. Unfortunately, there are still no defini- tive answers as to cause or cure. (Continued from page 3) they don’t have all the answers. Dismissing people (who are obviously suffering) out of hand, brushing them off as hypochondriacs, just doesn’t wash.” Beatty says more compassion needed There are over 100,000 ME suffefers in Canada, he said, 10,000 in Ontario, and here in Oakville 200 plus. Certu ProPuintersQE â€"lI- Beef. vegtables and potatoes served with rice. Great For Lunch MDNTFDRT Dr. Jonathan Lapp MD CCFP is pleased to announce the opening of his practice in association with The Dorval Medical Associates Dr Georg e Southey Dr Margaret Found Dr. Anastasia Sky 465 Morden Rd. " Oakville New Patients Welcome at DEPENDABLE * QUALITY at w: THINK GREEN * FAST a. PUSSY * FULL SERVICE Special of the Week Lebanese Dish - Yalme For a Free Estimate 245-3508 Extended Hours Mon. to Thurs. â€" 9:30 am. to 8:00 pm. Fri. â€" 9:30 a.m.v5:OO pm. Sat. â€" 9:30 a.m.’12 noon Family Medicine/Obstetrics OTMH Hospital Privileges 842v7154 Finally we are licenced under the L L.L.B.0. We are open 7 days 10 a.m. to 3 am. 386 Iroquois Shore Blvd. $549 Serving Oakville since 1986 David Wilkins Bishara Arraf 845-7937 Beatty said it is now possible to pin down the disease through specialized blood tests, though again, the expense is prohibitive. But the cost of missed diagnoses is also great and apparently MB is often confused with MS, Lupus, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and even some cancers. One of the problems is that the diagnosis of MB is large- ly “by exclusion”, when the symptoms match up and all other disorders have been eliminated, then it must be Chronic Fatigue. This is a lengthy, expensive process. “My guess is most doctors are sympathetic - but frustrated.” They don’t like the helpless feeling this ill- ness presents. He would say this to them: “Get down off your high horses, become caregivers, come around the desk and work with us.” So the diagnosis is the first hurdle. Recalled the Oakville man, “When you’re going throughthe worst of this illness, you’re just trying to cope. Your body is under stress from the viral infection, but no one can give you any firm answers. That stress of not knowing feeds the disease process. Your sixth sense is telling you something is teni- bly wrong inside, but until you get some confirmation, you’re in limbo.” Suicide is sometimes the result, especially among young people. This is a tragedy he has seen far too often. Syndrome’ as it is sometimes called, or ‘Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome’ â€" the preferred tenni- nology in the United States. (Ten years ago, the illness was callously dubbed, “Yuppie Flu”.) ByDAN VALENTINE In school. World. teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat . . . Teach him to have faith in Mt own idea, even if everyone says they are wrong. . . Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with tough people. MY YOUNG SON starts to school today . . . lt'uolngto be sort of strange and new to him for awhile. and l with you would sort of treat hlm gently. You see, up to now he's been king of the roost. . . He’s been boss of the backyard . . . His mother has always been near to soothe his wound: and repair his feelings. But now things are going to be different. This morning he‘s going to walk down the front steps. wve his hand, and start out on the great adventure . . . ll is an adven- ture that might take him across continents. aerate 0mm . . . It's an adventure that will probably include ware and tragedy and sorrow. .. To live his life in the world he will have to live in, will require faith and love and courage, So, World, I wish you would sort oflook after him. . . . Take him by the hand and teach him thing he will have to know. But do it gently. if you can He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not lust, that all men are not true. Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the bandwagon . . . Teach him to listen to all men â€" but teach him also to filter all he hear: on a screen of truth and take just the good that slphons through. Let him be no man 's man . . . Teach him always'to have sublime faith in himself. Because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind. This is quite an order, World, but see what you can do . . . He ’s such a nice little fellow, my sonl But teach him also that for every :coundul there Li a hem . . . that for every crooked politician there i: a great and dedi- cated leader. . . Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend. Teach him. If you can. how to laugh when he's sad . . . Teach hIm there Is no shame In tears. . . Teach hIm there can be glory In faIlure and despair In success. Steer him away from envy. If you can . . . and teach Mm the secret of quiet laughter. Treat him gently, World, if you can. but don 't caddie hlm . . . Because only the test of fire makes flne steel . a . Let him have the courage to be Impatient. . . Let him have the patience to be brave. ~1253€ross¢Av Trafaigar Inagé'z' ' " '