Edinburgh M.E. Self help Group

GP

There is currently no accepted diagnostic test for M.E./CFS, although there is ongoing research towards this. Diagnosis is at present made on the basis of detailed medical history and tests to eliminate other conditions.

Your GP may be able to give a definite diagnosis, especially if s/he has an interest in and experience of M.E./CFS. There will be information for your GP on NHS Lothian intranet site, and various guidelines have been published (especially look at Canadian Consensus Overview; South Australia Guidelines for GPs; US CDC Toolkit; and Action for M.E. Guideline). See also Chief Medical Officers’ Reports published 2002 (England) and 2003 (Scotland). These are listed under Reports and Guidelines on this website.

Western General

You can also ask for a referral to the hospital outpatient clinics for adults held at the Regional Infectious Diseases Unit (RIDU), Western General Hospital. The main consultant there is Dr David Wilks. There are three other consultants who also see people with M.E./CFS: Dr Janet Andrews, Dr Mike Jones, and Dr Clifford Leen. You will be asked to complete a questionnaire beforehand and your GP will be asked to complete a specified series of tests. Waiting times for clinics are around five months.

The RIDU clinics are able to offer diagnosis or confirmation of diagnosis, and may be able to suggest treatments for some symptoms such as pain and sleep problems. They can refer you to the M.E./CFS/PVFS Lifestyle Management courses at the Thistle Foundation, and are also the referral route for the PACE research trial which will recruit volunteers until November 2008.

Pain Clinics

If pain is a particular problem, you can ask for referral to the Pain Clinic, also at the Western General Hospital. There are pain management courses at Astley Ainslie Hospital, and others organised by the Pain Association.

Children and young people

Children and young people should be referred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children where they can be seen by a team which is likely to include a Paediatrician (General not Specialist), Liaison Psychiatrist – Dr Katy Auckland who has a special interest in M.E./CFS, a Physiotherapist, and the CFS/M.E. Outreach Worker – Irene Murray.