Former Medically Unexplained Verified by Stats Canada
(based on a Jan. 17, 2007 article in National Post)

Article By:  Sheryl Ann Wilson, Founder/President
Sunny Okanagan FM-ME Assoc.
 (Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the Okanagan Valley)

            For many years now, a substantial number of Canadians, now verified by Stats Canada as 1.2 Million, have been reporting symptoms of conditions which cannot be definitively identified through physical examination or medical testing.  These are known as “medically unexplained physical symptoms” and “invisible disabilities,” and they characterize conditions of chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and/or multiple chemical sensitivity.

Chronic Fatigue is characterized by tiredness not relived by sleep and affects about 1.5% of the population, while fibromyalgia is known to cause debilitating pain throughout the body for more than three months and affects about 1.3% of the population. Chemical Sensivitity is a condition believed to result in symptoms upon exposure to relatively small amounts of chemicals and affects about 2.4% of the population.
           
Jungwee Park, medical sociologist and author of the report states that neither disease has known causes or cures.  The study found the number of women with each of the three conditions was about double that of men.  Furthermore, respondents who reported symptoms had been diagnosed by a doctor, though many doctors are not taught to diagnose fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue.  Junwee stated, “I don’t think people would have any reason to over report these problems.  In 2003, 22% with these conditions reported consulting general practitioners more than 10 times a year, compared to 7% of those without these symptoms.  Of those afflicted 44% consulted specialists, whilst only 26% of those without symptoms consulted specialists.  Those suffering required help dressing, taking medication and bathing;;  those with medically unexplained symptoms, have higher levels of dependency, so their life and health are really affected by these conditions.”
           
John Ernst, a spokesman for the large advocacy group FM-CFS Canada, stated “The Stats Canada findings are conservative and these little known diseases are costing the Federal Government millions annually.”   “Many doctors are not taught to diagnose these diseases.  Once diagnosed, patients are at a disadvantage because treatment is often extensive and unique and there are not teams of doctors dedicated to providing care as there are for cancer or diabetes patients.  I expect that as research and education increases, critics will begin to accept the conditions as genuine.”  www.fm-cfs.ca verifies their numbers as 1.5 Million and growing by 30,000 affected with these conditions in Canada.  At the same website, one may read the details of each condition as written by Vancouver Specialist Dr. Carruthers known as the “Consensus Documents”.
           
A local non profit, Sunny Okanagan FM-ME Association, represents those in the Okanagan Valley with these health conditions.  Known to many by their acronym, SOFA, the organization is proudly serving it’s one year anniversary –
AGM on March 6, 2007.