Interestingly, the supporters of Dr. Sarah Myhill have found a link online to a website, Badscience.net, where one of the "anonymous" posters who goes by the screen name "Jonas" is boasting that he is the author of the now infamous anonymous letter to the GMC that complains about Dr. Myhill. (See "Healthcare Travesty in the UK: British General Medical Council Witchhunt Against Dr. Sarah Myhill, Who Treats Thyroid and Chronic Fatigue Patients"). This is followed by various "attaboy" comments by his cohorts, who seem to be interested not in the health of Dr. Myhill's patients, but singlemindedly hellbent on putting Dr. Myhill out of business. Interestingly, the BadScience site is led by a Dr. Ben Goldacre, who says he is a "medical doctor who specialises in unpicking dodgy scientific claims made by scaremongering journalists, dodgy government reports, evil pharmaceutical corporations, PR companies and quacks." Apparently, Goldacre, when not practicing medicine, is also a writer/columnist for UK newspaper The Guardian, runs the BadScience website, and had time to also publish a book, Bad Science, which he flacks on every page of his website.
Goldacre has built a business and made himself a media personality based on making snarky claims about alternative and holistic medicine -- categorically opposing and dismissing everything from acupuncture to nutrition as "quackery." He appears to be opposed to everything but traditional, Western, allopathic medicine -- and is supplementing his income handsomely with the profits from his outside writing projects.
But one has to wonder -- given what has been scientifically proven in peer-reviewed, double-blind, journal-published medical articles in top scientific journals about the health effects of nutrition, for example -- shouldn't we be wondering about the quality or scientific rigor of Goldacre's own assertions...not to mention his own motivations? After all, there's far more money to be made issuing sound bites as the petulant and patronizing Simon Cowell of science, rather than in actually presenting an accurate, rigorous, balanced picture of holistic, alternative, complementary and integrative medicine.
One also has to wonder whether Goldacre himself is actually the one who anonymously sent the complaint letter about Dr. Myhill as a publicity stunt to help sell books and get more media attention for himself.
The thing that we patients around the world know of course, is that if Goldacre, or any of the similarly inclined medical Luddites, had a condition like myalgic encephalitis (ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromylagia, or sublinical hypothyroidism, and saw doctor after doctor after doctor for useless or insufficient treatments or misdiagnosis, they too would likely end up on the doorstep of a doctor like Sarah Myhill themselves, desperate for help.
But if disgruntled critics like Goldacre have their way, he will keep practicing the same old brand of medicine -- not to mention profiting from his newspaper and book deals -- while doctors like Sarah Myhill end up closed for business, and patients left to suffer. And THAT's what you call truly Bad Medicine.
Want to find out more about Ben Goldacre? Read the book by Martin Walker, Cultural Dwarfs and Junk Journalism. In the book, Walker looks at Goldacre's role as part of the drug-company funded anti-nutritional medicine campaign in the UK.
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
Some of the comments on that BadScience thread are absolutely disgusting.
By all means debate medical science and air your differing views (which is I suppose what the forum is supposed to be about) but resorting to personal, sexual insults is beyond the pale and shows clear signs of desperation:
“Those who live in glass houses should m******** in the basement – Dara O’briain”
“roger me sideways, that’s one of the most retarded things I’ve ever read.”
“We’re running low on skin. I suggest we harvest another lesbian!”
“Sort of thing you expect to find on the synopsis of a dodgy vid.”
Such a mature bunch of people Dr. Goldacre presides over. And interesting how the recurring theme of ‘onanism ‘keeps popping up.
These are clearly people with a lot of time (or something…) on their hands.
The timing of this attack on Myhill from Goldacre’s site is interesting.
Goldacre doesn’t let on that he is “a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and is a research fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London.” (Wikipedia). “Trust me I’m a psychiatrist” doesn’t sound so good, does it?
Goldacre is supervised by Simon Wessely, who has built a career arguing CFS and GWI are psychiatric conditions, the opposite of what Myhill thinks. Now it’s turning out they are real physical ailments, not just maladaptive beliefs, so the shrinks are lashing out wildly at anyone in reach, as their ship sinks.
So when on earth does he find time for doctoring? This sounds like another one of those tossers (endocrinologist – like) who read the book about endocrinology in their second year of med school and think they know it all!!
Is he one of the “B” scientists that live to explain / argue real scientifits findings? Hope his balls turn square and rot at the corners for sneakily attacking a decent doctor!!
I read that thread for 5 mins and it’s obvious even to me it’s not Goldacre. This is hilarious!
Sorry but I’m with Susie on this one. Lets not deal with attacks on a doctor by attacking another doctor. The Martin Walker book also seems a bit odd.
Dr Goldacre seems to be an ardent campaigner against the immoral behaviour of the pharmaceutical industry. The front page of Google brings up this article:-
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/339/nov27_1/b4949
“Is the conflict of interest unacceptable when drug companies conduct trials on their own drugs? Yes”
A very well referenced and informative article by Dr Goldacre attacking Big Pharma, and published in the leading UK medical journal.
From this article, he also works in Oxford University, not London.
I’ve looked on his website forum and there is hardly a trace of him posting in there for a year (do a search on his name). There are lots of articles attacking Big Pharma on his website too.
I think this attack on him is misguided and strange. The e-book you link to, incidentally, is absurd!
Goldacre is well-known as a member of the cabal of “quackbusters” — who, not surprisingly, frequently lobby on behalf of drug company-financed “interest groups.” In this day and age, when we have study after study from reputable journals about nutritional medicine, to categorically oppose all nutritional practitioners and nutritional medicine means that Goldacre, perhaps once a discerning skeptic, is now a professional “quackbuster” — which means that any science in SUPPORT of any alternatives are unscientifically dismissed without question. Simply because Goldacre sometimes argues on the right side of the truth — i.e., vis a vis drug companies with financial interests — does not mean that his categorical and self-serving dismissal of all alternative, natural, holistic, complementary, and nutritional medicine has validity.
As noted by a previous poster, Goldacre is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. He also works under Simon Wessely. Wessely believes, and teaches, and works actively to promote his belief that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome AND Gulf War Syndrome are psychiatric illnesses. It’s likely that Goldacre, as his charge, believes similarly.
Interesting to consider who might be helping chronic fatigue and Gulf War syndrome patients more — psychiatrists, or integrative physicians…
As for who actually wrote the complaint, I don’t know. All I know is that the person claiming to have written it boasted about it at Goldacre’s website’s forums, and that conversation, which focuses on efforts to discredit and destroy another doctor’s career, and includes many derogatory and in some cases defamatory comments, remains at Dr. Goldacre’s site, which he owns and controls.
I have CFS and I am a big fan of Ben Goldacre. His target is bad science, wherever he finds it, and if you actually took the time to read his columns or his book, you would discover that his arguments are supported by impeccable logic and hard, non-cherry-picked science (as well as finessed by a healthy dose of humour). Your arguments here, however, are conjectural and, quite frankly, completely farcical to anyone who is familiar with Ben’s work.
Zoe, are you are okay with the concept that your CFS is a psychiatric illness, as per Goldacre & company?
Goldacre clearly has his fan club, which is fine. But he is not a patient advocate. No quackbuster really is. A quackbuster is a quackbuster — and in the end, quackbusters are NOT on the side of wellness or truth.
What a shame that new ideas are attacked! Didn’t the “experts” once scorn at the notion that the world mght be round?
Love this quote from a Time magazine interview with Dr. Oz:
What was the best advice someone gave you while you were in medical school? —Alicia Perry, Flower mound, Texas
“Half of what we will teach you in medical school will, by the time you are done practicing, be proved wrong.”
The doctors who are threatened by Dr. Myhill should accept the truth in Dr. Oz’s statement, and open their minds to new approaches and ideas.
‘Zoe, are you are okay with the concept that your CFS is a psychiatric illness, as per Goldacre & company?’
You have yet to establish that this is what Goldacre himself believes. You are just assuming he does, based on association. Find proof that he does, and then I’ll answer your question.
‘Goldacre clearly has his fan club, which is fine. But he is not a patient advocate. No quackbuster really is. A quackbuster is a quackbuster — and in the end, quackbusters are NOT on the side of wellness or truth.’
There are actually many people with CFS who would disagree with you here. Do you know how discouraging it is to go from one complementary practitioner to another, each one advocating that their practice will cure my illness, whilst the remedy they endorse turns out to be at best useless and a waste of my non-existent pay-check, and at worst actually exacerbates the CFS? My own health is finally improving, and the cause is conventional medicine, backed up by hard science. To my mind, quackbusters who expose the falseness and dangerousness of certain complementary practitioners’ claims are unquestionably champions of wellness and truth.
Simon Wesley and Ben Goldacre may have an interest in discrediting
Dr Myhill as he developed the NHS psychiatric treatments for CFS.
He also regards it as a depressive illness, from his wikepedia page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Wessely
Wessely and his colleagues also developed a rehabilitation strategy for patients that involved cognitive behavioral and graded exercise therapy; research using randomised controlled trials and follow-up studies,[12] which have been demonstrated as effective at reducing symptoms of the condition in ambulant (non-severely affected) patients
also check out Martin Waker book on Ben Goldacre and Simon Wesley on junk journalism and cultural dwarfs for free download
http://www.slingshotpublications.com/dwarfs.html
Dear Zoe, I totally hear what you are saying. Your frustrations, disappointment, and anger have been echoed by the thousands..but not just about ‘complementary’ practitioners.
Failure to improve has been the experience of so many patients..by ‘regular’ physicians, also, most with the best of intentions. Perhaps they were lacking in just some of the most specific clinical skills needed-or perhaps only the proper amount of time needed to diagnose. Or possibly they were, most sincerely, not yet privvy to just the right combination of continued education at the right time and place. And, sadly, at someone one else’s expense it would seem.
And our bodies are *individual* organisms affected by countless factors afterall. Are they not?
It is much harder to stay abreast of research..unless one has an incredible amount of time (and sheer determination!) to spend on laboratory research, (i.e. mitochondrial dysfunction-broken ‘power factories’), internet searches, and so forth.. and particularly staying – open – to various new ideas. That way when great information does present itself..it is combined and comprehended readily. (Have a look at her co-authored research on pubmed yourself..its wonderful!)
And there are *indeed* those who take advantage of every opportunity to make a buck..in medicine as well as in the literary field..and on Wall Street..(but don’t even get me started on that one!)
This may not be the best example, but in my own words here goes:
~In the US cross-training generally yields results. Innovations..are usually not achieved in a vacuum but by the coordination of different modalities of research and clinical trials and new technology..leaving no stone unturned. We have always tried to embrace that and call it ‘American Ingenuity’ ..which, granted, is boastful..but..it is what keeps us moving in the Forward position it seems. : )
As a group..a ‘field’..you simply cannot resent (or impede) the progress of another field. One should embrace progress.. a thought, perhaps, that hardcore ’specialists’ should keep in mind~at least in the medical/scientific field for Heaven’s sakes!
Or is this politics?
Who stands to lose if Dr. Sarah Myhill continues to be regarded as ’successful’? I don’t see quackery~I see a case of *Professional Jealousy* enabled by a Corrupt Medical Board..unbelievable to us!
How many stories and names on a petiton does one need? LOL! Show us one patient complaint in her practice ..one malpractice lawsuit..one family complaint! What the heck is this? Like Mary Shomon says..just more of the same out of that office..its a witch-hunt! Well, this is ‘One Mighty Powerful Witch,’ then!!
What about this compassionate woman doctor/researcher’s work is considered questionable?..I’m not seeing it. Who has been hurt by this? It is a VERY good question. Hey..we’re talking about a physician’s career here..we take that kind of seriously in the United States.
It appears to be in keeping with US theories that are emerging from all quarters. What ‘potential for harm’?? Laughable!!~
~”Hark!” “NOT vitamin B-12 recommendations!!” “Sound the alarms!!
But..I digress…
Listen..I’m sorry-I’m not meaning to take this out on you just because you were good enough to respond to this blog..really–but in a world where there are so many genuine and severe concerns..this is issue is plainly immoral. She is someone who has TRULY made a HUGE difference in a positive way.
And-please-do NOT underestimate the power of organizations..it would be naive, don’t you agree? As we say in the States: “Follow the Money”….its really good advice.
Then ask yourself: Is it in the best interests of ’somebody’ or some ‘body’ for her to be ‘out of the running?’…think about it. You’d be amazed.
I’m not sure that Sarah Myhill falls into the actual category of one who needs to be debunked by this literary service. I am earnest in this. The recent history of the UK in this matter is unseemly..at least from the perspective of American healthcare. No question.
From someone who shares similar health concerns, I empathize with you, Zoe.
God’s blessings on your path to recovery~and whatever it is you and your doc are doing..keep doing it!!
Sincerely, Jan Masleid Chicago, IL, USA
Peace
Zoe is probably not in the UK, or she wouldn’t be able to say that she is receiving appropriate evidence-based medical treatment for ME. In the UK, only cognitive behavioral therapy and graded exercise therapy are available from the NHS. NHS doctors are not even allowed to prescribe antibiotics for common gut infections in ME. If you want medical treatment, you have to pay to see private practitioners like Myhill.
Dr Ben and his psychiatrist chums Simon Wessely, Trudie Chalder, Peter White and Mike Sharpe, are directly responsible for this lunatic situation, as evidenced by this story:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=31158885
The Bad Science flock are only too happy to savage Myhill, but you won’t hear a word from them or Goldacre about how the NHS treats CFS.
Hi Lucky, pardon my denseness..but I’m not quite sure I understand that link.
Are you implying by your statements that Dr. Ben (et al) have contributed to the general pervasive impression that CFS/ME related conditions are hoax conditions? In other words..they actually do NOT lead to genuine disability/do not exist, even.. and therefore stalking people with recording devices to document their “true” physical abilities is warranted by insurance companies to guard against insurance fraud?
Although this is most unfortunate..and to be sure..probably unfair and unwarranted in this individual’s case..it IS done in this country, also. All forms of financial reimbursement from insurances and government programs have plenty of fraudulent claims that are in fact ever so true.
It is a sad fact of life it would seem. Bad apples do exist. I am assuming that because these particular medical conditions are so poorly understood (not just by the medical community in the UK, either)..that those indiviuals with CFS/ME are partcularly targeted? Has it been ‘popularized’ by the good Dr. Ben? (smile) Is this what your point was with the link? Is it commonplace for specific diagnoses~or is insurance fraud investigation an equal opportunity phenomena?
Thankyou in advance for any light you can shed on this situation for us here in the US.
Regards, Jan
Janet, I wasn’t pointing to the surveillance issue, as I would have thought the insurance aspect of that particular case is the least of her problems. The thread shows that you cannot obtain medical treatment for ME in the UK, unless you go privately to doctors like Myhill – who is being attacked by the Bad Science lobby. This happens because the psychiatrists have taken over the definition and ‘management’ of ME, and other unexplained illnesses, and underwrite the insurers. Peter White of Barts and Trudie Chalder of KCL are named in the thread, and have been most active recently, although it was originally spearheaded by Simon Wessely, Goldacre’s PhD supervisor at KCL. Goldacre has used his media position (carefully badged as a ‘doctor’, not as the liaison psychiatrist which he is) to work covertly on behalf of the same psychiatric lobby. He ridicules unexplained illnesses such as electrosensitivity, and multiple chemical sensitivity, treats vaccine damage in children as a joke, and disses any alternatives to state-approved treatments. He is a profoundly devious and conflicted individual, posing as the voice of reason and evidence.
Re Goldacre – his comments on ‘the placebo effect’ in Bad Science are hilarious. He writes about ‘the true story of mind-body healing’ and makes all sorts of breathless claims using really inadequate evidence to support them! When one is faced with the ‘Goldacre- super quackbuster’ persona talking psychobabble – it’s a shock to the system. But if one knows anything about ‘placebo’, his claims are absurd.
The guy’s a cherry picker alright. He sets up straw men like CAM and Gillian McKeith, but when it comes down to it, he’s scarily credulous about psychobabble. Perhaps to be expected.
Thanks for the reply..hmmm….how some people exert their influence…we have that sort here, too, I’m afraid.
I thought it was an ineresting choice of name the anonymours complainant Jonas , ie as in Jonas and the Whale ie Whale has exposed loads on Goldacre and Wessley , can’t help feeling it is like some kind advertisment
Rubbish is right.
“SUPPORT FOR DR. MYHILL” -facebook!!
My commetns seem to be getting censored. Is it becaise my post high-lights the flaws in this support of Dr Myhill?
MODERATOR’S NOTE: No, you have been censored because you’re trolling.
Yes some of the comments are disgusting. One of them even wrote “the complaint isn’t about her CFS treatment you morons, it’s about the wildly incorrect information on her website. Just because you don’t understand the way science works doesn’t make it ok to try and shout down a GMC investigation. Seriously, how dumb are you people? How about you all go away and learn why proper trials are constructed in the way they are, why anecdotes are not good evidence etc. before you air your opinions. You have no right to an opinion, you’re not engaged with the issue in any meaningful way. Shut the f*ck up!”
Which to me is just disgusting.
Mr. Bimmerman, who are you and what do you have to say that is pertinent? Baiting is of no interest.
Have you looked into her published articles by any chance?
Regards, Janet Masleid R.N.
The flip-side of “guilt-by-association is wrong” is that we’re rightly judged by the company we keep. Goldacre studied under the notorious Simon Wessely, the grandfather of “It’s all in your head” medicine that seems to plague the UK these days. Under Wessely’s tutelage, the UK’s policy with respect to ME/CFS is that it’s not a disease, but “illness beliefs” and people have been forced into “therapies” that harm them, sectioned under the Mental Health Act, and had their children taken from them.
Goldacre cherry-picks just as much as anyone else does, as does his hero, Wessely, whose research on GET and CBT have been ripped by credible scientists. For anyone wants to drag out the Cochrane Reviews (which concluded that the jury was out on the subject of GET and CBT) that since the medical research establishment in both the US and the UK would fund very little research on ME/CFS that didn’t support a psychiatric cause over the years, it’s worth remembering the computer scientists’ maxim: garbage in, garbage out.
If you’re shaking your head over the influential endo who offered his opinion that any thyroid patient whose TSH falls within the UK’s absurd .5-10 reference range is mentally ill, you should be concerned by this: One of Wessely’s co-conspiratiors, and a number of his US fans in the psychiatric community are collaborating on a new definition for DSM5, the psychiatrist’s bible. According the that definition, Complex Somatic Symptom Disorder, virtually anything could be diagnosed as mental illness. Check it out:
http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=368
Sorry, having a thyroid blip (13.45 TSH) and it shows sometimes. I meant, of course, “any thyroid patient whose TSH falls within the UK’s absurd .5-10 reference range AND IS STILL COMPLAINING OF SYMPTOMS, is mentally ill…”
Here in the US, Brian Dunning is amassing a huge fan base for his cult of pro pharma shilling. He uses rational thinking and logic as his pro forma “proof”. Of course he does neither and he just rants. What he and others ignore is the bad science that comes from drug companies and peer reviewed journals.
He’s an arrogant, low level cognitive thinker blustering his way into a huge delusional fan base who quote him like a Bible.
Hi, I just wanted to make the comment that it has been noted that Dr. Myhill was informed of her misinformation regarding what she had perceived to be an adjuvant added to a vaccine (MMR I believe) and has corrected her website accordingly.
Supposedly her treatment protocol of CFS and perhaps of ME is not actually as much in question as her vaccine theories. Some nutritional advice for cancer patient as well as her recommendations for administering magnesium for anginal situations was called into question as well.
I am not sure how one is always to be able to produce hard evidence for these theories of treatment protocols-but then, again, integrative medicine draws upon rellated fields of practice and looks for trends.
Hopefully the GMC will see any corrections made as a show of good intentions and good practice on Dr. Myhill’s part.
I am sure she is relieved to know of what the true facts are herself!!
this has been an informative and interesting blog session. Yet, Ms. Masleid R.N., I am becoming increasingly uncomfortable even embarrassed by the
need you seem to have to consider yourself Dr. Myhills’ personal protector. Seems to me she is perfectly able to take good care of herself and will come out of this intact, moving full steam ahead. She at might even head in a different direction in her practice of medicine. She will be fine and will always have the support she needs as she needs it.
So, Ms. Masleid R.N., you may relax your vigilance over this woman and lighten up a little.
Dear cheri`Louise,
It is wonderful to hear that all is coming along. And its great to have you come over to our blog to engage in conversation, as well.
We certainly are awaiting wonderful news. Its been very interesting as well as upsetting for everybody.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Dr. Myhill and her supporters.
Be sure to let her know her global supporters are here awaiting a positive outcome.
I am actually in touch with some of her group and will most cheerfully abide by your wishes.
Best of Luck! It will all work out well. It has to. This is incredibly valuable medicine she practices. It is doctors like Dr. Myhill that are the future.
Warmest regards, Jan
“One also has to wonder whether Goldacre himself is actually the one who anonymously sent the complaint letter about Dr. Myhill as a publicity stunt to help sell books and get more media attention for himself. ”
I’m not sure the attention seeking publicity stunt idea ties in that well with the anonymity thing. You might want to think that one through.
I just find it unbelievable that a doctor who makes people better is hounded. As a counselling thearapist I acknowledge that CBT and other integrative counselling has an important value for many mental health issues but the point is that genuine physical symptoms are real for many patients and they are being ignored by doctor’s everyday. The success of Dr Sarah Myhill’s work is evidence based. Real people are well again or better- relieved of the desperate trailing to NHS doctors only to be offered buckets of anti depressants or ‘counselling’when they need more. If some of these paper orientated supposed ‘experts’ who are out to ‘get her’ cared about patient care the way she did. Proffessional jealousy?
Amazing…just realized Goldacre’s boys decided to stop their bullying and do some of that ‘evidence’ thing they’re always touting…(”black and white” as it may be…). They stated that they started a new thread on it.
And they have actually thrown themselves into it. Not that they’ve got it right on all counts, mind you!..I can see that..but they are working overtime. Hmmm….interesting.
Hoping for a good outcome on Thursday. May we embrace our differences and strive for a common goal of success.
God Bless You, Dr. Sarah Myhill!
There are points on myhills site which, if followed, could lead to serious harm coming to patients seeking advice there. She spouts nonsense pseudoscience. I know this will upset you new agers and guardian readers, but we live in the real worls.
Is ‘Jason’ a stooge?
(He boasts on the Bad Science forum that he is the complainant to the GMC about Dr Myhill.)
In addition to his penchant for basements,the following information can or could be found about him on his posts on the Bad Science forum:
1) He was temporarily in Australia (and posting on BS during the UK night-time, but after a couple of day’s absence from the site is now posting in the UK daytime.)
2) His name is Stuart (’Stu’)
3) Stuart is 28
4) Stuart is a junior health worker in a NHS hospital laboratory
5) Stuart is very knowledgeable about tests available at Kings College, London hospital
6) Stuart states that Dr Myhill’s website was first brought to his attention by his colleagues.
Is Stuart his senior colleagues’ stooge?
Dear Skipper,
Please forgive my terse tone..I am all out of patience. This was done in anger and rambles quite a bit. Its my final rant, actually.
What do you mean by ‘new age’ anyway..do you mean that we have the ability to THINK in the current information environment or correlate widespread findings and the ability to crossreference ALL of that information to guide us toward the future? (Sorry, don’t read ‘the Guardian.’ Is it like the ‘National Enquirer’ or what? Oooh…’Huffpo’ perhaps? I know you EVIDENCE BASED THINKING folks can’t tolerate that!! Why….don’t even give it your precious seconds of intellectual time. ha ha. You might pick up on something that you ought to pursue one day–oh GOD–NEVER!! ~Ya mean do some actual ‘work/research’? (We’re so “sciencsie”. It must come to us on a silver platter and strike us between the eyes properly, madame! Show us the evidence or ST_U, madame…)
And don’t cross -the powers that be-…never, ever madame.
I, myself, read newspaper(S)/journals from RSS feeds from all points on the earth and subscribe to countless blogs by brilliant, professional people. I do not have a narrow agenda. I have been in the healthcare profession-for many years- I am “just a nurse.” I have seen the ‘trends’ come and go–appalling.
Be a narrow minded skipper- remain convinced otherwise. There are TONS of you taking up space. You wish to throw the baby out with the bathwater, sir(s), due to your PERSONAL AGENDAS. The G.M.C. is clearly delighted to use this opportunity- “you” have provided for this attack on Myhill.
~You are a TOOL.~ (oh right..but its for YOUR ‘good’ almighty agenda, isn’t it?) -depends on who I am speaking to, doesn’t it…hmm…) sorry..you know how we arrogant, unwelcomed, well-intentioned, sorely misguided, bleeding hearts (Americans) are.
Cling to your beloved clinical trials–your meta-analyses/ compilations! LMAO!!!–it is YOU, dear ’skipper’ who find comfort in the status quo. I was one of you. It >wasnot as much statin medication>GP’s perhaps?? >>They are the ones who need to hear this!! I thought the patients worked with their GP’s, too??
Taking a stand on vaccines is not an evil thing…how can ‘we’ as a world know the answer if we stick little ones constantly…Hepatitis shots to newborns in the States? ha ha ha ha. Fools. (hey..how about our great meat and milk? want some? lmao!) And that stinking Gardisil..what a sham..what a shame. But..hey…let’s all be ‘One Less’ as the ad campaign says…”I’m in!!” : P….(NOT!)..and I’m not even an anti-vaxxer! I just really listen to what’s out there.
We need to *think this thing out*..really we do.
You have to want to find information, sir. And cross-reference many links. I am not an inbred hyper-linker, btw. : )
I simply don’t know on vaccines… And to not know a child’s vitaminD3 (natural-protective *sterol*-like steroid!!) status-(and here’s the kicker-what’s the desired status supposed to be?? lol) All we push is sunprotective sunscreen use–ughh….and yes, yes, skin cancer….I’m well aware…..
We must acknowledge the supreme connection to the *root cause* of illness and to the vitaminD status.
~sorry, but~ the recommended levels in the UK and the EU are nothing more than a *laughable crime*..and I am not being overly sarcastic..you just wait and see. future jam.
With the vaccine advice..the G.M.C. plays GOD apparently. Dr. Myhill was talking about what the perfect situation would be. If that situation could not be achieved..such as staying at home with the little one until the age of 6 months(don’t recall)..then I’m sure the new UK mother (who *I* don’t think is an idiot, like the G.M.C. apparently does) could, indeed, make up her own mind!
And what of side lying in the crib? [cot death/crib death/SIDS] yes..statistics..what was the root cause, anyway..?
My 3 children did so on their sides..uneventfully,(thankyou, God)..they didn’t aspirate, either, or have sleep apnea….its not just that …perhaps it involves being upright in contraptions we use for infants as well…serotonin deficits etc. -Hind brain development??(I’ve forgotten now).VitD levels upon conception- (even sperm status). go laugh-see if I care. When you actually do some research-you let us know, boys.
..And babies need to be on all fours..or have you never heard of that? ….and if I had listened to my own, modern, ‘current’, OB/GYN telling me how barbaric(!) if not perverted, sexually, it was for me to consider nursing my children in the 70’s (when they have GOOD NUTRITIONAL FORMULAS)- lmao! – perhaps they wouldn’t be as healthy and intelligent as they are now..pushing the standard infant milk ‘formula’ for nutrition…(the nice, well-intended jerk.) -see natural immunity and fatty acids. See HFCS and SOY for good times. See fructose unopposed by vitaminC. See fatty liver and Type2 diabetes in these people.{see what you want to see.. is more like it.} God help us.
See that uric acid may be different once INSIDE the cells! (and uric acid may be produced as an end result of HFCS consumption..in America..where we have been committing evolutionary suicide for some time now..sadly.)
Its good that Dr. Sarah Myhill doesn’t blow off her CFS/ME patients as mere psychological/depressed folks..isn’t it. Psychiatrists are needed and grand as a profession–but its kind of like…”if all you have is a hammer–everything looks like a nail”…would be nice if they could integrate with the GP’s more..eh?
What is the anti-depre$$ant of choice these days among the good psychiatrists in the UK? (just curious)
It is up for great discussion: mammograms..chest x-rays..cat scans..things ARE a changing! Some of these venues are not all they’re cracked up to be. Wait.
And Myhill’s wording may have been misinterpreted as well.(lung cancer stuff)
You know, in the U.S. if someone were offered , say, a bone marrow/stem cell (after harvesting) replacement after total body irradiation, but it (results) would not be guaranteed, and it would not be covered by insurance…one might have to have family members take out second mortgages on their houses to cover this for a loved one.
It is DONE without there being any guarantee at all. I personally know of this. I am sorry if “someone” went to their INTEGRATIVE physician and was offered Ampligen in the same way-without a ‘link’ to its success!!! Yes! It was ALTERNATIVE medicine, wasn’t it? And, yes! You probably presented yourself as an intelligent member of the medical profession in some way-didn’t you??? That is why the physician(s) offered you Ampligen!!!–sheesh—-kind of pathological, ill, hyper-driven, sad person! That’s why you went there!!!!!
>Do not take that out on Dr. Myhill-God forbid-
and Hyam, —still!!! ummm…Justifying your actions it would seem..trying to be ‘consisitent’, are we??? And it is SAD that smart people are so ill and cannot afford such treatments..even if the treatment protocols do (or do not) work!!
As much as there are people who feel they are evidence-based doing some of this..let me just say..I have spent hours upon hours-in earnest- googling your (cowardly) pseudo names given..your conversations, your dates, your topics,etc. on ProHealth..on its CFS discussion board, on the BadScience discussion board, and the Myhill Support discussion Board. The comments sections of Mary Shomon’s 2 About.com blogs on this subject. I am disgusted. Frazzled.
‘Adam Richards’, UK.Gov. Policy Advisor to the UK Gov.[URL]~ meet your codependent alternate universe partner: *gapsych*. Oh…the two of you would get on quite well~And have you had the chance to meet up with our Kermit Frogsquire? What a threesome you would make!
(Bet you’re having a round at the pub tonight!! Drink up!! You deserve it!!)
Well..perhaps that was just the deluded dream-sequence of an overactive imagination of a loon. hmmm….well so…enjoy the moment…its not every day you get to participate in the destruction of a good physician. Enjoy!~, “honor among pirates”, they say. (That IS how that expression goes, isn’t it?)
Yes, Skipper..life’s stormy on the high seas, old boy.
…Kermit Frogsquire is a gentle leader on the seas of life, apparently. (A pirate nonetheless. ) Plunder away..destroy the treasure that is Dr. Myhill.
Roger that. PERSONAL AGENDA. ~~TOOL~~
Well utilized one to be certain…lmao!
I am so done with this for now. Must attend to some other things. It has been extremely enlightening, to be sure.
I sure hope an ‘apple’ falls on your head~ so you can find its link on the internet. Some day they’ll work out ‘gravity’ for goddsakes. But you hold fast. The LINK might not be there all tied up in pink and blue ribbons just yet.
Consider etching “I was a good TOOL” on your gravestones..I’m sure it can be done.
Goldacre, (boss Wessley, even, can pay for it I’m sure, as well.) Or a grant from that one pharmaceutical company…er..
The CFS/ME community surely will thank you for eliminating Dr. Myhill–oh gentle skipper(s)–you’ve all done your collective jobs well. Congratualtions.. TOOLS.
I am in an evil mood..I am taking my leave.
This was way more of a rant than was intended. Oh dear. Well…it was MY rant. Not the proprietor’s of this blogpage. Freedom of speech and all that. : )
My heartfelt regrets to Dr. Myhill.
The G.M.C. perceived all of us as “Internet Traffic”–* how nice. *
Regards and best wishes for a great future, from across the pond, with love, Janet Masleid R.N. x
Carry ON!!
Hi all,
I see I accidentally wiped out my little cholesterol rant-lol.
I was just trying to point out that I know exactly what Dr. Myhill was getting at–cholesterol is the basis of *us*..everything we need. Statins (anti-inflammatory) may be agonists or partial agonists to vitaminD receptors..and…wait for it..if dietary {{{woo}}} nutitional factors were (understood) & taken care of (presumably first) then the statin might not be needed (as much!!) for their anti-inflammatory purposes.
I am not sure if Dr. Myhill’s point was to educate the patient’s GPs about this(!)..as opposed to tell all patients ‘quit your statins’ necessarily or somesuch. I wouldn’t know.
But the ‘Lipid Hypothesis’ is W*R*O*N*G, boys..in case this has eluded you~~the Lipid Hypothesis-with its 100% wrong embrace of industrial seed oils (PUFA) has deluded, destroyed us.
And I will not forget the obvious headset,mindset, of ‘throw the baby out with the bathwater’ as was clearly evidenced n by the boys in their glass house. My American physician. I do not just dismiss a person because I take issue or have not yet embraced all of their beliefs/theories completely.
What is the matter with this kind of thinking?
Follow the money is usually the best place to start for everything. Follow the human nature would be second–and it usually reverts back to the first, anyway.
Regards, Jan
Have I missed something? Has anyone mentioned the outcome of the investigation here?
- 18 years ban on prescribing medication;
- large chunks of her website to be removed.
Jack, 18 *months* of no prescriptive powers of prescription medication. She can still see patients. And, yes, there are sections of her site that are to be removed..but they do not pertain to the treatment of CFS/ME I believe. (cardiac, asthma perhaps, immunizations…). You may have slightly less than 2 weeks to access this if you hurry.
Thanks.
What a pity….seems our benevolent Captain Kermit Frogsquire has gone missing from his lilypad at the good Doctor Myhill’s facebook discussion panel page….and he spoke so highly of *good science* as being his only agenda….hmmm…..I’m sure we haven’t felt the last of this pirate’s campaign….what do you think, friends?
There is a campaign starting on yahoo answers to have Dr Ben Goldcare suspended or struck off following his conduct in this case. The complaint against Dr Myhill was instigated and encouraged on his forum http://www.badscience.net which is a disgrace.
Dr Goldcare is systematically removing anyone he disagrees with, Dr Myhill being his latest victim, he needs to be stopped before he sets about his next target.
He has brought the medical profession into disrepute with his lies and constant attacks via his forum used to swell bigoted opinion, it is a disgrace and needs to be shut down.
I think there is sufficient grounds for a criminal investigation into his conduct and the effective removal of Dr Myhill her being the competition to Kings College research into ME.
Dr Ben Goldacre is evil and a pharmaceutical puppet, ‘good puppy’.
Dr. Myhill’s persecution and most of the comments in this thread are evidence-based proof that health care should NOT be under the control of the government. Any government. Health care matters should remain between people and their chosen health care providers. Period. NO insurance company intrusions; NO political intrusions; NO media-hound fame-seeker intrusions. The only way to achieve this is for people AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS to get used to the idea that individuals must be able to afford health care with ordinary earnings. In the USA, many health care providers (including allopathic MDs) have begun refusing to participate in any insurance schemes. This is a step in the right direction. However, the allopathic MDs with whom I have personal acquaintance have not yet revised their fee structures to make their services affordable to any but the wealthiest elite. Most of the alternative and complementary medicine practitioners’ fees are affordable by ordinary people. This shows the severe economic distortion caused by insurance companies’ influence in allopathic medicine. The recent health care “reform” law in the USA only handed MORE power to insurance companies and introduced MORE politics in between patient and health care provider. People on both sides of the Atlantic need to tell their politicians to get out of their personal business and mind the health of the country.
Should Dr Ben Goldacre of the Bad Science forum be Suspended or Struck off?
It is alleged:
Following the suspension of Dr Sarah Myhill by the GMC in April 2010 Dr Ben Goldacre and his colleagues at Kings Hospital London colluded and conspired to shut down Dr Myhill as they disagreed with her treatment of patients with ME using alternative medicine rather than pharmaceutical drugs.
How the scam works;
A single complaint was made to the GMC from the Ben Goldacre forum http://www.badscience.net whom on the strength of this anonymous email called Dr Myhill before a disciplinary hearing and suspended her for 18 months effectively ending her career and the treatment of her patients.
The hearing at the GMC was opposed by over 6,000 members of the public in support of Dr Myhill and was described as ‘shambles, a witch hunt, and a disgrace’.
As a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and a research fellow at The Institute of Psychiatry, it is clear that Dr Goldacre’s interests lie in furthering the interests of psychiatry – which, itself, has always had to struggle to be taken as a serious branch of medicine.
Is it not unreasonable to argue that it is in Goldacre’s interests and King‟s College’s interests, to get rid of the ‘competition’ that doctors like Sarah Myhill pose, since King‟s College London has set up its own Chronic Fatigue Research Unit, with Dr Myhill out of business they have effectively removed the competition.
It could be argued, I think, that Goldacre, Wessely, Jonas [complainant] and their pals on the BadScience website and at Kings‟ College have an interest in undermining, discrediting and getting rid of doctors who do not practice the medicine that they themselves approve of.
Investigation is needed into Goldacre’s role in industry lobby groups and why he attacks, belittles, satirizes, castigates and vilifies anyone who has a difference in opinion in medicine.
Dr Goldacre has been instrumental in closing many businesses through his model of raising a complaint and using his forum to gain support thus making it impossible for them to continue trading, as with Dr Myhill.
From the GMC itself, to GlaxoSmithKline, and from those proponents of the Goldacre/Wessely/King‟s College approach to medicine who seem to be absolutely comfortable with posing a real risk to patient health by pursuing their own ends and those of others who stand to benefit their standing in medical circles or financial benefit of one kind or another.
Dr Goldacre has brought the medical profession into disrepute, his forum is a disgrace and needs to be closed immediately before they set their sights on their next victim. Further evidence can be read in Cultural Dwarfs and Junk Journalism about Dr Goldcare and his exploits at http://www.slingshotpublications.com/dwarfs.html
A very informative letter to the GMC about the Myhill saga can be viewed here http://groups.google.com/group/dr-myhills-campaign-manager/files
There is criminal aspect to the Myhill case in fellow doctors colluding and conspiring to remove Myhill to further their own research.
I propose Dr Ben Golacre is brought before the GMC for a disciplinary hearing and at least suspended or struck off?
Who’s pulling Jonas’s strings?
He boasts on the Bad Science forum that he complained to the GMC about Dr Myhill.
This information can or could be found about him solely from reading his old posts there.:
1) He has just returned to the UK from Australia.
>
> 2) His name is Stuart (’Stu’)
>
> 3) Stuart is 28 & likes basements
>
> 4) Stuart is a junior health worker in a NHS hospital laboratory
>
> 5) Stuart is very knowledgeable about tests available at
> Kings College, London hospital
>
> 6) Stuart says that Dr Myhill’s website was first brought
> to his attention by his colleagues.
Is Stuart/Jonas his senior colleagues puppet?
Having started a 200+ page vitriolic hate thread against Dr Myhill on the Bad Science forum by bragging of his complaint to the GMC about her, ‘Jonas’ is now whining there that his anonymity has been compromised.
The information about hmself was provided by ‘Jonas’, for all to see, in his posts on the forum. He is now blaming the GMC, Dr Myhill, the KGB,, little green men from Mars – anyone except the person living in the glass house who provided this information – himself.
I see my name has been used in vain by the acolytical fanatics that support Myhill. I am an ME sufferer who has personally had a very bad experience with Dr Myhill and know of many people that have been seriously harmed by her reckless and unsupported advice.
To put this article “we have found who complained against Myhill” in perspective. I was repeatedly accused of being a conspirator, that everything I posted was lies and that anyone who had any negative experience with myhill was equally bullied off of the facebook discussion.
So I say to anyone, if you want to know the truth please do not read this utter garbage about conspiacies. Sarah Myhill is a very dangerous doctor who has harmed many ME patients for money. She is cashing in on a very very serious illness. The GMC rightly stepped in.
Take your lies back to the bad science forum, as your posting is anonymous there is no way to validate your claim however Dr Myhill does have thousand and I mean thousand of patients and members of the public who support her, something Ben Goldacre and his cronies at Kings College Quack Psychiatry Unit (KQPU) will never have.
Psychiatry is the biggest medical fraud pseudoscience going and Goldacre has a cheek saying he is debunking non scientific claims, he needs to start work in his own back yard and that complete work of fiction, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) where new diseases are voted on by a show of hands at the annual general meeting, very scientific!
Ben Goldacre and the quacks at the Royal College of Psychiatrists have a vested interest in removing Dr Myhill as they have started their own Chronic Fatigue Research Unit.
With Dr Myhill out of business there is no one to debunk their claims or to prove there is a better way to treat ME patients other than with more drugs which is what KQPU advocate, that and ‘its all in the mind’.
So let’s get this right Ben Goldacre has built on career on what he calls ‘debunking spurious scientific claims’ while promoting evidence based medicine and science yet at the same time he is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and is a research fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London: no wonder he tries hard to keep this quiet and now we know why.
Having researched Psychiatry on the internet and more notably ‘psychiatry fraud’ you will find it is total fabrication and not evidence based or scientifically proven at all, psychiatry’s only purpose is to help sell more psychotropic drugs manufactured by the pharmaceutical industry.
There bible is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) which is used to diagnose mental disorders like ADHT, Bi-Polar and any other fake condition they can think of, yet there is not one single ‘disease’ they can prove or know the cause of and until recently they use to blame every condition or disease on a chemical imbalance in the brain, until proper scientists pointed out their isn’t one single test to identify a chemical imbalance in the brain, the whole thing is a sham, just like Ben Goldacre.
Ben Goldacre’s reputation as a quack-buster is an utter fraud and a scam, he belongs to the biggest group of pseudoscience quacks there is psychiatry, which isn’t based on any real evidence or science whatsoever, it’s true, diseases are voted into the DSM at their annual general meeting by a show of hands, it is laughable.
Ben Goldacre is sham and an utter fraud and has the audacity to write a piece in the Guardian and run a forum for bigots spouting their bias opinions, mostly aimed at anyone or anything not related to allopathic medicine.
I’m sorry to hear that Goldacre has been successful in attacking another practitioner who won’t play along with reducing real illness to some kind of psychopathology. The worst part, is that the disciplinary action against the good doctor is probably just the first salvo.
The Institute of Psychiatry, where Goldacre studied under Simon Wessely, is where Wessely has a whole department there given over to work on a psychiatric aetiology of illness. Not one illness, you understand, illness period. The Institute’s funding sources include Unilever, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline (Seroxat’s maker), Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Lilly (manufacturers of Prozac), Hoescht Marion Roussel, Bayer, AstraZeneca, Wyeth, and…the mobile phone industry.
One of Wessely’s partners in the crime of transforming biomedical illness (ME) into psychopathology, and a number of his US admirers are members of a DSM5 working group whose pet project is a new DSM definition: Complex Somatic Symptom Disorder. If you study the draft definition, you can see that virtually any illness could be so designated by a psychiatrist who was inclined to. Be very afraid.
http://www.dsm5.org/ProposedRevisions/Pages/proposedrevision.aspx?rid=368
Hello Kermit,
I have been following your words for a while now..and for good reason.
You are extraordinarily intelligent, well spoken, well mannered, passionate and persistent, and vehemently opposed to Dr. Myhill’s continued success.
I don’t suppose you’d admit to any of the diverse nom de plumes, would you…(Adie?) lol
There I go again.
Its just that I am risking it all on the internet right now. If you are a patient on bedrest..pray..why the fake identity..
I wholeheartedly regret, more than you will know, that you are so profoundly ill. Truly it grieves me.
But what concerns me the most about you..is that I honestly believe that you may be influential in this matter. (Gap?) Perhaps you do not have a personal, financial motive (pharma conspiracy theory). Yet I am not sure..for I think your opinion matters to someone.
Why is it you feel that you can exert influence with us here, or on Dr. Myhill’s facebook site, by not giving out any details of why you make the claims that you do?
If we were on Bad Science it would amount to “he said-she said” ..would it not?
I believe that you have -much- experience under your belt-and I will not comment further..as it is your very life we are talking about.
Either provide better details (’evidence’..does that sound familiar? lol) or you simply cannot ‘make us believe’ that Dr. Myhill has ‘hurt’ people or has taken advantage of them!
I certainly know of no single physician who is perfect.
Apparently you do?
I live in the real world. Our experiences just aren’t all that breathtaking..Quite to the contrary.
But I could not conceive of endeavouring to take part in
damaging them in this way!
You stated that you do not want her representing/being advisor to a large body of some kind..associated with CFS/ME..but I would have to go back to your posts at the Myhill Support faceboook site. (past my bedtime). : )
Perhaps you would like this opportunity to speak your piece. Without ‘bullying.’
It is not so much a facebook forum as a chance for commentary.
(It would really be interesting to hear from these patient naysayers. What other physician did NOT hurt them?)
Has anybody come close to even helping them? Were all of those petitioners just fabrications? Placebo effect kind of things?? hmmm….
Let me ask you this..if Dr. Myhill ceased to promote unpopular NHS ideas..such as vaccination theories, etc.(which she may very well feel cannot be separated from re: CFS/ME Gulf War treatment scenarios/explanations etc.)-you would then feel her ‘worthy’ of advising this body?
If not..just say why..and give examples of why you make these claims.
I make no promises of feedback (nor of conversion to your point of view, you understand)-but Mary Shomon does embrace freedom of speech-without swearing..lol.
She is more tolerant and level-headed than some folks have been willing to give her credit, recently.
Once again, I have not contacted her..nor her me. I hope that reasonable people feel pursuit of the truth is a good thing. I do not wish for you to be harrassed or to be bullied.
But, I must admit, your intense resentment for Dr. Hyam (sp) is distressing as well.
Get enough rest..this is hard for you-as it is for the ill young man helping out nobley at the facebook site.
As a nurse, I find this most distressing. And I do not think there is such a thing as due process in the UK in this matter-so unthinkable is this to me.. words simply fail me.
Regards, Jan
I dont know anything about this Goldacre chap, Im not really concerned actually as one more evil psychiatrist is nothing new!
But there ARE many patients that have had bad experiences with Myhill. Rather than turn this into a slanging match it would help everyone if all comments were treated with respect. Have I ever said that people who have had positive responses to myhill are lies. Or suggested they didnt exist because of annoymity. Perhaps Brian would post his full address and telephone number so we can “confirm” his comments? No, because it is ridiculous to say such things.
Again Jan you misrepresent my comments completely. There is no resentment, no anamosity, no emotion whatsoever. In fact that anger is coming only from those that dont like what I have to say.
I am simply on here so that people know that there is a different side to the story and that other people can then make an informed decision. Dr Hyams so seriously hurt a friend of mine with a reckless attitude that he now has no life whatsoever. Do you not think his parents have a right to be angry? As for me I could see it coming and am merely pragmatic.
What concerns me mots though is that Dr Myhill herself refuses to take any criticism. After the hearing she publically declared that the GMC was wrong and that she was a “world expert.” It is no wonder that when people like me have had bad experiences Dr Myhill has not listened either.
What we certainly do not need Jan is you sarcasm, it does not help anyone.
Kermit,
I was actually trying hard NOT to be sarcastic with you..well..at least not with this last post.
I was trying to give you the opportunity to voice your opinions in a fact based way. I am sorry if I did not word it correctly and you took my meaning for sarcasm.
Darn it all anyway, Frog!!
I am trying not to disrepect someone who suffers from M.E. and has a great knowledge base and personal experience.
I was also referencing your discussions on the facebook tab. (Dr. Myhill’s site.)
I think the whole situation is out of hand..in many respects.
I do apologize if you were offended.
I hope you are able to see this.
I am concerned that you are influential in this matter..and would appreciate it if you would read what I posted on this..or the previous blog of Mary’s regarding who I feel you may be.
I have been attemping to read the (ugh) analysis of some on the Bad Science forum..and I have the migraine to prove it!
I am not being sarcastic. Please try to believe me.
And I have been a bedside nurse my entire life..save for being able to stay at home for 13 years with my small children. (Much to our financial dismay).
I have taken oppostional stands to advocate for my patients or my position..to my detriment as well.
I do not regret this. I only wish I had been better informed.
My heart does truly go out to you and suffers of M.E./CFS or Lyme or whatever debilitating illnesses you may have. I am furious that there has not been progress in these areas.
My take on the Myhill situation was that this was one person (I’m sure there are more, ofcourse)-that was actually trying to help–not ruin everything!
Surely you can see where I am coming from.
I believe I know where you moderate.
I have not had the energy to read through the posts, join up to track all of your 8,000+ comments, or make like a stupid troll.
If I thought YOU were a TROLL I would NOT be wasting my time right now responding to you!
If I am simply misguided about all of this..then I’m sorry for bringing your name up and hope you will accept my apologies.
O.K???
Regards, Jan
Im not concerned with what was said on the bad science forum, I havent posted there and dont intend to. My comments concern my experiences, the experiences of people I know and also what everyone has been writing on message boards.
Just as I posted on the Facebook site, there is neither medical support for most of Myhills protocols and if you look at the message boards almost universally the mitochondrial protocol is an utter failure, costing patients a lot of money, a lot of stress and in some instances causing physical harm.
My position is that on the available balance, Myhill is not helping, most of her treatments are disasters. And because they are founded on essentially mumbo jumbo patients are alienating their GPs and also perhaps mainstream doctors that would like to get involved with ME and help us. What university doctor would put his career on the line being associated with Myhill, or Andy Wright with his magic microscope, or Dr Hyams with magic infusion after magic infusion. I even spoke to one university professor once, an infectious disease professor. One reason he did not want to become openly involved with ME more was because Bassant Puri had turned ME in to a way to sell his own brand of fish oil.
So whatever we personally believe Myhills motives to be (and one must question why she has not helped our voice in AfME more as their medical director) the fact remains that in the real world the effect she is having is possibly more detrimental both individually and to the illness as a whole. Myhill should recognises this herself!
PS apologies accepted Jan. But I would have thought it obvious that only someone who had suffered from ME for 15 years would have the indepth knowledge of all the treatments and protocols that all these ME doctors have tried to sell us. You literally would have to have lived it.
Trolls resort to non-specific accusations and expletives by and large.
Hi Kermit,
Thankyou for your reply.
I certainly never thought for a single moment you were a troll…indeed I did not. I can see that you are exceedingly well versed in the subject..hard won knowledge, at that. (sadly-patients, themselves, are frequently the fiercest advocates, aren’t they?)
And apparently it was someone else who called themselves ‘Adie/then ADS’ who posted recently on Bad Science and the Myhill Support facebook page.
~(No problem standing corrected on that.) Thankyou.
Just curious…not you on Pro Health (Gap) or that ‘other’ forum either? Or as ‘Adam’ on Mary’s blog, here?
Someone surely has your style, knowledge, and precise timing- of the events. They are likewise CFS/M.E. sufferers.
~(You didn’t address those items..that’s all. Coincidental finding?)
And are you saying that you personally know that Dr. Myhill’s/Hyam’s expensive I.V. infusions do not work for M.E. at all? Is this the Ampligen?
~(I thought you turned it down. )
I’d love to know if anyone has had the chance to read the petition..3,000 or so entries..and see if the patients mentioned the specifics of their treatments. Would be so interesting to see if they noted improvement directly related to any *specific* treatment protocols. One would have to actually know their diagnoses, ofcourse.
I know this would be anecdotal..but it might give someone leads-for a study that is in the planning or something????
~(Perhaps the geneticist that posts in support of Dr. Myhill on that facebook page could look it over some time.)
Could it be possible that in the last 20 years (?) Dr. Myhill’s learning curve has improved tremendously and that’s why she shared what she knows on her website?
~(what have the other physician/researchers done along these same lines?)
I wish some of the docs ‘I’ have known were more clairvoyant when it comes to knowing how to turn back the tide in perfect storms…some conditions really seem like perfect storms where everything has already come unbelievably together.
~(sadly they do the best they can-which isn’t adequate for the task at hand many times.)
Oh well….just thinking aloud.
Say.. what ever happend to Dr. Hyams? He isn’t in the UK any more, is he? He prescribed Natural Dessicated Thyroid also, did he not?
~Wanted you to ‘get your say’…
And wanted to become clearer on this disease process since sufferers are asking for it to have the recognition and research it rightly deserves.
Do you feel anyone has actually been helped with this horrible condition as of yet?
Thanks again,
Regards, Jan
Nope, Im not posting under any other names. Occasionally you may find a post from some time ago under my real name… but that shall remain a secret:-) By style you mean they are posting facts about Dr Myhill that other people dont want to hear?
Bottom line is Myhills current treatments even from the last year have shown appalling results – so Im not sure where your learning curve example fit in. And it was only this year that she gave out very dangerous drugs without any valid indication. So she continues to practice mad medicine in my own opinion. As does Andy Wright with his magic microscope.
Its not about being clairvoyant, its about respecting medical knowledge and respecting the safety of patients – even the maker of the bradford microscope that Dr Wright uses was taken to court for making false claims about the diagnositic use of it to diagnose Lyme. And Bradford himself is neither a doctor or hold no know scientific qualifications! Yet Andy Wright was trained by Bradford.
Hi Kermit,
Thankyou for your observations.
I was curious if you have run across this in the forums..it appears physicians who prescribe natural thyroid hormones in the United Kingdom are treated with disdain….and the doctors who have been pushed out in recent years (with the excepion of Dr. Wakefield??-don’t have any idea) have endorsed T4/T3~either natural dessicated thyroid hormone or T3 added to T4 (synthetic).
Currently a physician there, I am informed, is being targeted because a patient of his ‘lost her hair’ on ‘Armour’…which is of interest to me due to the fact that there has been so much furor over Armour Thyroid…Forest Pharma.’s REFORMULATION… this past year and a half. (The company altered the fillers etc. and it drastically reduced the absorbability of the med.)-awful!! None of the prescribers/docs were given a heads-up notice including the pharmacists.
I am wondering if the UK is coming down hard on these doctors.. not aware that this is simply not their fault! Anyone dependent on hormones like this would suffer GREATLY if this did not work for them. (serious cardio issues, even, I believe!)
I guess you may feel its off topic..but at times its all related.
P.S. whatever happened with the ampligen..ever try it?
And do you feel it is the magnesium I.V.(s) that is ‘dangerous’? I actually do not. [Although-I admit- I am not advanced cardiac life support qualified (ACLS)CPR-wise, as far as the defibrillator end of things go]..but mg. makes sense from what I have seen and I think people are blowing this *way* out of proportion. Really I do.
Thanks again,
Regards, Jan
There is nothing wrong per se with giving people Armour. However many “ME” and “alternative” doctors are giving larges doses of Armour to people that are in absolutely no way hypothyroid. In fact Peatfield was giving huge doses of Armour to people that were hyperthyroid. I know a woman whos thyroid function has now been completely destroyed by Peatfield.
They base this prescribing on one test – basal morning temperature, and quite honestly that is so reckless that these “alternative” doctors had it easy from the GMC.
So I dont think it is a case of the coming down hard, I think it more a case of the “alternative” doctors lying to patients groups about the real reason they are called to account. If a patients has been on T4 because of sound medical proof, and is not responding adequately then absolutely no one will come down hard on them if they have a trial of Armour. The problem comes when “alternative” doctors use Armour as the frist line treatment especially in questionable cases. I know Myhill prescribed it to a friend who had a FT4 of 18!!! Ref(9-20).
But from my experience Armour is not well standardised and certainly Cheney now recommends that any form of T3 is one of the worst things people with ME can take.
IV magnesium is certainly dangerous due to vascular effects. It is used in the ER but for ME patients to be given it on a routine basis is unfounded. IM Magnesium is ok but extremely painful. As for Ampligen – if you read the message boards it had very poor results and not very nice side effects. Beta interferon is safer, but any treatment would be experimental as there are no studies on it. Kerr wanted to do a study on beta interferon but funding was rejected. We need studies to know what works.
Hi Kermit,
I appreciate your response. I cannot begin to imagine how *maddening* it must be for no well funded clinical trials to have been maintained. How extremely unfortunate.
What are the chances looking like for this to happen?
I am not familiar with the organization you mentioned ( that Dr. Myhill is advisor to, I believe) but am a little familiar with what the W.P.I. is trying to clear the path for..with the retro-virus/proper test procedures, etc.
Do you think the XMRV is the answer in all of this? And has anyone been ‘treated’ with retrovirals even though it hasn’t been put through comprehensive clinical trials?
Thankyou in advance for any light you can shed on this subject ~from your perspective.
Regards, Jan
Thankyou (!) in advance for any replies : )
Does anybody understand how the [many] M.E. societies are inter-related?
I know there is one called ” Invest in M.E. ” that is perhaps connected with the W.P.I.(??) -( Whittemore-Peterson Institute .. which is heavily into furthering/promoting the accurate identification of the XMRV (retro virus) -perhaps in conjunction with the US, and so forth..not sure.) Oh…And the GMC declined to come speak at an upcoming meeting…hmm..
And a couple of other organizations.. such as was mentioned as the one Dr. Myhill is connected with-” the AfME “- (of which I am not familiar at all… ‘Kermit’ mentioned it, however…)
~ And I noted that: Dr. Simon Wessely was eager to point out on a blog reply, recently, that he is now VERY much promoting-(and cited research that he did)- a ‘physiological’ cause of M.E. ~ in other words..NOT just the whole graded exercise (and psychologically ) based theory of practise. (interesting? or not really..)
Has everybody listened to Dr. Sarah’s interview that was just posted?-(interim trial interview)-where she referred to anti-viral treatment ( I’m thinking…) perhaps NOT being the main approach to dealing with M.E.- even if it were found to be caused by the XMRV? -(Or am I totally “way off base” in what I think I heard…)
She was talking about [primarily] nutritional approaches, and lifestyle changes being dominant treatment necessities…to treat possible XMRV-even if found…..not sure…
Would this policy affect research goals? (’They’ still haven’t been able to 100% reproduce reliable virus identification [trials?] in multiple labs.) ..Waiting for that to happen..etc.
She mentioned ‘politics’ in there somewhere….
What are the possible futures of these organizations…and who might be possibly at odds with each other? If CFS/ME [ & its research, ofcourse] ‘finally’ gets the bigtime attention it richly deserves..it would also bring bigtime fame/prestige..would it not? (I have sensed some competition ..but then..it was just some ‘random remarks’..you know how that goes.)
“Thankyou so much” to everybody for allowing such calm conversation/discussion. Your supreme patience was duly noted.xxx
Gee whiz… I hope this DISPELS the thoughts over at Bad Science Forum (and anywhere else!!) that CFS/ME patients are chronically ‘distraught in their thinking’ or whatever maladaptive m.o. has been bequeathed on this patient population.
If they are distraught..they are rightfully so–but it is because they are FED UP with the way things are! – (NOT irrational people, for Heaven’s sake!)
All patients/citizens with CFS/ME (even ones that have SERIOUS opposing or alternative views from ours) must be given the respect and opportunity to have their voice heard.
Not all opposing views are necessarily fabrications.
Nor are they necessarily accurate.
National CFS/ME Awareness!! May the world take note!!
I think the jury is out on XMRV at the moment. We desperately need a true replication study. And if shows the same degree of +ve we need a treatment trial study.
I would be very very careful looking at a few reports of people saying that have taken anti-retrovirals. As you know there are an awful lot of people that think they have ME but actually have serious psychiatric problems, which is the very problem. And risk taking is often part of many psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, so they are often the ones to go taking crazy cocktails of drugs first.