This book is a bit of a mixed bag. After reading the back cover and discovering that it was authored by an anesthesiologist and a health writer I wasn't overly confident about the quality of the material. The bio of Dr. Susan Lisman suggests she has had experience treating CFS patients, but she certainly isn't an expert in the condition as far as I can tell. No mention is made of CFS in health writer Karla Dougherty's bio.

After browsing through the book a little my scepticism was confirmed by the glaring lack of accuracy in various sections of the book. On page 125 the cause of Lyme disease is referred to as a virus when in fact the cause of Lyme disease is type of bacteria known as a spirochete. Strangely, this is explained correctly elsewhere in the book. Other sections that leave a lot to be desired include those exploring the relationships between CFS, allergies, and gut issues.

As may have been expected with the book being co-authored by an anesthesiologist there is an extensive section devoted to pain management using pharmaceuticals. Perhaps Dr. Lisman would have been better off writing a book about fibromyalgia where pain is the central issue. Only a very small quantity of ink is devoted to discussing drug-free options for pain management. Likewise with the section on sleep, a huge list of sleep medications is presented with no mention of potential addiction, while information regarding proven natural sleep aids is omitted.

Large sections are devoted to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and exercise as being primary treatments for CFS. I was baffled to say the least by casual suggestions that exercise such as backpacking and playing sports such as soccer, rugby could form part of a sensible treatment plan.

The medical information as a whole simply dishes out official medical establishment guidelines and will be of very little help to most patients. In many instances patients will be turning to books such as this once these standard practices have failed and they have come to the end of the line with their doctor.

Having said all that, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for Dummies does have some redeeming qualities that may just make it worth reading for some. The information is organized in an easy to read format, in bite-size sections. The 'cheat sheets' also provide a quick and easy reference for information such as symptoms used in diagnosis and some helpful figures about the prevalence of CFS etc.

If you discount the strictly medical sections you also find there is a wealth of practical advice in the book that could certainly be helpful. Included are chapters aimed at helping the patient to track down the best doctor for them, handling emotional and psychological issues, file for disability benefits, and cope with relationship issues that arise from being sick.

As I was diagnosed with CFS myself at the age of only 11 I was particularly pleased to find a whole chapter dedicated to helping parents help their child with CFS.

When considering which CFS book to buy it boils down to exactly what you are looking for. If you want to discover the most effective treatment options so that you can help yourself I would suggest you avoid this book like the plague and instead buy From Fatigued to Fantastic! by Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum. If however you are looking for practical advice for dealing with life with CFS then Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for Dummies may well have something to offer.

The authors of this book are both long-term CFS sufferers themselves and have extensively researched the subject. As a result, readers may connect especially well with the great information contained within.

An extensive list of treatment options is provided along with pros and cons for each one as well as possible side-effects.

What makes this book stand out, as a result of being written by people with personal experience of the illness, is that they describe symptoms in a way only a fellow sufferer could really understand. This will make the information provided, with regards to explaining and treating particular symptoms, all the more accessible compared to the more heavy going texts written by doctors, some of which the average reader would find hard to understand even without brain fog!

The only drawback to this book is that it is now almost 10 years old so is becoming a little outdated.

Having said that, if you are looking for a comprehensive manual on how to deal with CFS that's written in your language, this is a good choice.

Like other doctors specializing in CFS such as Dr. Teitelbaum and Dr. Cheney, Dr. Ali believes there are many factors involved in causing chronic fatigue syndrome and that treatment must involve an overall approach to correct the root causes and resulting symptoms. Unlike his peers however, Dr. Ali uses an entirely natural treatment approach, believing that drugs just add to the stressors that the body of the CFS patient is already unable to cope with. As a CFS sufferer myself this is a position I tend to agree with.

Dr. Ali discusses the gut, liver and blood that make up the 'trio of ecosystems' within the body. As such he deals with treating gut dysbiosis, avoiding toxins, supplementing antioxidants and much more. Dr. Ali also addresses hormonal imbalances and neurotransmitter deficiencies which he states are a result of the body's 'trio of ecosystems' becoming toxic and unhealthy.

Dr. Ali believes that the root of CFS is a state of acidosis (too much acid) and oxidosis (not enough oxygen in the cells). This belief is backed by a lot of independent research and other CFS specialists also try to address these abnormalities. In this book Dr. Ali describes the problem and how he addresses it with the use of oxygen therapies and treatments aimed at balancing the body's ecosystems.

Dr. Ali runs a busy clinic, has many years experience treating CFS and has published papers showing the effectiveness of his treatment approach.

I recommend that CFS patients read this book as soon as possible.

Dr. Teitelbaum is one of the most respected doctors in the chronic fatigue syndrome community. He is the creator of a treatment program for chronic fatigue syndrome and related illnesses that has undergone clinical trials and been found to be effective. He is Director of The Annapolis Center For Effective CFS/Fibromyalgia (FMS) Therapies and recently joined Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers, Inc. as Medical Director.

This book provides the chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia patient with the benefit of Dr. Teitelbaum's substantial knowledge and experience. He describes the many factors that must be addressed in effective treatment of CFS and fibromyalgia including, hormonal imbalances, gut dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies and sleep disturbances.

The book includes information about all the treatments Dr. Teitelbaum has found to be effective which include both medications and conventional therapies as well as alternative and complementary therapies such as nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, and eastern exercise disciplines.

The final section presents all the results from the clinical trials that Dr. Teitelbaum has conducted on his treatment protocol. The book is worthy of purchase just for this section which could be very useful when trying to convince your own doctor to help you treat your condition with somewhat unconventional approaches.

This book should be near the top of any CFS/fibromyalgia patient's reading list.

This is a comprehensive guide for anyone suffering from CFS, the author of which is himself a sufferer of some 15 years. As a result of the author's personal experience the book is written in a very compassionate and understanding style which is easily conveyed to the reader. With an illness such as chronic fatigue syndrome which is poorly catered for by the medical profession as a whole, it is inspiring for a patient, particularly a new patient, to read about the illness from the perspective of someone who has been there.

True to it's title this book is comprehensive and covers every aspect of the illness from getting a diagnosis to dealing with confused family and friends. In this respect it focuses a lot more on coping with life as a CFS sufferer much more than many other CFS books.

This is the revised edition that contains up to date research findings from the National Institutes of Health and information regarding all the latest treatment possibilities. Another useful inclusion is the section comparing CFS with Fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, and other conditions which often co-exist.

Adding further weight to this already impressive title are the contributions from leading CFS specialists including Dr. Paul Cheney whose work has been of great personal benefit to me in understanding my illness.

This is a considerable text that, despite the title, covers a lot of ground and looks at more than just the "yeast connection".

Dr. Crook puts forward the case that yeast plays a major role in CFS whilst also exploring other possible causes for the condition including viral infections, food sensitivities, and nutrient deficiencies. Many treatment options are explored including different forms of anti-fungal therapy along with nutritional therapy and the anti-viral drug Ampligen.

A major positive of this book is the fact that interspersed with Dr. Crooks commentary throughout are the opinions of a number of other prominent doctors who share what they have learned through working with those suffering from CFS and yeast related illness. These contributors include Dr. Jay Goldstein, Dr. Sidney Macdonald Baker, and Dr. Doris J. Rapp.

Despite being a little out of date now this book is still a worthy addition to any CFS patients library.