Sunday Conversations

Sunday Conversations - March 17, 2024

Details: Last Updated: 28 March 2024 28 March 2024

“Dysautonomias 101: More Than Just POTS”

Sunday, March 17, 2024, 4 p.m. Eastern Time

Peter Cariani, Ph.D.

Hayla Sluss, Ph.D

“Dysautonomias” refers to the generic term encompassing all disorders of the autonomic nervous system. In this edition of Sunday Conversations, Peter Cariani, Ph.D., gave a brief overview of the autonomic nervous system and what can go wrong. He also described the role of dysautonomias in ME/CFS, FM, and other chronic conditions, what causes these conditions to be self-sustaining, what medical specialties treat dysautonomias, and added his own thoughts about diagnosis and treatment. Hayla Sluss, Ph.D., presented symptoms and accommodations.

Sunday Conversations - February 18, 2024

Details: Last Updated: 10 February 2024 10 February 2024

Sunday Conversation for February:

Small Group Discussions

"Living with co-morbidities or other serious illnesses"

Sunday, February 18, 2024, 4 p.m. Eastern Time

Please join us for small group discussions on living with ME/CFS and common co-morbidities or other serious illnesses. We will divide into groups based on age/stage of life: Young Adult, Adult, Seniors/Aging, or Ally/Caregiver, wherever you think you fit!

This topic was suggested by several respondents in our recent survey!

**Registration closes one hour before the event begins, so register now!**

Sunday Conversations - January 21, 2024

Details: Last Updated: 27 January 2024 27 January 2024

"It's not 'All In Your Head' "
Multi-Modal Healing with Judy Tsafrir

Sunday, January 21, 2024, 4 p.m. Eastern Time

Judy Tsafrir, MD

When a patient consults a physician and reports symptoms that refer to multiple unrelated organ systems which do not fit with known patterns or conditions, and when the laboratory tests that are conventionally run do not reveal any abnormalities, the conclusion is reached that they should see a psychiatrist. They are told that they are suffering from stress; that they are depressed or anxious. The implication is that their condition is psychosomatic; meaning that their emotions are manifesting as physical symptoms. This is a very invalidating experience that adds insult to injury.

Sunday Conversations - November 19, 2023

Details: Last Updated: 27 January 2024 27 January 2024

"What Sociology and the Illness Narratives Can Teach Us About Living with Chronic Illness"

Sunday, November 19, 2023, 4 p.m. Eastern Time

Helen McGunnigle

Helen McGunnigle is a graduate of Hampshire College where she studied pre-medical sciences and conducted an ethnographic study of college students living with contested chronic illness (including chronic or post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, ME/CFS, and fibromyalgia) for her senior thesis. In this Sunday Conversation, Helen highlighted the findings from this research project, exploring the early histories of these illnesses and what exactly makes them so contested. Following the discussion, she lead a conversation on the impacts of living with chronic illness.