I'd like to do that. Can you recommend one? One that's as basic as possible. It'll likely not manage it due to cognitive challenges, but i'd like to understand a bit more of this so i'd like to try.
thanks, no problem perhaps you could tell me what criteria i might apply when choosing one - ie how does one tell if it's "decent" ?
A tough question. I suspect the best guides would be that it was produced in the USA and that it was published sometime between 1980 and 2000. Medical literature has been dumbed down since then. I have to say that I fear that reading epidemiology textbooks may be one of the more boring activities in life. And it may be hard to find the basic principles amongst a lot of statistics and such stuff.
So interesting. I did a basic course for a few years on Human Anatomy and Physiology well over 20 years ago and have forgotten a lot of what I learned about all the systems in the body. I was just thinking about which system of the body you would put the microbiome in. I thought the integumentary system because it is a protective covering of the body but really it would be endocrine because of it's secretive properties. In the first 10 months of severe ME one of my 2 GPs that I saw alternatively was going to refer me to endocrinology. I should have pushed for this at time but I was so sick and could barely think. I wonder if anything could have shown up - missed opportunity.
I would say the microbiome is outside the body in the sense that it is the bugs (viruses, bacteria etc) that live alongside us but are not within the cells of any organ or the blood or fluid between the cells. It's mostly in the gut, but also on the skin and in every body cavity, eg mouth etc. Since the gut is open at both ends, the contents of it are effectively outside the body unless they penetrate into or between the cells of the gut wall. If the bugs get into any cell or organ they are no longer microbiome, but an infection that the immune system needs to deal with. Edit: which doesn't actually answer your question! I would say if it's a gut infection, then gastroenterology, if it's a knock on effect of something produced by the microbiome that gets into the bloodstream and causes problems with a particular system of the body, then it would have to be that specialism that deals with it.
@Trish I realise I made a poor post - I do know that the microbiota aren't 'in' the body, not being inside the cells but coating the surfaces of areas as you mention. I think perhaps I thought my question was rhetorical (?) but that's not clear even to me! I was posting whn my brain was overtired which it is too often. Probably a sign I need to take a forum break. Thanks anyway!
Moved post Am involved in exploring new ME Service opportunities. Am trying to track down Dr Jonathan Kerr ATM? I last had email contact March 2022 but today email sent was returned by Kings Lynn Hospital. It says he is no longer there. Does anyone know his whereabouts?
Check of the Medical Register: https://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors?text=Jonathan Kerr&isSpecialist=true = not good news.
Very sad. I had conversations with him when organising for him to speak at Irish ME/CFS Association talks in Dublin and Waterford in 2006 for ME/CFS awareness week
https://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/3257111 Registration and licensing history (since 20 October 2005)Registration and licensing history From To Status 30 Jun 2022 Not Registered - Deceased 08 May 2018 30 Jun 2022 Registered with a licence to practise 08 May 2013 08 May 2018 Not Registered - Administrative Reason 05 Mar 2012 08 May 2013 Registered with a licence to practise 22 Mar 2011 05 Mar 2012 Not Registered - Having relinquished registration 16 Nov 2009 22 Mar 2011 Registered with a licence to practise 20 Oct 2005 16 Nov 2009 Registered I wonder whether he had any problems with his licence?? I know he worked in Colombia for a while so perhaps he simply didn't need to be registered in the UK. If it was a problem with his licence, I wonder whether somebody from the biopsychosocial school of thought might have complained about him/something he said?? (pure speculation)
