We normally offer patients the opportunity to take part in a pair of meetings called the “Foundation Phase” seminars. This short course has a number of aims, including:

• clarifying the symptoms of ME/CFS
• exploring in depth some of the key ME/CFS self-management areas
• sharing coping strategies between patients coming to the seminars
• finding ways of reducing the impact of the condition

The seminars have been developed with a lot of patient involvement and feedback, and each seminar we run involves sharing knowledge and experience which patients have already developed.

We had to stop offering these seminars in March 2020 to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection, so we have put together this short online course, so that people can still access the ideas from the Foundation Phase seminars.

The first seminar is split into two parts. The first part clarifies the symptoms, consequences and triggers. The second part looks at activity management, particularly as a way of managing post-exertional malaise.

The second seminar is split into two parts as well. The first part is a short introduction to the impact of stress and the role of stress management. The second part is longer and focusses on sleep management.

We have made the workbooks which support these seminars available as a written guide, which you can choose to read by selecting the "Foundation Phase written guide" from the left hand menu. There is also an example of an activity diary available, and some guidance about completing an activity diary, which you can read by choosing the "Bristol M.E. Service: Activity, Rest and Sleep Diary" from the left hand menu.

Foundation session 1 part 1 

Foundation session 1 part 2 

Foundation session 2 part 1 

Foundation session 2 part 2 

Canagliflozin, Dapagliflozin, Empagliflozin and Ertugliflozin are from a class of medication called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Most people taking these medications will have type 2 diabetes but some may have type 1 diabetes. People taking these medications are at increased risk of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). This could happen even with normal blood glucose levels. DKA is rare in people with type 2 diabetes but it is a serious condition and could be life-threatening.

If you are taking any of these medications and feeling unwell we suggest you stop them till you are feeling better. It is important to keep well hydrated.

If you have symptoms suggestive of DKA (for example, excessive thirst, dehydration, vomiting, fast breathing, feeling drowsy, abdominal pains) we suggest that you stop taking these tablets, keep well hydrated, and follow the advice below:

• If you have type 2 diabetes and you do not have access to a blood ketone meter. Please follow advice from this link: TREND UK: Type 2 Diabetes and DKA.
• If you have type 2 diabetes and have access to a blood ketone meter, please measure your blood ketone level:
  • If ketone is normal (<0.6 mmol/L), please follow advice from this link: TREND UK: Type 2 diabetes: what to do when you are ill.
  • If ketone is raised (>0.6 mmol/L) then contact 111.
• If you have type 1 diabetes, please measure your blood ketone level and follow advice from this link: TREND UK: Type 1 diabetes: what to do when you are ill.
• If your symptoms are getting worse or you think you are developing DKA then call 111.

If you are under the care of NBT diabetes team and become unwell for any reason, it is important that you follow the ‘sick day rules’. 

TREND UK: Type 1 diabetes: what to do when you are ill

TREND UK: Type 2 diabetes: what to do when you are ill 

What should I do if I take an SGLT2-inhibitor  - Forxiga (dapagliflozin), Invokana (canagliflozin), Jardiance (empagliflozin), Steglatro (ertugliflozin)?

If you are still unsure how to manage your diabetes despite looking at the above links, then please do not hesitate to contact the Southmead Diabetes Team on 0117 414 6427 for advice. We are extremely busy at the current time but will get back to you as soon as possible.

If you are not under the care of NBT diabetes please contact your GP or usual care provider

Information for clinicians 

There are 6 specialist endometriosis clinics per month. Our endometriosis specialist nurse also runs a separate clinic twice a month.

Referral criteria

Inclusion criteria:
• Women with diagnosis of severe endometriosis (defined as endometriosis affecting bowel, bladder, ureter)
• Endometrioma
• Extra pelvic endometriosis e.g. thoracic endometriosis
• Non severe endometriosis refractory to treatment

Exclusion criteria:
• Women with pelvic pain and no endometriosis
• Non-severe endometriosis responding to treatment

Patient pathway

Useful guidelines

NICE guideline [NG73] Endometriosis: diagnosis and management September 2017

ESHRE guideline Management of women with endometriosis September 2013

Endometriosis support

Endometriosis UK is a charity that provides free information and support to those who have endometriosis. There is a local Bristol support group.

The Pelvic Pain Support Network is an organisation that provides support, information and advocacy for those with pelvic pain, their families and carers

What happens at our clinic?

Investigations

Medical Treatments

Surgical Treatments

Multi-Disciplinary Meeting (MDM)

How can I prepare for my appointment?

About endometriosis

How common is endometriosis?

Endometriosis affects as many as one in ten women of reproductive age, many of whom will have no symptoms. This is an estimated two million women in the UK. It can affect women from every social group and ethnicity.

What are the symptoms?

Types of endometriosis

How is endometriosis diagnosed?

How is endometriosis treated?

Our main branches of research concern:

• predicting who will develop memory problems such as Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease;
• treating memory problems and neurodegenerative diseases;
• understanding how different types of memories are stored, and which brain regions underlie this.

We use several techniques for this including:

• clinical trials and drug studies
• sleep studies, including polysomnography
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• studies with patients with diseases
• computational modelling

For more information on the University of Bristol Dementia Research Group visit
www.bristol.ac.uk/translational-health-sciences/research/neurosciences/…

Educational Resources

Welcome to the SWGLH repository for resources to support learning in the field of Genomics

This page will use a combination of signposting to other websites with useful Genomics educational tools and locally developed education and training packages that have open access

Content coming soon

Meet the SWGLH Team

The Directorship is supported by the Regional Team:

• Dr Tom Coates, SWGLH Haematological Malignancies Medical Lead
• Dr Julia Rankin & Dr Ruth Cleaver, SWGLH Rare Disease Medical Leads
• Dr Louise Medley, SWGLH Cancer Medical Lead
• Dr Yves Zhang, SWGLH Pathology Lead
• Chris Wragg, SWGLH Haematological Malignancies Lead & Deputy Head of Bristol Genetics Laboratory
• Laura Yarram-Smith,  SWGLH Solid Tumours Lead
• Ian Berry, SWGLH Rare Disease Lead
• Jenny Glauert,  SWGLH Technology Laboratory Manager
• Lorraine Warne, SWGLH Business Lead
• Brendan Hanrahan, SWGLH Finance and Contracts Manager
• Mel Watson, SWGLH Education and Training Lead
• Sharon Thompson, SWGLH Education Coordinator
• Mel Little, SWGLH Quality Improvement Lead
• Chris Buxton, SWGLH Informatics Lead

This page was last updated at 20:01 Friday 11th August 2023