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Despite moving into the Twenty-First Century and medical science advancing at an astonishing rate, many people; in both the UK and throughout the world are still
completely unaware of exactly what M.E. is. To some it is the Yuppy Flu of the Nineties to others it is, sadly, a figment of the sufferers imagination, and indeed until only very recently it was not taken completely seriously by some members of the medical profession.
However, as every sufferer knows, it is very real and debilitating. It brings absolute misery to many people, leaving them at best physically weak and unable to do most of the things that they once enjoyed, to others it can leave them
house bound or even bed bound and, without wishing to sound overly dramatic, at the very worst it could lead to a lengthy period of hospitalisation. The medical profession are now getting on board and looking at ways to tackle M.E. and it's related illnesses but it is still charitable organisations like Hope for M.E. that are campaigning and pushing for greater recognition for
this awful condition that blights so many lives. On this page we would like to explain exactly what M.E. and other M.E. illnesses are and how to recognise the symptoms. M.E. stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, which means an illness affecting the muscles, the brain and the nervous system. It is also called CFS which stands for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The main symptom of M.E./CFS is chronic fatigue. This persistent fatigue affects both physical and mental activities. Other symptoms are also usually present, though these can vary from person to person. They include:- Symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe and may not respond to medication. WHO GETS M.E./CFS? No one knows for certain. Research has shown abnormalities in the brain, the immune system, the muscles
and the nervous system. Some researchers believe that the condition is caused by a dysfunction of the immune system, while others think a persistent virus is to blame.
There may be some truth in each of these theories and more research is required to find out more. Men, women and children from all backgrounds and cultures can be affected, but the most usual age at onset is between 20 and 40. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE M.E./CFS? Nobody knows for certain but there may be as many as 240,000 sufferers in the UK alone. HOW DOES M.E./CFS START? Usually with a viral illness which never seems to get fully better. A minority, however, experience a slow, insidious onset. Other factors, such as a trauma, stress, antibiotics, immunisations, and accidents can also seem to act as a trigger. CAN PEOPLE RECOVER FROM M.E./CFS? Many people do recover but this is more likely in the early years of the illness. The majority improve to the point where they are able, with care, to lead some sort of life – but with greatly reduced energy levels. Most of these are unable to return to full time employment. Others, about 20%, sadly do not improve and often become severely disabled. CAN I TELL IF SOMEONE HAS M.E./CFS? This can often be extremely difficult. Some sufferers need a wheelchair or a walking stick but most look quite well even though they may, in fact, be extremely ill. A sufferer may be able to go for a short walk one day and the next day not be able to get out of bed. ARE THERE ANY TREATMENTS? There is, as yet, no cure for M.E./CFS, although some of the symptoms can be treated. Many treatments can help but there is no single therapy which works for everyone. More research is urgently needed to improve this situation. MANAGING THE ILLNESS Energy levels may vary, not only from person to person but also from month to month, week to week or even hour to hour. Sufferers have to try to stay within their energy levels or they may make their condition very much worse. Careful pacing of activity and rest is essential to bring about improvements. The aim is to find a level of activity that can be done every day without making symptoms worse. It may then be possible, with care, to gradually increase activity levels.
Fibromyalgia (or FMS for short) is a chronic condition of widespread pain and debilitating fatigue. The pain tends to be felt as a widespread aching or burning
and is often described as being head-to-toe. The fatigue varies from feelings of tiredness to the exhaustion of flu-like symptoms.
These feelings may come and go but people can suddenly feel completely drained of energy - as if someone just "pulled the plug". Contrary to popular belief FMS is very common, in fact it is as common as rheumatoid arthritis.
In mild to moderate cases the sufferer can live a fairly normal life with the correct treatment and management. However, in severe cases, people may not be able
to work and their life can become disrupted in every way. Fibromyalgia is known as a syndrome because it is a collection of symptoms as opposed to specific disease process. Besides the pain and fatigue we have already described
other common symptoms of Fibromyalgia are: Diagnosis of FMS can be difficult as standard laboratory tests cannot readily identify the condition. However, if you suspect
that either yourself, a family member or friend is suffering from FMS then you or they should consult medical advice as soon as possible.
Hope for M.E. may be able to point you in the direction of an FMS clinic depending upon which area of the country you live in so please feel
free to contact us about it. * Sourced, with thanks, from Nottingham and East Midlands Fibromyalgia Support Group
We sincerely hope and pray that this information has been of some use to you if you are a sufferer, a carer, a family member or friend who has found themselves in some
way connected to M.E. If you would like further information about any of the matters on this page please contact us. Likewise, if you are a sufferer, carer, family member or friend and you would like to receive prayer
support please contact us. God Bless You |
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Hope for M.E. is a registered charity - number: 1089326
All bible references on this site are taken from the New International Version