Anyone here who knows me probably knows I suffer from ME.
I don't want to bang on about it (so dull hearing about other people's problems) but a couple of people on here did ask about it a few weeks ago, & it's ME Awareness Week this week, so I thought I'd post some links to some info. for anyone who's interested.
And as it's likely you don't know much about it (apparently 35% of the general public has never even heard of ME), but it's also likely you know someone who suffers from it (it affects around 1 in every 250 people in the UK - that's almost 3 times the number of people affected by MS - a similar illness which pretty much everyone has heard of) there's a chance you might find this useful.
Action for ME (the main ME charity in the UK) just did a survey on the severity & impact of ME - this page has a summary of the results: http://www.afme.org.uk/campaigning.asp?table=contenttypethree_detail&pagetitle=M.E.%20-%20More%20than%20you%20know&id=124
If you'd rather read about real people, this page has some short stories about people who have ME & what it's like:
http://www.afme.org.uk/campaigning.asp?table=contenttypethree_detail&pagetitle=M.E.%20-%20More%20than%20you%20know&id=133
If you have ME or know someone who has, and would like more info., please feel free to pm me - or contact Action for ME (there is a contact us button at the top of both the above pages).
Juliet
PS: If you're in the states, ME is known there as CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue & Immune Disfunction Syndrome) - sorry, I don't know what they call it in other countries, but it is also sometimes referred to over here as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome (although most sufferers/specialists aren't keen on these names as they give an inaccurate idea of the symptoms & possible causes).
Juliet Thanks for that info. I did mention that my great niece suffers quite badly from ME. Do you mind if I copy and paste your post and send to her Mum?
I had it, at one time I couldn't even turn over in bed till late morning, but eventually I got over it. It's a horrible thing; the worst aspect was that for a long time I couldn't concentrate on anything for more than about ten minutes. On top of that, this was ten years ago when it wasn't widely recognised; my doctor knew what it was (some didn't), but other people were insisting that there was nothing wrong with me.
Thanks for posting the info Juliet. Not enough people are aware of what ME or Chronic Fatigue is and there is a lot of misunderstanding about the condition. The more light that is shone on it the better, as there is such a need to do more research in finding a treatment and a cure.
Personally, I hope you are doing not too badly - you are often thought of.
busy_lizzie
Hi Lorna, no of course I don't mind you copying my post to your great niece's mum (your niece? sorry, can't work that out: brain overheated!). If she has had ME for some time, she may already be a member of Action for ME &/or a local support group, but if not, do feel free to put her in touch with me (she could pm me, or if you pm me & ask I'll send you my email address) - I'm on the committee of my local support group & have lots of useful info. about the illness. I'd really recommend joining Action for ME, though, if she isn't a member already - they produce excellent for information leaflets & a quarterly magazine, and are great for just making contact with other people with ME.
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on May 11, 2006, 07:56:16
at one time I couldn't even turn over in bed till late morning
Great to see you are now posting at 07.56, Robert - that's a time of day I haven't seen for a long time! I've read that ME causes sudden dips in blood pressure early in the morning - which is why so many people with it wake up with that awful hangover feeling & are unable to get up until lunchtime
Thanks for your thoughts, Busy Lizzie! - I'm not doing too badly at the moment, but not liking the hot weather! How are you?
Juliet. Thank you. No it is not your brain ;D My great niece is NOT on the internet but her Mum (my niece) is so will forward it to her.
Regards Lorna.
Blood sugar levels may well be right, since I have problems in that department anyway. Nobody had thought of it back then, or I could easily have kept some glucose handy. I just remember lying there every morning, unable to turn over even. Dreadful.