2007-05-12

ME/CFS International Awareness Day

Today I replace the photo with this banner, to help make the world aware of the serious illness ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome).

I have had this illness for the past 8 years, and it took 7 years to get a diagnosis. My hope is that if more people are aware of the illness, it will help others get a diagnosis sooner - and thus help them recover quicker. The longer it takes, the greater is the chance of it becoming chronic.

Some think this is a new illness, but it probably goes back many centuries. They even think that Florence Nightingale had ME/CFS.


Information about ME/CFS:

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a neurological disease, assumed to be triggered by virus infection (WHO ICD-10, code G93.3).

The major symptoms are neurological, immunological and neurocognitive in nature. In addition a rapid and debilitating fatigability of muscles and brain is present.

The cause of ME is not yet known.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is most often triggered by a viral infection. Other triggers are noted to be anesthesia, vaccination and stress. After a viral infection, the patient does not recover as normal and quite many new symptoms, neurological, immunological and neurocognitive, develope. Additionally, a rapid fatiguability of muscles and brain is present, and restitution is abnormally prolonged.

Symptoms in Myalgisk Encephalomyelitis (ME) are multifarious, which can be expected because of the involvement of the central nervous system (CNS). The symptoms include infections, problems in muscles and joints as well as neurological and neuropsychological problems.

The pattern of symptoms overlaps those present in diseases like Multiple Sclerose, Polio, Parkinson's Disease, Fibromyalgi etc. However, ME has some characteristic and unique symptoms which, when they occur simultaneously, can be of assistance when identifying the illness:

  • Pronounced malaise following even modest physical activity
  • Delayed reaction to physical and/or mental activity (up till 24 hours and more)
  • Abnormal length of convalescence (out of proportion to level of activity)
  • Varying and fluctuating symptoms during the day, but also in the course of days, weeks and months.

Please visit ME-Site to read more about ME/CFS.

2 kommentarer:

Z sa...

I would like to say hello and thank you for visiting and commenting on my Villigen blog. I'm sorry to hear that you're suffering from this syndrome. I hope that the treatment you're getting is helping you lead more of a normal life.

Lothiane sa...

Thank you, Z! There is no treatment so far, unfortunately. The only thing that helps is not pushing myself further than my limits... and that is difficult. But I'm getting better at it. :)