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Ezzie.
19-07-2005, 02:29 PM
This was taken from ayme.org.uk

What Is ME?

ME is a recognised relapsing and remitting medical condition with many complex fluctuating symptoms. Its existence is confirmed in the January 2002 report by the Chief Medical Officer of England and Wales (downloadable from the Department of Health web site at www.doh.gov.uk/cmo (http://www.doh.gov.uk/cmo) – for Scotland see the Scottish CMO report published February 2002 http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/ (http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/)). The report states that ME is: “… a genuine illness and imposes a substantial burden on the health of the UK population” (Chapter 1 page 1) and “…is a quite common, very heterogeneous condition of adults and children that lacks specific disease markers but is clinically recognisable.” (Annex 6 page 1).


ME stands for Myalgic Encephalopathy (My-al-jik En-kefa-lop-athy)

The term Myalgic Encephalopathy indicates the pain in the muscles, neurological problems and general suffering that accompany this illness:

Myalgic: Greek origin meaning muscle
Encephalo: Greek origin meaning brain
Pathy: meaning suffering or sickness



There is no known cause of ME as yet, although in young people it most commonly follows persistent viral infection. It is often referred to as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS).

Sometimes ME is still referred to by an older version of the name: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. However, this is technically incorrect because the term ‘myelitis’ means inflammation of the brain and there is no inflammation found in the brain of ME patients. This was discussed by the doctors involved in the Chief Medical Officer’s steering group and they agreed that ‘pathy’ was a more correct definition.

For further information, click on the links below:

What are the symptoms? (http://www.ayme.org.uk/article.php?sid=10&id=12)
Diagnosis (http://www.ayme.org.uk/article.php?sid=10&id=7)
Blood tests (http://www.ayme.org.uk/article.php?sid=10&id=6)
Other conditions to exclude (http://www.ayme.org.uk/article.php?sid=10&id=5)
Treatment (http://www.ayme.org.uk/article.php?sid=10&id=59)
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What is ME like?

Young members of AYME explain what it's like to have M.E
The main symptom of M.E is the utter exhaustion, often to the point of collapse.


"I can't walk straight and my balance is dreadful." "It's like a giant hoover has come down out of the sky and ****ed out all my energy."
"My energy is used up so quickly, even on simple tasks like sitting up, or getting dressed."
"On bad days it can be hard work just lifting a spoon to your mouth."
"Words come out all wrong and you forget what you're saying in the middle of a sentence."
"I can't concentrate on any kind of reading, writing, or watching television for more than ten minutes."
"My legs ache continuously; the muscles twitch and jump. I start off walking quite well but soon my legs grow heavier until they can't straighten under my weight." "All my senses are hypersensitive. And noise is painful and bright lights hurt my eyes."
"I sleep all day and am awake all night. I try to sleep, but the inside of my head just goes round and round."
"Even on the hottest day I feel cold, especially my hands and feet. They tingle and sometimes I can't feel my fingers."

What do children and young people with M.E have to do to manage their illness?

"The patient has to find his or her limitations. They try a very small activity for 10 or 15 minutes, then rest. In severe cases of M.E, 'activity' can mean simply sitting up in bed or having a short conversation." "I tried to push myself and do a lot more than I was really capable of. It was a natural reaction for me, but now I realise that it wasn't brave. If you do that, you end up feeling worse than when you started. I then learned to pace myself and tried to avoid the urge to complete a task in one sitting. I alternated small mental tasks with small physical ones because I soon learned that it was as important to rest my brain as it was my body." They have to balance out activity and rest.

YellowParasol
19-07-2005, 02:34 PM
Good Information ;)

Detox
19-07-2005, 03:21 PM
Its Summer Holidays, we're not meant to be reading complicated things! :P

Roboevil
19-07-2005, 03:30 PM
Its Summer Holidays, we're not meant to be reading complicated things! :P
... I happen to still be at school ¬.¬

Ezzie.
19-07-2005, 04:10 PM
well that m.e is what i've got if you want to know :p just wanted to raise some awareness of it

Luayminator
19-07-2005, 04:19 PM
I am soooooo not reading all that :S

Anitar
19-07-2005, 07:23 PM
There is some very good information there. It's good to raise awareness of any illness :)

YellowParasol
19-07-2005, 08:40 PM
... I happen to still be at school ¬.¬
Unfortunately me too.. ;l

Pixel
19-07-2005, 08:42 PM
I've had m.e/chronic fatigue since December, i've nearly fully recovered from it now though. ;D

GommeInc
20-07-2005, 01:16 AM
There is some very good information there. It's good to raise awareness of any illness :)
I could give a lecture on ColdAutoImmuneHymoeliticAnaemia if you wish (the illness that took my spleen away :()

This is kinda good thread, but it is a bit complicated considering we're out of school and must "relax" but still, it is a horrible illness.

Anitar
20-07-2005, 08:21 AM
This is kinda good thread, but it is a bit complicated considering we're out of school and must "relax" but still, it is a horrible illness.
Horrible illness indeed. I should know, I've had to live with it for the past 3 and a half years ;) Tis always good to see people raising awareness as many people don't believe in the illness at all. We must be strong!! Moohaha.

GommeInc
20-07-2005, 04:06 PM
Hmmm, I shall write a lecture on my illness that caused 6 years of my life to be uncomfortable and could of taken my life away.

Ezzie.
10-08-2005, 02:31 AM
At least ur still here :) i was a "miracle child" too I had a 1/4 chance of dieing :(

StripedTiger
10-08-2005, 11:08 AM
anyone else being freaked out by anita?

anyway good info ^_^ thank god i dont have any of those symtoms xD

Anitar
19-08-2005, 12:56 PM
anyone else being freaked out by anita?

anyway good info ^_^ thank god i dont have any of those symtoms xD
Whaddidido??!

RedMaggot
19-08-2005, 01:17 PM
Nah, Anni is cool :) Not a freak lol

Ezzie.
31-08-2005, 09:23 PM
She's a freaky fox on a leesh ;o :p ok ill stop spamming now :p

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