About M.E.

M.E. affects people of all ages. Symptoms include severe and debilitating fatigue, painful muscles and joints, broken sleep, poor memory and concentration. Many cases of M.E. are brought on by a viral infection but it can be bought on by accidents, operations and other triggers. Many people who suffer with M.E. experience a slow onset of the condition.

For some the effect of living with M.E. is minimal but for many people their lives are changed drastically by the condition. In young sufferers schooling can be affected and in older sufferers working often becomes impossible. Not only do working and schooling lives of those effected suffer but for most a social and family becomes restricted and sometimes extremely strained.


It is not uncommon for suffers to be housebound or confined to their bed for months and in some cases years. M.E. sufferers can be split into four types:

• Sufferers who return to normal health albeit slowly. The percentage of sufferers who fall into this category is small. 
• Sufferers who fluctuate between good and bad health. These relapses are often brought on by infections, operations or stress.
• Sufferers who are severely effected from the outset and require practical as well as social support.
• A few sufferers show contiuned deterioration from the outset.

Several studies have shown that M.E. (more often than not) becomes a chronic and disabling condition and complete recovery only happens with a small number of sufferers. How debilitating the codition is depends on a combination of symptoms including fatigue, pain, insomnia and for some depression. Studies have also shown that M.E. can impair both physical and mental activities as much and sometimes even more than other chronic medical conditions.


Right now there is no cure for M.E. nor is there a universal treatment that is effective. Something that works for one sufferer hasn't worked for another. Treatment for M.E. is different from sufferer to sufferer. Currently an early diagnosis and rest during the onset of M.E. and relapses seems to be the best form of treatment.


For even more information on M.E. please watch this video: