Re: Healing yourself from ME (aka as chronic fatigue syndrom)

[Guest guest]

What a wonderful website -- thank you. For those of

you who want to look at it, make sure you copy and

paste the entire address into your browser.

BTW, what does M.E. stand for?

Hugs,

Anon

--- vinna@... wrote:

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/health/chronicfatigue/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?sit\

e=http%3A%2F%2Fdspace.dial.pipex.com%2Fleeds.me.group%2Fjb%2Frecover.htm

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Myelgic Encipholitys or something like that - the diagnosis my

Naturopath from New Zealand gave me...

Here in Sweden I have been diagnosed as burned-out and having

fibromyalgia. In my opinion it is just a reaction from letting those

blood-thirsty leeches drain me year after year...

Pirjo

>

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/health/chronicfatigue/gi/dynamic/offsi

te.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fdspace.dial.pipex.com%2Fleeds.me.group%2Fjb%

2Frecover.htm

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Anon & All,

Below are two websites about M.E. (ie, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis). The

first website is a shorter URL to the M.E. site, and the second has more

info about M.E which I pasted on below.

Hugs,

Edith

http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/leeds.me.group/jb/recover.htm

http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/leeds.me.group/aboutme.htm

<<

About M.E.

WHAT IS M.E.?

M.E. (a form of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or CFS) is a potentially

devastating condition, the principal symptom of which is extreme

fatigue. Other symptoms are also usually present though these can vary

from person to person. These include muscle and joint pains, problems

with memory and concentration, dizziness, sensitivity to light and

sound, blurred vision, problems with speech, reading difficulty,

palpitations, sleep disruptions, digestive problems, headaches and

nausea. These symptoms are often severe and may not respond to

medication. Some sufferers need a walking stick or wheelchair to get

around.

WHAT CAUSES M.E.?

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 both of these theories and more research is urgently

needed to find out more.

WHAT DOES THE NAME M.E. MEAN?

It stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, which means an illness

affecting the muscles, the brain and the nervous tissue.

WHO GETS M.E.?

Anyone can be affected regardless of age or social status. The most

usual age at onset is between 20 and 40 but older people and children as

young as 4 or 5 can be affected.

HOW DOES M.E. 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 antibiotics, immunisations, and accidents can also seem to act as a

trigger.

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE M.E.?

Nobody knows for certain but there may be as many as 150,000 sufferers

in the U.K. alone.

CAN PEOPLE RECOVER FROM M.E.?

Many people do recover but this is more likely in the early years of the

illness. The majority of the rest 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 20-25%, sadly do not improve and often become

severely disabled.

HOW CAN I RECOGNISE THAT SOMEONE HAS M.E.?

This can often be extremely difficult. Some sufferers need a wheelchair

or a walking stick but many others look quite well even though they may,

in fact, be extremely ill. Sufferers may even seem to be quite active

for a short while - until their energy runs out.

ARE THERE ANY TREATMENTS FOR M.E.?

There is, as yet, no cure for M. E. Many treatments can help but there

is no single therapy which works for everyone. More research is urgently

needed to improve this situation.

HOW DOES M.E. AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES?

Careful pacing of activity and rest is essential to bring about

improvements. Sufferers have to try to stay within their energy levels

or they may make their condition very much worse. These energy levels

may vary, not only from person to person but also with time: from month

to month, week to week or even hour to hour. 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.

Sufferers may also have to adjust their diets, eating less sugary snacks

and processed foods, and they may develop intolerances to some common

types of food such as wheat and dairy products.

The majority of sufferers have to give up their jobs and make other

adjustments to their life styles in order to stay within the limits of

their energy. These adjustments can be extremely traumatic. Families may

be torn apart under the strain. Needless to say, these problems only add

to the misery of what is already a dreadful illness.

HOW CAN I HELP?

Leeds and District M.E. Group is run by a small number of sufferers and

carers. We are always on the look-out for able-bodied people to lend a

hand. If you think you may be able to help or would just like to find

out more about M.E., please get in touch with us.

There is another way in which you may be able to help. M.E. is a

difficult illness to understand unless you have experienced it yourself

but, if you know an M.E. sufferer, please listen to what they tell you

about their condition and try to understand the difficulties they are

experiencing. They do not want sympathy. They want to get better - and

understanding from others can help them to achieve this.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE M.E.?

If you have M.E., or think that you may have, get in touch with the

Leeds and District M.E. Group. Phone one of the contact numbers or use

the form to join the group or send for more information.

WHAT DOES OUR M.E.GROUP DO?

The group provides information and someone to chat with about M.E. by

telephone helplines, monthly meetings, a regular newsletter and a

library of books and tapes which may be borrowed by members. We make no

compulsory charge for our services, but there is a small voluntary

subscription which may be paid each summer.

>>

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