LIVING WITH ME

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) is much more than just being tired a lot. People with ME/CFS are so run down that it interferes with their lives and can make it hard to function at all. The severity varies, but typically people with ME/CFS say they have trouble staying on top of their responsibilities at home and on the job. Others are severely disabled and even bedridden.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatischronicfatigue/a/what_is_CFS.htm

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome does not appear to be a new illness. Relatively small outbreaks of similar disorders have been described in the medical literature since the 1930s. Furthermore, case reports of comparable illnesses date back several centuries, some possibly linked to bacterial, viral, or protozoal infections such as brucellosis, yellow fever, hepatitis, influenza, and malaria.

http://www.immunesupport.com/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-history.htm

You’ve probably read about fibromyalgia symptoms such as pain, fatigue and fibrofog, but the list of possible signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia are far-reaching and body-wide. The following “monster list” of fibromyalgia symptoms is adapted from one put together by leading fibromyalgia expert Devin Starlanyl.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatisfibromyalgia/a/fibrosymptoms.htm?nl=1

You’ve probably read about chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms such as fatigue, pain and exercise intolerance, but the list of possible symptoms of this condition are far-reaching and body-wide.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/whatischronicfatigue/a/cfs_symptoms.htm?nl=1

M.E. stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and is also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. M.E. affects over 200, 000 people in the UK.

There is no treatment or cure for M.E. and patients have to suffer with some of the most appalling symptoms, including extreme fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, muscle spasms, insomnia, sleep reversal anxiety, constant sore throats nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to sound, a light touch, taste and smell swallowing problems in the most severe cases, seizures and paralysis.

M.E. is a debilitating illness, which robs people of the one thing that matters most energy. You need it to do everything, from the little things like getting out of bed or eating a meal to the big things like walking, going outside and generally living a normal life.

http://www.meandmylife.me.uk/what%20is.htm

ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) also known as CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) or PVFS ( Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome) is a debilitating condition suffered by approximately 240,000 people in the UK alone. It’s characterising features are overwhelming exhaustion of both muscle and mind and malaise accompanied by a wide range of other symptoms.

The primary indicator is a worsening of symptoms following physical or mental exertion, beyond an individual’s tolerance level.

http://www.networkme.org.uk/whatis.html

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a serious and complex illness characterised by incapacitating fatigue (experienced as profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina), neurological problems and certain other symptoms.  By definition the condition does not improve with rest and persists for a minimum of 6 months.  In many cases it lasts for years and severely impairs a person’s ability to function.

CFS is also known as Tapanui Flu, Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).

http://www.anzmes.org.nz/what_is_me.htm

M.E. is an illness. M.E. stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis – which is a bit of a mouthful, but basically means muscle (“myalgic”) and head (“encephalitic”) symptoms.

M.E. is also known as Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS), because it often follows on from a viral infection.

Also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

http://mehelpinfo.users.btopenworld.com/page3.html

Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is characterised by a range of neurological symptoms and signs, muscle pain with intense physical or mental exhaustion, relapses, and specific cognitive disabilities. Early reports dating from 1934 described epidemics of the illness (see Research Publications on ME epidemics for more information) — such as the 1955 outbreak at the Royal Free Hospital in London — but nowadays it is more common for endemic (sporadic) cases to be identified. ME is classified by the World Health Organisation as a neurological illness (International Classification of Disease 10: G93.3).

http://www.meresearch.org.uk/information/whatisme.html

Those that know little about the illness regard the symptoms of ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’ as tiredness and Flu-like. This is not due to their lack of interest to find out more about the illness but it is how the media and skeptics regard it. . . as “Yuppie Flu”.

http://www.mesupport.co.uk/index.php?page=the-symptoms-of-m-e

Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a disabling, often painful and little-understood disease of unknown origin and uncertain outcome. Its duration appears to be variable: some people seem to recover completely, or experience periods of remission and relapse; others develop a condition of unresolving physical and/or cognitive disability, while a further small but significant minority deteriorate to a housebound and ultimately immobilised state. Since case history research on ME is still in its infancy, and the disease is chronic, this last category may be considerably larger than has been supposed.

http://www.chromesw6.co.uk/whatis.html

ME is classed as a disease of the nervous system by the World Health Organisation, but it affects the sufferer at a physical, mental and emotional level.

There are thought to be about 150,000 sufferers in the UK, though this is probably a conservative estimate.

It is characterised by extreme fatigue, flu-like symptoms, sore throat, muscle pain, concentration problems, poor memory and digestion problems.

These symptoms can be extreme and are often worsened by trivial physical or mental exertion.

A diagnosis of CFS or ME is usually not made until the patient has been unwell for six months.

http://www.communigate.co.uk/wilts/swindonmecfs/page2.phtml

Almost everyone experiences fatigue from time to time. But for as many as 4 million U.S. adults, teens and children, the fatigue is crushing, unrelieved by rest and accompanied by a constellation of other punishing symptoms. They suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS, also known as chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (or CFIDS). Its symptoms are debilitating enough to destroy good health and active lifestyles, end fulfilling careers and devastate families

http://www.cfids.org/about-cfids/do-i-have-cfids.asp

The M.E. Society of America is an organization that seeks to promote understanding of the disease known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), a multi-system disease adversely affecting the cellular mitochondria and the heart, brain, neuroendocrine, immune, and circulatory systems. M.E. was first described in the 1950’s following the recognition of many cases around the world, including a number of cases at the Royal Free Hospital in England. Many different viruses, bacteria, or toxins in combination with genetic factors may be involved in the etiology of the disease, which usually begins in childhood or early adulthood with an acute infection. Studying research-based subsets is the key to scientific progress in this area of investigation.  In a number of publications, Dr. A. Melvin Ramsay outlined a definitional framework for M.E. that described abnormal muscle metabolism, circulatory impairment, and cerebral involvement.

http://www.cfids-cab.org/MESA/ccpc.html

Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction (CFIDS) is also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).

CFIDS is a disabling condition often affecting the central nervous system, brain, blood, muscles, joints, GI tract and lymph system.  Symptoms include disabling fatigue which is not significantly helped by rest, orthostatic intolerance (inability to stand for periods of time), muscle weakness and pain, joint pain, sleep disturbances and un-refreshing sleep, cognitive problems including memory loss and difficulty concentrating, gastro-intestinal problems, headache, fevers and swollen lymph nodes.

http://www.ncf-net.org/whatisCFIDS.htm

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating illness that affects adults and children alike. The illness is also known as chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). The National Institutes of Health has selected three research facilities to study the illness. A network of support group organizations exists nationwide to help patients and their families. At present, there is no known cause of the illness. Some treatment strategies are available to alleviate symptoms.

http://www.wicfs-me.org/about_cfs.htm

It should be explained that there are a number of different names for what is an illness of uncertain cause affecting many thousands of people. Currently it is estimated that some 250,000 people in Britain are affected by this illness.

* Myalgic Encephalopathy or “ME” (a term which The ME Association feels is more appropriate than the original, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis)
* Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or “CFS”
* Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome or “PVFS”
* Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome or “CFIDS”

http://www.meassociation.org.uk/content/view/89/83/

M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Encephalopathy) is a chronic, fluctuating illness. It is also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Sometimes it is diagnosed as Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS). The illness affects many parts of the body, such as the nervous and immune systems. The most common symptoms are severe fatigue or exhaustion, problems with memory and concentration and muscle pain.

http://www.afme.org.uk/allaboutme.asp?table=contenttypetwo&id=1