Do you know someone with ME?

[asomaro]

I do, my 22 year old son.

If you think (like I used to) that this is just "yuppie flu" or an excuse to shirk responsibilities, then you are very sadly mistaken and I for one am ashamed that I ever thought that way.

My son was a county standard golfer playing off +1. He completed his BSc last year and his future looked good..... until December last year. Since then he has undergone more tests than you can shake a bloody stick at and he's been pretty much bed bound ever since with three admissions to hospital.

Believe me guys, if you know any one with this terrible thing, then do them and yourself a favour and take a look at[URL="http://getwellfromme.com/2011/7-what-to-do-when-your-friend-has-an-invisible-illness/"] this video[/URL], this is part of a series of videos that this guy has made and it is absolutely bang on the money. I wouldn't wish this affliction on my worst enemy.

Hopefully James will get better in time, but this could take years, I just hope that his future will once again get onto the right track.

Sorry to do a bit of "heart on the sleeve" stuff, but I needed to share it.

[challis349]

I've never known anybody with ME, but wish your son a full recovery

Regards

[CookieMan]

Thank You for sharing this, Simon.

The problem with ME, similar to Lupus, is that people (even medical professionals) tend to overlook the symptoms for common fatigue or general stress and related weakness. I had a patient once who was brought in for a Partial Denture Restoration by his family - who did not take the diagnosis seriously because they found "nothing wrong with him". I was shocked when I read his case files. Nobody understood the seriousness and the extent of his concern. The poor lad was suffering inside - and all silently. The awareness should be spread. That is the key. The best thing you can can do is BE there for them.

Will keep your son in our prayers, mate.

[don_kiddik]

It's better to share it than try to put it to one side, thank you for letting us share your feelings, I too hope your son recovers well enough to enjoy the rest of his life.

[monsigna]

i feel for you & your family simon. my friend is going through the same thing @ this time. its hard, but sometimes its good to talk. my thoughts are with you.

ade.

[Boggy]

I feel for you Simon different problem to mine but the feelings must be similar. My best wishes to James, you and your family

[gazza131]

hey bud, its good to share and educate others at the same time, i really hope he makes a speedy recovery (in as much as you can) real soon, i will keep you in my prayers

[Kozmyk]

I've known a number of people who have suffered with full ME, so-called benign ME, lupus, CFS and PVS to varying degrees.
Being believed was a common frustration for all of them, quite apart from the symptoms they suffered.
My boss at the college I worked at suffered it full on for four years before he recovered and returned to work.
A friend has a relatively mild or "benign" form and she can be laid up for weeks at a time between remissions.
She forges on quite bravely though.

The ignorance and prejudice surrounding ME and similar conditions is widespread.
Tabloid journalism and cheap-shot comedians just make it worse.
But even some GPs refuse to believe it. Gawd help a sufferer who gets a berk like that.

At least, these days, there is more understanding amongst the medical profession that there was and a number of support organisations.
I truly hope your son recovers quickly but you and he have to be prepared that it might well take longer.

[Darwil]

My wife had ME (what doctors then called Post viral illness) it lasted for a few years; fortunately she never had really bad symptoms - mainly 'didn't feel well' but aches and pains and so on. The main thing what helped her was to eat healthily, reduce stress to the minimum and rest when her body told her to.
I am unlucky to have one of the other bete noirs of the medical profession, I have IBS which in me means almost constant stomach cramps and the associated pain, I consider myself luck to not have the bowel unrulliness, but it sometimes makes life hell.
Having an illness that there is no logical or medical reason for is both distressing and extremely frustrating and can get you down; my heart goes out to you and your son and I really hope that he improves soon.
My thoughts are with you
D

[frog]

My sister has ME, so I know what you are talking about. The frustration this illness brings is something you just can't explain in words. My sis has good days and bad days. The trick is to make the good days absolutely frikkin awesome, fill them with more moments of pleasure than most of us not suffering with the illness get to experience. Glass half full.

[muscleflex]

my friend's (this friend is the current kayaking women's world champion! :D) sister has this. i think she's had it for over a year now and she's on leave from her masters degree because of it...

[asomaro]

Thanks for all the kind words guys, really appreciated.

We keep working to make things better for James and being able to share things sometimes is a good thing.

Cheers,

[bikerflier]

Brave to share this.
ME is such a miss represented illness.
My cousin had it for 4 years, some good days many very bad days but then she had a miracle recovery and is absolutely fine now and a wonderful person to boot. Often thats the way it happens, no reason, just happens.
Unfortunately this type of recovery also gets bad press and is used to poo poo the illness 'that it's not really an illness', so sad.

Hard times for your son and for you as parents, he's always your little baby, no matter what age, and it hurts like hell.
Keep strong, support each other and a cure will come, very soon I hope.

[QUOTE=asomaro;691710]Thanks for all the kind words guys, really appreciated.

We keep working to make things better for James and being able to share things sometimes is a good thing.

Cheers,[/QUOTE]

[asomaro]

ME Vid

I thought I'd post this link to a You Tube vid that was made a little while ago. It just strikes me that for an illness that destroys so many peoples lives, the number of views are stupidly low.

No-one is immune from ME - it's very real illness so could you take just a few minutes and have a look at the video, and maybe push it along a bit if you are so minded.

[video=youtube;rUBsz4BH6G4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUBsz4BH6G4&feature=related[/video]

Cheers,

[Sao]

My Mum has suffered from ME for the past 15-20 years. I hope your son gets better soon.