What is ME/CFS?


Definition from http://www.nsnet.org/idacan/pain.html

The term Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is used primarily in North America. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is used in most other countries. It can be best understood when broken down into its individual parts. As you look at the term it becomes clear that the emphasis is on the central nervous system.

My - muscle
algic - pain
encephalo - brain
myel - spinal cord
itis - inflammation

Neither term is satisfactory. People with CFS have many other symptoms contributing to their disability besides fatigue. Seldom is an infection in the brain found in those who have ME as was once suspected. It has been found in the spinal cord in some people.

CFS/ME affects thousands of men, women and children. The majority of sufferers seem to be women between the ages of 30 and 50. Generally these people are high functioning, productive individuals. There are some differences in how children of different age groups are affected by the illness.

Adults generally fall into one of the following categories. Twenty-five percent are bedridden, 40% are able to maintain part-time work, 35% work full-time, and 50% are disabled and can not work for varying periods of time."

World Health Organization ME versus CFS?

There are certain lobbies that are trying to separate CFS from ME and ME from CFS.
Here is the info you need. In the ICD10. ME/CFS/PVS are all indexed to the neurological chapter at G93.3. This means the disease is the same, and resulting from infection. ME/CFS/PVS are all the same disease.  We must all treat them as the same disease.
Yes, ours. This is our fight. If you are ready to join us from your computer, this is the place to find out how you can fight with just a few minutes of your day, and how you can get others to help you fight as well..


http://blog.blueribboncampaignforme.org/2009/05/26/who-is-right-vid-explaining-the-who-classifications-of-mecfs.aspx




Can people die from this disease?

Yes. People diagnosed with ME/CFS have a lower life expectancy if they do not die from ME/CFS directly are more likely to die than the normal population from heart disease and cancer. Due to the present stigma and the loss of their lives and loves people with ME/CFS have a higher rate of suicide than the normal population. See the ME/CFS memorial page to read about those who have died.

Why does it matter?

- 28 million people around the world have this disease.
- We are trying to get the message sent across the world that ME/CFS is real, and deserves as much attention as other diseases.
- Your simple act of replacing your picture in all your profiles on the internet with an ME/CFS badge will indicate to the world that it is time for the silence to end, and that you recognize that something must be done for the people suffering in silence from this devastating disease.