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| Real Madrid |
Foggy is currently in Spain for the Real Madrid vs Sevilla football match
This blog post is going back to basics. Since ME Foggy Dog was created, I have written about the human side of M.E. Today's blog is literally going to tell you about M.E as a whole by using extracts from the M.E Association website (www.meassociation.org.uk).
'All types of people at all ages are affected. Severe and debilitating fatigue, painful muscles and joints, disordered sleep, gastric disturbances, poor memory and concentration are commonplace. In many cases, onset is linked to a viral infection. Other triggers may include an operation or an accident, although some people experience a slow, insidious onset'.
'In some the effects may be minimal but in a large number, lives are changed drastically: in the young, schooling and higher education can be severely disrupted; in the working population, employment becomes impossible for many. For all, social life and family life become restricted and in some cases severely strained. People may be housebound or confined to bed for months or years'.
'Most people with ME/CFS fall into one of four groups:
- Those who manage to return to completely normal health, even though this may take a considerable period of time. The percentage falling into this category is fairly small.
- The majority, who tend to follow a fluctuating pattern with both good and bad periods of health. Relapses or exacerbations are often precipitated by infections, operations, temperature extremes or stressful events.
- A significant minority, who remain severely affected and may require a great deal of practical and social support.
- A few, who show continued deterioration, which is unusual in ME/CFS. When this occurs, a detailed medical assessment is advisable to rule out other possible diagnoses'.
- (Extracts from http://www.meassociation.org.uk/about/what-is-mecfs/)
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Love,
Sally xxx
Brilliantly put Sally. I don't think there's anyone of us "normal" people who can fully understand what it must feel like to be you and the million or so others who have to live their lives as you do every single day. Non sufferers will always take their lives for granted and will only concern themselves when the next sniffle/bad cold comes along. Your blog puts it all into perspective but how to you reach out to these people? That is the difficulty. - I spoke to 3 or 4 Indian friends during our Kerala holiday when they each asked what Foggy was all about? When I explained it seemed that they had never quite heard of the condition or even knew of anyone suffering with it. Possibly because it is yet to be discovered/diagnosed in that continent, or that their lifestyles are so different there, that anyone who would dare to show any degree of tiredness or weakness, would just be considered lazy!? I don't know but it would be hard for any possible sufferer there that's for sure - mainly because the majority of woman do daily physical work of some kind and need to provide for and to keep their families alive. I would feel for anyone who does match the ME criteria that's for sure, as it would be the next thing to hell for them poor things! Those four were interested enough to take your leaflets and cards btw! - #spreadingtheMEword!
ReplyDeleteThanks Derek! ME is a global illness and so there will be people suffering from ME in Asia. However, like you say, mild sufferers would likely be considered lazy and so won't be something they talk about. Severe sufferers probably hide away due to the unknown nature of the illness. I am glad your hosts took an interest in Foggy's awareness raising!
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