From #MEAction. Today we announce that #MEAction’s co-founder and executive director, Jennifer Brea, is going to be transitioning to a board position so she can take time to focus on her health after five intense years of ME and advocacy. This will not happen immediately- we will be working hard to find a […]
#MEAction
Meet The Long Haulers Developing ME/CFS
From #MEAction. #MEAction sent out a press release last week to 300 major publications in the US introducing them to the long haulers who are experiencing symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), specifically post-exertional malaise. We alerted the press to the terrifying possibility that 1 million more Americans could develop ME following COVID-19 at […]
Post-Covid Research & Clinical Care Must Include ME/CFS
From #MEAction. People with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) have been concerned since the start of the coronavirus pandemic that a subset of COVID-19 patients will go on to develop ME/CFS. Unfortunately, we are already hearing from many COVID-19 survivors around the world that they are continuing to experience debilitating symptoms for many months, even […]
Unseen: Black People Living With ME
By Wilhelmina Jenkins in #MEAction. When I became ill in 1983 with what is now called ME/CFS, my life as I knew it was abruptly destroyed. I dropped into a world of pain, exhaustion, and dozens of other baffling symptoms, most particularly the cognitive disruption that robbed me of the life in physics that […]
We Celebrate The Life And Legacy Of A Warrior For ME
From #MEAction. It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of ME community advocate, Cindy Siegel Shepler. Cindy lived with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and multiple other health issues. She dedicated much of her increasingly limited time and energy to advocacy, increased awareness, and increasing research funds for ME. She had a […]
What Does ‘Listen To Your Body’ Mean When You Have M.E ?
Parents And Children Missing From Their Lives Due To M.E.
From #MEAction. Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a debilitating, chronic disease that steals so much from the person. Parents with ME are missing precious days and years with their children due to the disease, and parents of children with ME are fighting to provide care for their sick children in a world where there is […]
Aid Without Asking: How To Support Someone With ME
#MEAction Responds To Attacks On ME Community In The Guardian And Psychology Today
By #MEAction. In the past two weeks, The Guardian UK and Psychology Today US have published articles portraying the myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) community as an angry, misguided mob using social media to denigrate scientific research. Both articles focus on the criticism that Dr. Michael Sharpe, one of the key authors of the PACE trial and […]
As I Age With ME
By Marianne Granger in #MEAction. In my forties I was moving forward fulfilling my drive to be a community organiser/communicator/coach (my day job) and also a screenwriter (a remnant of my earlier training and work as a stage actor). Being there for my grown children and reveling in the bliss of holding my grandchildren […]
What Is ME ?
From #MEAction. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or ME/CFS, is a devastating multi-system disease that causes dysfunction of the neurological, immune, endocrine and energy metabolism systems. It often follows an infection and leaves 75% of those affected unable to work and 25% homebound are bedridden. An estimated 15-30 million […]
Unseen: Black People Living With ME
Toxic Masculinity Made My ME Much More Punishing
What Is ME ?
From #MEAction. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or ME/CFS, is a devastating multi-system disease that causes dysfunction of the neurological, immune, endocrine and energy metabolism systems. It often follows an infection and leaves 75% of those affected unable to work and 25% homebound are bedridden. An estimated 15-30 million […]
Amy Carlson – An Ally To The ME Community
By Adriane Tillman in #MEAction. Allies are critical to the success of any movement and even more so in the case of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). So many people with ME are bedridden or housebound and unable to participate in some advocacy and activist actions. While we at #MEAction work hard to […]
Homeless: How AMMES Is Keeping People With ME In Their Homes
By Erica Verrillo, who is President of the American ME and CFS Society (AMMES) in #MEAction. Years ago, Dr. Bell made the observation that many people currently living in cars most likely had chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). (The acronym myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) was not used at that time.) Under any circumstances, the threat of homelessness […]
Community Roundup – End-Of-Year, 2018
From #MEAction. As always, our community continues to amaze us with its tenacity, creativity, intellect, hard work and generosity. Enjoy a round-up of some of the community happenings these past few months where people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) around the world continue to fight for recognition, treatment, care and dignity. Austrian broadcast station @ATV […]
Living Deeply In Tiny Rooms
Scottish Lib Dems Pass Motion For ME, With Amendment
By Susan Cole in #MEAcion. ME history was made this week in the historic capital of Scotland when delegates at the Scottish Liberal Democrats autumn conference voted to support conference motion SC5: Investing in ME – Recognition, Research, and Education. So it’s official, the motion, drawn up in consultation with #MEAction Scotland, is […]
“Listened To But Were We Heard ?” The NICE Guidelines Scoping Workshop
From #MEAction. On 25th May 2018, NICE held an engagement workshop with stakeholders, looking at the draft scope for the new guideline on ME/CFS. This is the second workshop held by NICE in which stakeholders were given a chance to influence the development of the new guidelines. The draft scope will be amended […]
When Medicine Fails A Child
By Caroline Christian in #MEAction. I am lucky in that I did not realize the fallibility of medicine until I reached the age of 38. This is when I was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a devastating neuroimmune disease wrongly believed by many doctors to be a psychiatric condition. Throughout the past decade of navigating […]
The Failure Of Clinical Guidance For People With ME
From #MEAction. ME advocate Mary Dimmock has written a comprehensive report about the flawed science that led to the recommendation of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET) for people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. The patient community has long reported these treatments to be ineffective and harmful, and, yet, health societies and […]
#MEAction Rejects The Findings Of The SMILE Trial Of The Lightning Process For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
From #MEAction. Trial Uses Flawed Methodology That Can Lead To False Positives Following the release of the results of the SMILE trial, Ben HsuBorger of ME Action said: “The SMILE trial of the Lightning Process, a known quack treatment, for ME/CFS, used unblinded treatment coupled with subjective, self-report outcomes. It illustrates that such serious […]