Getting Diagnosed with CFS/ME

Assuming you've had people disbelieving you for years and you are close to giving up.... Or it's new and you aren't sure how to go about getting help....

STEP 1: KEEP A LOG OR LIST OF YOUR SYMPTOMS

Doesn't have to be fancy. Just what happened, when and how it affected you/ your life.  Use this when you go and see your GP - take a copy to give to them.

STEP 2: SYMPTOMS - NICE GUIDELINE CG53 CFS/ME 

The Chief Medical Officer believes ME/CFS exists. That it is real and needs treatment.  Your GP is supposed to follow the NICE Guideline in treating you - so it's worth knowing what it says!

Guideline section on Symptoms HERE

What is CFS/ME and what are the symptoms?

Big topic. Causes strong reactions. Best place to start? probably not. But here we go...

This blog is about handling the daily practicalities of living with CFS/ME, so, ignoring the politics for now, but :

What's in a name?

CFS = Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
ME = Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Some believe ME and CFS are totally different illnesses with different symptoms. Some think they're the same or similar. Others are waiting until the causes can be identified (including me).  The general consensus seems to be that there's a whole range of causes, causing a group of symptoms that sufferers can have - but they can't be reliably diagnosed & fixed yet like something relatively simple (ie a broken bone) can be.