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What is it?


So when I meet up with friends or see people I haven't seen in a while everyone asks each other "How's uni going?" or "What are you doing at the moment?" and most people mention there new job or apprenticeship. For me its another embarrassing moment attempting the long process of trying to explain what this frustrating illness is.

M.E or Myalgia Encephalomyelitis also known as CFS or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 

Myalgia means muscle pain and Encephalomyelitis means inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. There is no known cause for M.E/CFS but people believe that it could be caused by an in balance of hormones, problems with the immune system, a viral infection (in my case Glandular Fever) or psychiatric problems like stress or a trauma. 

Symptoms of M.E/CFS

- Fatigue is the main symptom physical and mental exhaustion. 
- Muscle Pain
- Joint Pain
- Severe Headaches
- Brain Fog
- Stomach Pain
- Sore Throat 
- Intolerance to light, sound, alcohol and certain foods
- Depression
- Panic Attacks

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body. There is also no known cause of Fibromyalgia. Fibro also has similar symptoms to M.E/CFS but is mainly diagnosed by the pain but including the M.E/CFS symptoms it also includes;

- Restless Legs
- Tinnitus 
- Tingling and Numbing 
- Extreme Sensitivity 

For both M.E and Fibromyalgia I personally have found treatment frustrating. You have to find what works for you and to me it feels like nothing works and if anything my condition is worse than 3 years ago now. I don't want to sound negative as it is what works for you and what didn't work for me could work for you. I'll post next time about what treatments I have tried and how they did or didn't work for me. If you have any ideas of what I can try please leave a comment.

Hopefully some friends or people that have asked me what M.E and Fibro is can read this and it better explains what M.E and Fibro is. I hope people can understand why I found it hard to continue at uni and can't hold down a full time job. People that do know me will know I don't just sit at home all day every day, I do have my own business hand making products and I am signed to an agency to hopefully persue an acting career both of which suit me at the moment because I can do either job when I feel up to it. 

 I don't want people to feel sorry for me as I'm not the only person to suffer from this but imagine on top of having all those symptoms you have to complete your uni dissertation or report for work?

 Natasha xo


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