M.E./CFS Awareness Day

Since most of those who read this blog already know all too intimately about M.E./CFS, I won't create a long post today.
However, if you would like to read some facts about the illness, Laurel did an excellent job on her blog of putting together a succinct educational post: http://dreamsatstake.blogspot.com/2010/05/may-12th-mecfs-awareness-day.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DreamsAtStake+%28Dreams+At+Stake%29

Also, the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) association of Ontario put out the following facts sheet which is OK....I don't necessarily like M.E. being clumped with FM as they are different illnesses (and I have M.E. only). However, I think they did it just for the statistics section.
http://www.meao-cfs.on.ca/files/ME-FactSheet.pdf

Here's what I have to say about the illness:

1. If there is one piece of education I'd like to share today, it is this: M.E. is NOT "chronic fatigue"....Being chronically tired in the way a healthy, but sleep deprived or overworked person gets, is nothing like the neurological, muscular fatigue and weakness associated with M.E. Fatigue is only ONE symptom of a multi-system illness.

2. Also, people with M.E. are not laking in motivation. They are seriously ill. If you read any of the above facts sheets (links) you will see that most NEVER return to complete health and the majority are unable to work full-time. Will power and gumption are not solutions for M.E. sufferers, in fact, they can be our worst enemies because with this illness if you push, you get sicker....and sicker...

SO what you can do is:

-take M.E. seriously (like you would any better known illness or disease)
-try to be supportive and empathetic of those who suffer from it
-advocate for M.E. sufferers by spreading the word about the seriousness of the illness and contradicting those who think it's about being tired, depressed, or lazy - patients have been stigmatized and marginalized for too long!
-advocate for better research and funding
-don't call M.E./CFS "chronic fatigue". If you can't say Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, call it "M.E." or M.E./CFS.