'Chronic fatigue': The devastating illness that's so much worse than just tiredness - Honey Coach nine.com.au (July, 2018)

[Melanie]

When Jenny Meagher, 54, got home from an hour at Chadstone shopping centre recently, she spent the rest of the day in bed feeling like she had a migraine and the flu combined.

After contracting myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) – commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) – 24 years ago, she's been forced into a mostly housebound life, spending much of each day in bed.

"I feel like I wake up every day with the flu," she tells Coach.

https://coach.nine.com.au/2018/07/03/18/52/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-myalgic-encephalomyelitis

The article is very good. Dr. Mark Guthridge is inerviewed about ME/CFS and the patient experience is well written. An accurate easy read.

 

[MeSci]

But he says at the end "The anecdotal evidence would suggest that if you get early intervention from GPs who know how to manage and treat the disease, that gives you the best prognosis for recovery."

Really? Based on what?

 

[Hutan]

Really? Based on what?

I suppose in a very general sense, having a GP that is supportive, treats your pain and sleep problems, tells your spouse that you are really sick and fills out the paperwork for benefits or home help does increase your chance of recovery compared to a doctor that does none of those things and sends you on a GET course.

In the sense of at least preventing suicide, I guess a supportive knowledgeable doctor does increase the chances of recovery ('recovery' as in improvement rather than cure).

 

[Melanie]

('recovery' as in improvement rather than cure).

Yes, I wish the term "recovery" wasn't used so loosely. I have found that term is used a lot by the Australian patients and charities also. Not sure why.

Everyone needs to get the word out that using the word "recovery" should stop and saying "improvement" or saying that they recovered from the initial illness (mono, flu, flu-like illness) but they were left unwell.

 

[Sunshine3]

Totally agree, 'recovery' immediately detracts from the seriousness of the disease and gives the impression that all will be well in the end so it's no big deal. It's thrown around way too often. I rested from the beginning and I am severe now. Unless stress has driven me to being severe. Disease progression differs for everyone but 'recovery' that ol chestnut needs to go.