Well-known, famous people with ME/CFS (public thread)

Novelist Shirley Conran made a dame in Liz Truss’s resignation honours list
The 91-year-old is best known for her books including Superwoman and Lace.

Published Dec 29
Last updated Dec 29

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Dame Shirley began writing books after she was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) in her late 30s and could no longer work full-time.

In 1975, she wrote acclaimed non-fiction book Superwoman, recognised as a feminist practical guidebook, while her first novel titled Lace was published in 1982.

The book was turned into a TV miniseries in the US starring Bess Armstrong, Brooke Adams and Arielle Dombasle.

Her other novels include Savages, The Revenge, Crimson and Tiger Eyes.

https://www.expressandstar.com/ente...-dame-in-liz-trusss-resignation-honours-list/

https://twitter.com/user/status/1741544567097192608
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https://twitter.com/user/status/1741550622128615567
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It's K-pop, so Korean. I remember every once in a while we get some pretty clueless papers from Korean researchers, usually confusing ME/CFS with chronic fatigue. If she has PEM and that is why she may relapse, then maybe that can help raise some awareness of the actual disease there. Just speculating.
 
Dolphin said:
Novelist Shirley Conran made a dame in Liz Truss’s resignation honours list
The 91-year-old is best known for her books including Superwoman and Lace.

Published Dec 29
Last updated Dec 29

[..]

Dame Shirley began writing books after she was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) in her late 30s and could no longer work full-time.

In 1975, she wrote acclaimed non-fiction book Superwoman, recognised as a feminist practical guidebook, while her first novel titled Lace was published in 1982.

The book was turned into a TV miniseries in the US starring Bess Armstrong, Brooke Adams and Arielle Dombasle.

Her other novels include Savages, The Revenge, Crimson and Tiger Eyes.

https://www.expressandstar.com/ente...-dame-in-liz-trusss-resignation-honours-list/
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Extracts from Irish Daily Mail (and probably UK Daily Mail) April 23, 2024:

Worst illness/injury?

I've had chronic fatigue syndrome (or CFS/ME) since I was 37. I went into hospital with viral pneumonia and I came out with it. I was Women's Editor of the Mail and I had to stop working regular hours, and that's why I wrote Lace, to make money, as I had two small children. I'd be in bed sometimes for two months at a time, in a darkened room. Everybody has to whisper to you because normal talking hurts your ears, and the daylight hurts your eyes. All you can do is lie there and suffer.
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Ever been depressed?
I was depressed when I came out of hospital with ME. And the doctor said there was nothing wrong with me. They taught I'd gone mad.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1783260401276186754
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Obituary of Shirley Conran in Times today.

(Paywalled) https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...and-pioneer-of-journalism-for-women-tt3kjgcm6
Dame Shirley Conran, journalist and novelist, was born on September 21, 1932. She died on May 9, 2024, aged 91


Mentions her ME:

Yet at the age of 40 she was forced to give up full-time work by a diagnosis of viral pneumonia and ME and turned to writing. She wrote four self-help books, including Superwoman (1975) and Futurewoman: How to Survive Life After Thirty (1979), advising her readers that “life’s too short to stuff a mushroom”. Nowhere in these books did she mention her ME, feeling that it would not complement her indefatigable image to discuss the disease that often left her exhausted and suicidal.

Over the years ME had pushed her to simplify her life and she had become something of an ascetic, giving away her flats in Manhattan and Monte Carlo, her château, and £150,000 of jewellery to her friends and goddaughters.
 
JohnTheJack said:
Obituary of Shirley Conran in Times today.

(Paywalled) https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...and-pioneer-of-journalism-for-women-tt3kjgcm6
Dame Shirley Conran, journalist and novelist, was born on September 21, 1932. She died on May 9, 2024, aged 91


Mentions her ME:

Yet at the age of 40 she was forced to give up full-time work by a diagnosis of viral pneumonia and ME and turned to writing. She wrote four self-help books, including Superwoman (1975) and Futurewoman: How to Survive Life After Thirty (1979), advising her readers that “life’s too short to stuff a mushroom”. Nowhere in these books did she mention her ME, feeling that it would not complement her indefatigable image to discuss the disease that often left her exhausted and suicidal.

Over the years ME had pushed her to simplify her life and she had become something of an ascetic, giving away her flats in Manhattan and Monte Carlo, her château, and £150,000 of jewellery to her friends and goddaughters.
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Daily Telegraph obituary can be read for free here:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/dame-shirley-conran-author-campaigner-102213353.html
 
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Dolphin said:
Can be read for free here:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/dame-shirley-conran-author-campaigner-102213353.html
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Thanks. That's the Telegraph one, which has a different mention of ME.

She had to wait a long time before anyone gave her condition a name – myalgic encephalopathy (ME), now usually referred to as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. For the rest of her life it would force her to spend three months of each year in bed in a darkened room. In 1970, however, she had two young sons – Jasper and Sebastian – to raise.
 
SNT Gatchaman said:
I do also wonder if some older people might similarly be "discovered" to have ME if only they could lose some years.
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Also higher functioning people can be missed. I had read a couple of case studies of M.E. when I was mildly affected but didn’t relate to the long list of symptoms and level of impairment. When I deteriorated I then recalled reading the case studies. But at that stage it was too late to bounce back. :(

After I was diagnosed, my GP said something about not considering the diagnosis as I was not severely affected enough. Then when I got bad, she thought I was too ill to have it.

Roll on objective diagnostic tests.
 
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Not sure how "famous" she is but:

Mirror.co.uk: Model and mum battles condition it took seven years to diagnose

"Char Borley, who has appeared on the covers of Playboy and FHM, has been privately contending with a serious health struggle.

The 41-year-old Suffolk native has now been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome a condition recently brought into the spotlight by EastEnders actress Martine McCutcheon, who opened up about the 'physical and emotional trauma' it inflicts.

Char describes being 'physically bedridden for weeks on end' and occasionally experiencing such 'tremendous' pain that it feels almost too much to bear. Determined to shed light on the challenges of living with an invisible disability, she's sharing her story to inspire others not to abandon their aspirations despite similar struggles."
 
Good effort preference on display right here.

Mirror interview with Char Barley said:
Despite living with a disability that has significantly altered her life, Char remains undeterred. She shared: "I used to be in the gym every day and was a competitive bodybuilder, sponsored by some of the biggest companies in the world."

"I'll never be able to do that again. Any inflammation affects me in a terrible way."

"However, despite the challenges posed by my disability, I live with ME and enjoy an incredible lifestyle. I believe anyone can achieve success if they stop dreaming and start doing."
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