Hello!

Hello to anyone reading this. My name is Erika-Maye, I'm 17 years old, and live in the South of England. I teach Physical Training and Rowing, have an interest in Ancient History, and have a tendancy to burst into song on many occassions.

Oh, and I have ME.

This is here for anyone who has ME, knows someone who has ME, or simply wishes to expand their understanding of the world, if you will. It is also just to prove I am a completely normal person, regardless of a condition that I am labeled with.

The first thing I would say to anyone in regards to ME is this: It is very real. The painful thing for me, when I first went to see a doctor at the hospital, they couldn't find anything wrong, so OBVIOUSLY it was all in my head. I still struggle with that every day.

I have also been accussed of just being lazy, because I am so tired, find it difficult to read and write, and struggle to walk. It is infuriating and hurtful to hear people I consider to be friends of mine react like that. So! Here's a list of the symptoms that ME/CFS sufferers have to deal with:

• CFS/ME is defined as a condition that involves severe fatigue that usually has a clear starting point, often after a bout of illness, and that doesn't improve after rest. It makes you less able to cope with levels of activity in your work, school and social life that were previously normal for you. CFS/ME isn't the result of over-exercising; even normal physical activity may make you feel very tired.

Common symptoms of CFS/ME include:

• Muscle and joint pain, but with no swelling
• Fatigue that lasts more than 24 hours after exercise or exertion at a level that you normally used to be able to manage without feeling tired
• Forgetfulness, memory loss, confusion, difficulty concentrating - "brain fog"
• Sleep disturbances - waking up feeling tired, or unrested, or having trouble getting to sleep
• Flu-like symptoms which don't seem to clear up
• Palpitations
• Sweating
• Feeling faint, or problems with balance
• Painful glands in your neck and / or armpits
• A sore throat
• Headaches
• Feeling sick
• Panic attacks
• Mood swings

Personally, I also have a lot of trouble reading and writing. I described it to a friend recently as that there was a wall in my brain between what I was reading and what I knew. As an example, I can read Heirogyphics, and I used to be able to translate them without needing to look anything up. Now, if I look at a page full of them, my mind will just not connect with what I know. It can be very frustrating, and has a tendancy to occur during speech and writing as well. I use the wrong word, forget I've said something, or even forget the subject of the conversation! Typing this out, I keep using the wrong word, or forget spellings.

Depression can often, understandably, occur in connection with CFS/ME. But, again, from my own experience, I would like to say that you CAN have both. I was already diagnosed with Depression when I began to suffer from ME. If they tell you that what you are going through is purely related to any mental health condition you suffer from, and you're sure its not - you do know inside yourself, if it is - stand your ground. Many people have a bad idea of anti-depressants, but they are part of the solution, and they may help you. Forget what they are called, and simply accept that as something that could help you get better, or at least come to terms with your condition in a better way.

Right, well rant and introduction over. I'm completely knacked now! Take it easy everyone

x x x