M.e

when_will_it_end

hi all

i have been generally ill with various ailments for a few years now, none of them getting any better

i was talking to some one today and they asked me if my doctor had ever mentioned M.E in all honesty i never knew what it was

i have just been reading a few sites on the internet and i do fit in to the catagory of having this, i also know not to take notice of much on the internet as you can talk your self in to having a terminal illness within an hour:o

so, should i mention this to the doctor?
i believe its not as simple as a blood test, but i have had that many tests with inconclusive results it may actually bring something else up if i am given different tests

i do not want to come across as someone trying to claim i have something that i do not, i never even concidered this untill my friend mentioned it (i think one of her aunts has it)

it just made me wander, it would be nice for someone to take my ailments seriously for a change

thanks for reading

TOBRUK

Hi when will it end, you can certainly mention it to your GP although if you have been ill for a long time I'm surprised it hasn't been thought of by your GP or other medical professional you have been seeing about different ailments over the years.

I would definitely bring it up at your next visit to your GP but perhaps not to mention that you have been looking over the internet! There are so many illnesses that have similar symptoms and as you say it is easy to find an illness that fits your symptoms and is a bad idea!

OnAndUp

Sadly a lot of doctors know nothing about or are still dismissive of ME.

Fibormyalgia is a very similar condition too but characterised more by pain and stiffness being the main symptoms but also tiredeness and many other symptoms that overlap with ME.

There isn't a test for ME but doctors should make sure they exclude all other illnesses that have similar symptoms that can be tested for including Thyroid problems, Coeliac disease, rheumatoid arthritis and many others.

Have a look here:
http://www.afme.org.uk/allaboutme.asp?table=contenttypetwo&id=1

&

http://www.fibromyalgia-associationuk.org/what-is-fm-highlights-203

Go back to your doctor and try your best to explain the symptoms you have. Don't let them fob you off, If you don't get any joy with your GP if possible ask to see another one at the practice.

luminated

I have had ME for many years and have found time and time again that he medical profession seem to dislike the term M.E. (perceived to be a little layman'ish) and prefer Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as its name. A small point maybe but still a valid one when giving your condition a handle.

when_will_it_end

i was thinking of how the best approach would be, when i do go to the doctors if i dont write a list i forget why i am going or there are things that i have justified in my head as something else

so, i though i would write a list over the next few day of ailments that i have even if i given up complaining about them, they are all on my medical reports somewhere, like the constant nausea i dont complain any more i just live with it, maybe the dr thinks i dont have it any more

thanks guys i wll also have a look at fibro

my mum has said for years something is not right and i have allways felt the same way i just resided to the fact i was a weak, ill person, and i just had to get on with it

bigbigmamamoo

I understand about not wanting to come across as claiming you have something you don't

How about making an appointment, and list the problems and symptoms you have had over the years and ask your GP to review the whole picture. Say you are concerned there may be an underlying problem behind all the different symptoms. If you phrase it as a worry that you might have something like ME and are there any tests to rule that out, rather than coming across as saying you do have it, it might help the GP hear your concerns and get the tests done.

NEH

I would do as the others have said, write down before you go all your symptoms and ask them for their advice as your concerned that it may be something along the lines of ME and that you would like to try to find a diagnosis so that you can find ways to help yoruslef and get back to work or whatever....If you put it from that angle they may be a bit more helpful and responsive....

Check out the ME association as it has lots of advice....

http://www.meassociation.org.uk/

when_will_it_end

thanks for all your help

i was also thinking about work, i was up on a disaplinary last year because i had so much time off with, well, what i thought was flu/a very bad cold that left me floored for weeks, this seems to happen alot to me, i strated popping vitamins by the hand full but did not seem to help much, i had hepititus A and have been a poorly sick person since, it may be something compleatly different but its worth writing a list to rule things out

i read the symptoms off a website to my mum last night with out telling her what the illness i was descibing was, she said that it was written for me and thats when i posted on here

thanks for the help x

luminated

Hi when will it end

Good advice so far on how to approach your GP.

It would be really good if you could update us on how you get on.

Even if your GP says all in the mind and wants you to see a 'shrink' - go - I did and that was well and truly ruled out

Good luck

Isolus

I agree with the others - writing down all your symptoms is a good way to start. It might help the doctor notice a pattern in them, and it's so easy to forget a few if you don't write them down!

As someone that's had ME for 16 years now, i just want to add that a lot of doctors don't always treat ME as the neurological disease it is and tend to lean more towards the chronic fatigue syndrome line - where you can pretty much get a diagnosis if you've had fatigue and headaches for 6 months + and there's not a lot of help on offer. I hope saying this doesn't offend or upset you in any way, i just mean once you have a list of your symptoms do look everywhere to try and see what all the possible causes could be, just incase it's something easily recognised and treated first. x

luminated

Isolus wrote: »

lot of doctors don't always treat ME as the neurological disease it is and tend to lean more towards the chronic fatigue syndrome line

On what basis do you say this as I had not heard this before?

I also have suffered for many many years and whilst it is not a killer it does bu**er your life big time!