Common Symptoms of ME
Myalgic encephalomyelitis or simply ME is an extremely complex and debilitating illness. People with ME endure a range of symptoms that can cause serious limitations for their daily living. People with ME suffer from sudden and overwhelming fatigue, which is usually not improved by rest only. Usually people with ME/IT suffer from sleep deprivation, recurring fever blisters, muscle aches, joint pain and loss of balance.
A major problem in determining the precise cause of ME is that it has many causes. A major study conducted by a major hospital in the United States was able to determine the first used diagnosis of ME. However, since that time various theories have been proposed. The symptoms were noted on a number of occasions by people who were diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyleitis. In the case of CFS, there were no reported cases of patients using drugs or alcohol.
Although the above named illnesses are very common in the case of those who suffer from ME, researchers have found ME does have its own set of criteria. Because the exact criteria for diagnosing ME varies from one case to another, researchers are continuously searching for other criteria that may be used in the case of a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyleitis. Many theories have been put forward as possible ME criteria. The criteria could possibly be further divided into two groups, chronic and recurrent. Recurrent criteria are considered very difficult to deal with because the patient’s ability to resume his or her daily lifestyle may become compromised considerably.
If you have recently been evaluated and found to have ME, you may be wondering what prompted the doctor to make such a diagnosis. Studies have shown that symptoms of ME mimic those of many other illnesses. Therefore, if one were to undergo routine health screening, certain illnesses such as diabetes, HIV, pneumonia or a stroke can lead to the same symptoms, ME being one of them. Researchers know that ME is not contagious and has no known cause similar symptoms of flu or a common cold. Studies have found that approximately half of those who have been diagnosed with ME show no evidence of flu-like symptoms during a regular physical check-up. This means that the ME symptoms seen in the initial health screening could simply be the result of an illness unrelated to ME.
Although research is ongoing, a number of facts about ME have been revealed. I think Association International, nearly half of those diagnosed with ME do not receive any sort of formal diagnosis, instead going on to report various symptoms, and being diagnosed again at some point. It is important to note that there is currently no specific test that can confirm the existence of ME, nor does it appear that current diagnostic methods are reliable enough to yield a proper diagnosis. Because of this, and the difficulty of determining a true cause for this complex illness, cfs often go undiagnosed in their early stages, which makes the disease much more likely to recur. For those who are diagnosed with ME, it is imperative that they learn about the ME Association and its mission and get themselves treated promptly for any illness, since early treatment can prevent serious damage from occurring.
Although the lack of a definite cause or mechanism for ME has made it difficult to develop a proper cure or preventative approach, there have been some promising research efforts. There is no shortage of researchers, doctors and healthcare providers working toward one day producing a specific cure or treatment for this complex illness, but as of yet, there is no known cure for ME. However, as more people are diagnosed with ME, the search for a definitive understanding of this illness will surely continue, with more people than ever being diagnosed, and hopefully the day will come when a cure can be produced. Until then, it’s important to have a full understanding of this complex disease, and know what to do if you are diagnosed.
