Day: January 27, 2025

Many people with ME have one or more additional diseases (known as comorbidities). Commonly co-morbid with ME are fibromyalgia (widespread muscle pain), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS, increased heart rate when standing), gastroparesis/irritable bowel syndrome (bloating and constipation), and Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome (hyperextensibility). Some of these conditions can also be triggered by infection.

ME is a neurological condition that affects the nervous and immune systems. It can cause debilitating symptoms including post-exertional malaise, unrefreshing sleep, and cognitive problems. People of all ages can get ME, although it is more common in children and women. Some people recover from ME, but others remain severely ill for years.

There is no known cure for ME, and it cannot be treated with medicine. However, patients can take steps to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

ME patients often report being misunderstood by friends, family and colleagues. They may also experience a lack of understanding and discrimination from health and social care professionals, particularly in the UK. The campaign group Action for ME and other charities provide support to patients, their families and carers. They can also help with information about benefits, services and support for children affected by ME/CFS.

It is important to remember that quizzes like this aren’t scientific, and don’t give you a medical diagnosis. But they can remove the guesswork and can be a fun way to learn more about yourself or your family.

Those who have ME, sometimes called chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS, feel as though their bodies are perpetually exhausted and they never have enough energy to complete everyday tasks. The illness can be triggered by viral infections, such as long Covid or flu, but it is not clear what causes ME. Research has found that ME is not due to depression or other psychological factors, nor does it result from exercise, work or stress.

It’s a complex illness with no laboratory test and a symptom set that overlaps with several other diseases, so it can be difficult to diagnose. It can also take up to a decade before a person gets a correct diagnosis.

ME can be triggered by many different things, from surgery or dental work to major hormonal changes. The symptoms can develop suddenly or build up over time. Adults with ME may experience PEM, unrefreshing sleep, difficulty concentrating and a range of other symptoms including pain, dizziness or fainting, bloating and constipation and a sensitivity to temperature change. Children and teenagers may have similar symptoms but experience them more acutely.

GPs can help patients with ME/CFS by having an accurate knowledge of the illness and knowing what to look for. Our booklet Newly diagnosed with ME contains advice for patients and their GPs, facts about ME, guidance to help them be active partners in their own care and suggested questions they might want to ask their GPs.

When it comes to love, people have a lot of ideas about what it should feel like. Some think that love is simply a feeling of excitement and attraction, while others believe that it’s more than that. Some people even believe that loving someone involves sacrifice, selflessness and putting the other person’s needs before your own. While those things are part of love, they’re certainly not all that it takes to be in true love.

It seems that the way we often define “love” is somewhat based on popular culture, which tends to portray it as something magical and exciting. But the reality of loving someone can be much more difficult than what we often think of. It can involve early morning doctor’s visits, cleaning up bodily fluids and dealing with a spouse or partner who may not always make you happy.

Despite these challenges, it’s important to remember that loving someone is worth the work, because it can lead to a long and fulfilling relationship. It can also help you find a greater sense of self-worth. Here are some of the common ways that people describe being in love:

Many people know when they’re falling in love because their significant other begins to take up a large amount of real estate in their thoughts. They’re constantly thinking about their relationship and what the future might hold. They might reread texts or view photos of them over and over again. They might even wake up and fall asleep thinking about them. It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe, so they turn to stock terms such as soul mate or the one.

Some researchers suggest that feelings of love are different than other emotions because they’re more complex. They’re also more enduring than other emotions. Other scientists, however, believe that while love is an emotion, it’s not the primary emotional experience of humans. Instead, they think that it’s an amplification of primary emotions, such as happiness and anger.

When a person is in love, they often become more open to trying new things and experiencing other cultures. They might also become more willing to change their own behavior for the better. They’re often more supportive of their loved ones, especially when they’re in a destructive pattern. This is sometimes referred to as sacrificial love, because it can be difficult to endure the suffering of a loved one.

If we understand that love is a bond, then it’s much more likely to last than other emotions, such as lust or hate. This also means that it’s less likely to disappear when you or your friend don’t feel the same way for a while or when life changes dramatically.