ME/CFS patients often struggle for years to receive a diagnosis. They may be misdiagnosed with other diseases or told they are not sick at all because their illness doesn’t show up in standard blood tests.
The hallmark symptom of ME/CFS is debilitating fatigue that worsens after activity, and does not get better after rest. It is accompanied by post-exertional malaise, unrefreshing sleep and either cognitive problems or orthostatic intolerance. People with ME/CFS report a variety of other symptoms such as bloating and constipation, pain, trouble concentrating, periods of apathy or depression, dizziness and near fainting, and difficulty regulating body temperature.
In the UK, around 250,000 people have ME/CFS, according to Action for ME. Many of them are not working full or part time and some need around the clock care because of their symptoms. Many people feel stigma and discrimination from family, friends, health and social care professionals and employers.
The term ME/CFS is not biologically defined, and it can be hard to distinguish from other illnesses such as fibromyalgia and Lyme disease. There is no laboratory test to confirm ME/CFS and it is often difficult for healthcare providers to diagnose it because of its overlapping symptom set. The medical community is actively working to refine diagnostic criteria based on new scientific insights.
A “who am I” quiz is designed to remove the guesswork about your personality, and reveal some facets of your character. It can be interesting to take a few of them and see how they fit your unique strengths, but it is important to remember that these types of quizzes aren’t scientific. They can provide you with some insight, but shouldn’t be used as a diagnosis or to make major life decisions.
When interviewers or recruiters ask a question such as, “How would you describe yourself?” they are looking to see how well you communicate your skills and qualities to them. You should always answer this question using strong words that highlight your positive attributes and abilities. This will help you to stand out from other candidates.
In the past, some people with ME have described themselves as having a positive attitude and a “can do” approach to life. This is a good approach to use in an interview, but it is not accurate. ME/CFS is a real, neurological condition that can be very challenging to live with. A person with ME/CFS may have periods of improvement or worsening of their symptoms over time. Most people have severe ME/CFS and they can be unable to work and need around the clock care. It can be very depressing for them to hear that other people think they are not serious about their illness and have no idea how much their illness affects their lives. This is why it is so important to be able to tell people the truth about ME/CFS and the resources at Emerge Australia can help with that. This page also has links to other organisations that offer support, advice and advocacy for ME/CFS.