11. What Might Cause ME? (Part 2) - Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS

[VivaciaDreams]

totwlly agree about the glands, i read somewhere that the usual thyroid test only shows up as positive on 10% of ME patients who actually have thyroid problems, and its worth asking doctors for a T3 test, whatever that means :)

[GetWellFromME]

@VivaciaDreams Yes I'm still not really up on hormonal effects, but as I understand it, you can only really know about your thyroid health if you have all three blood tests done - TSH, T3, and T4 (most NHS doctors only do one or two of them). Low thyroid can definitely cause severe fatigue, or make it worse if you've already got it, but it can also be a symptom caused itself by the ME (especially if the HPA isn't working properly).

[ChibiYotsuba]

@GetWellFromME Someone else told me about this as well.I had no idea if this was tested or not. I've had so many blood tests. My mum makes x-rays at the hospital, so she's allowed to look at medical records. She checked out mine and it seems I've had it tested, but that nothing has come out of it. So it isn't that for me.

This doesn't mean though it isn't that for everyone. Everyone should have it tested when suspecting CFS.

[GetWellFromME]

@VivaciaDreams Dr Myhill explains a lot more about thyroid hormones, as well as adrenal hormones, and sleep hormones, on her website and in her free book download.

[ixchelkali]

Thank you for this series of videos. They are so well done and lay things out in a very understandable way. I like it that you mention many different plausible theories. I think this series is one of the best resources available for people who don't know about ME, and want to. They're a handy way for patients to explain their condition to family and friends. Again, thanks.

[GetWellFromME]

@ixchelkali Thank you so much, really appreciate your encouragement! :)

[GetWellFromME]

@justter Thank you so much! Sorry to hear you've been ill so long too. My Mum had ME at the end of the 1980s, and so little seemed to be known about it then. Now, although there's a lot more information about it, and research is thankfully just starting to put some of the pieces together to try and help us (hopefully?!), there's still so much misunderstanding and discrimination, and people not accepting ME as a real illness... Let's hope that will start to change! :)

[jessical1969]

awesome as always.Thanks Giles! It really is so great of you to keep doing these [as long as its not to much of course] I just went for a short bike ride with my son last week .I have been "paying" with a cascade of symptoms ever since. However,lets face it ,Im extremely lucky to be able to even "Do" the bike ride,alas, " pay-up" time is here....sigh. ..... like you said previously we muster everything we have to appear to be normal

[GetWellFromME]

@jessical1969 Thank you! I'll try to keep doing some as and when I can :) Yes it's horrible having to try and get a balance of being able to do things (which is great!) but then having the pay-back if it's been too much :/

[TheLibra2767]

Brilliant/informative vids as always ;)

[GetWellFromME]

@TheLibra2767 Thank you for your support! :)

[SnakeTempleGirl]

Thanks, Giles. Your videos very much reflect my own experience and understanding. I've had ME since 1981 (and been through all the inevitable denial of the medical profession) plus many other health problems on top.

Making these vids must use a lot of your energy. I very much appreciate your determination to get the message out there. Thank you.

[GetWellFromME]

@SnakeTempleGirl Thank you. Sorry to hear you've been so ill for so long, and with other health problems too... I do think it's awful that ME hasn't been taken more seriously by some in the medical profession over the years in this country. Some of the videos prove easier than others to do! :)