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Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) caused by childhood scarlet fever?

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ruthddarling
ruthddarling

I was diagnosed with M.E. officially in 2005 and now have very severe M.E. The doctors were unsure when I contracted it as I have had episodes of severe illness since I was a child. I was told by my mother that I'd had scarlet fever twice as a young child. Could it be possible that they were the trigger that started my M.E.? By the way, CFS is no longer recognised so please update your groups or at least add Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) thanks.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • jackie00198
    jackie00198 ruthddarling

    Posted

    When did you start having the ME symptoms? By that, I mean the post-exertional fatigue and general debilitating fatigue? What was going on in your life when they first appeared? Did you have a virus? Any kind of physical trauma? An infection? Stress? These are some of the things I've seen posted as associated with onset. 
  • ruthddarling
    ruthddarling

    Posted

    From what I can remember I was off school a lot, not just because of tiredness but laid up in bed with exhaustion. It was when I started work the real problems started. I loved working and although I did admin/secretarial work I would give 110% but would burn out quickly, be off work a few days and it would cycle again. I would also get terrible muscle pain, sensitivity to noise and light, insomnia (and non-refreshable sleep) and unrelenting exhaustion. I would get warnings from work for the amount of sick leave I had to take, which was mortifying. I would push through the tiredness but end up worse. 

    I I had mumps, scarlet fever x 2 , chicken pox and measles as a child. I had glandular fever when I was 13, appendicitis at 18, shingles on my face at 19, severe post-natal depression at 26 (requiring hospitalisation) and four surgical procedures (gall bladder removal, appendicitis, bowel surgery and IVF egg removal). Then in 2005 I was referred to the M.E. Clinic at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol where I had tests that confirmed I had M.E. The doctors said they thought I'd had M.E. at least 15 years prior to this and that is why my condition is so severe now.

    Thanks.

    • jackie00198
      jackie00198 ruthddarling

      Posted

      Boy, you've sure had to deal with a lot of stuff. The constant assault on your body with all these physical problems may have contributed to the ME, but who knows? I'm dealing with severe ME without having had any of those problems. Big mystery.
  • richard89308
    richard89308 ruthddarling

    Posted

    It is more likely that it would be caused by your situation just before contracting the illness.  Stress or trauma could all trigger this.

    Richard

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