Many Patients Need Assistance
Like all illnesses, the severity varies from patient to patient. Dr. Paul Cheney stated he had evaluated over 2,500 ME/CFS cases and it can be a nightmare of increasing disability with both physical and cognitive components. Severe cases can have both an MS-like and AIDS-like clinical appearance. Dr. Dan Peterson, found that, “ME/CFS patients experienced greater functional severity than the studied patients with heart disease, virtually all types of cancer and all other chronic illnesses”. 20 years after the epidemic, Dr. Peterson said he has never had a patient that recovered from ME/CFS. An unrelated study compared the quality of life of people with various illnesses, including patients undergoing chemotherapy, haemodialysis, as well as those with HIV (until the late terminal stage), liver transplants, coronary artery disease, and other ailments, and again found ME/CFS patients had the lowest quality of life. Dr. Leonard Jason stated in a radio interview that ME/CFS “is actually more debilitating than just about any other medical problem in the world”.
The National ME/FM Action Network would like to thank all family members and other caregivers for the assistance they give those with ME/CFS and FMS.
The World may think you are only one person -
But to one person, you may be their world.
Author Unknown
Whether you are a caregiver by occupation or by circumstances, you must also take care of your own needs. All too often caregivers are so focused on looking after others, they neglect themselves. If there is a need for oxygen masks during a flight, the rule is to put the oxygen mask on yourself before assisting others. You must nurture yourself in order to be strong and supportive to others.
While some of the following articles are directed to caregivers of other medical conditions, their underlying principles may be of assistance.
Caregiving Articles
For additional Assistance