Thread by @8Homeslice8

#meawarenesshour

My intention is not to frighten anybody, but 10 years ago I got a virus and it left me disabled.

If you have #COVID19 & experience debilitating fatigue afterwards, please take it easy. Don't push too hard or too fast.

Viruses trigger ME in a small % of cases.

There isn't any evidence yet that COVID-19 can cause ME.

But a percentage of the population is thought to be genetically predisposed to develop ME after bad viral infections.

It's quite common - estimates are often ~1%, and the 2009 Swine Flu led to a number of ME cases.

One of the first signs of ME is a sudden loss of ability to do even gentle exercise, coupled with waves of debilitating fatigue sometimes accompanied by flu-like symptoms.

If you feel this after COVID-19 you may just e post-viral fatigue and need to take it easy for a while.

But post-viral fatigue symptoms are often indistinguishable from ME symptoms. You only know you have ME a few months (or sometimes years as diagnosis is often slow) down the line when you don't recover.

The worst thing you can do in the early stages of ME is to push yourself too hard with exercise, work, study or whatever else.

The greatest chances of recovery are in the first two years, if you take things very easy.

So if you can, stick to what your body can manage without feeling overwhelmed by fatigue and flu-like symptoms.

E.g. gentle stretches, gentle movements, fresh air, nutritious food.

But don't rush back to the gym, cycling, fast walks etc if it gives you waves of feeling very ill

If you have to do stuff, pace yourself. Break everything into small chunks and stop for a rest very frequently.

If you only have post-viral fatigue, this will help you recover faster. If you are in the early stages of undiagnosed ME, this may well prevent more severe disability.

Note: I am not a medical doctor. I just know a lot about ME, having lived with it for 10 years and read a zillion research papers on it.

Look after yourselves. The chances of you getting ME are small, but if you have the signs, go very slow and gentle.

People with ME who put too much strain on their bodies often end up in wheelchairs or at the worst, bedridden & tube fed for years.

So it's something to take seriously if you have post-viral fatigue and malaise after COVID. Look after yourself until you know you are 100% well.

Also, there is no cure for ME. It is estimated that ~5% of people recover but nobody knows how exactly. It's a very complex condition & a mild case means at least a 50% reduction in your functional ability. It's usually a lifelong disability. It's not something you can fight off.

So, while your chances of getting it are quite small, it's something you need to be aware of if you have post-viral fatigue and malaise after COVID.

And the most important thing to reduce your chances of severe disability is to rest, pace yourself, & go extremely gently.

I was 24 and highly athletic, top of my class with no underlying health conditions when it happened to me.

I just happened to be genetically predisposed.

Now I have to use a wheelchair & I have been unable to work for the last 2 years, sick for 10 years.

Nobody is invincible.

The best things you can do are to stay at home, don't break the lockdown rules, and if you do get sick, look after yourself.

That means stop drinking, stop smoking, don't use caffeine, sugar & energy drinks to get by.

If you get post-viral fatigue, be very gentle on your body.