International ME/Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

May 12 is observed worldwide as International ME/ Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. It's a time to recognize and support people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia, two often misunderstood and debilitating chronic illnesses that significantly impact quality of life.

💜 Raising Awareness on May 12

Wearing blue or purple, sharing stories online, lighting landmarks, and supporting advocacy organizations can help bring visibility to these often invisible illnesses.

💡 What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by:

• Widespread musculoskeletal pain

• Extreme fatigue

• Sleep disturbances

• Cognitive issues ("fibro fog")

• Sensitivity to touch, light, sound, or temperature

While the exact cause is unknown, it's believed to involve abnormal pain processing in the brain and nervous system. It often co-occurs with ME/CFS, which shares overlapping symptoms.

💙 How to Deal with Fibromyalgia

Managing fibromyalgia is a multifaceted approach. There's no cure, but symptoms can often be managed with a combination of strategies.

ME/CFS stands for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It is a serious, long-term illness that affects multiple systems in the body, especially the nervous, immune, and energy metabolism systems. Here's a breakdown of what it involves:

Core Features:

• Persistent, unexplained fatigue: Not improved by rest and significantly worsened by physical or mental activity.

• Post-exertional malaise (PEM): A hallmark symptom where symptoms dramatically worsen after even minor exertion.

• Unrefreshing sleep: Despite sleeping for long periods, patients wake up feeling tired or unrested.

• Cognitive impairments: Often described as "brain fog"—problems with memory, focus, and processing information.

• Orthostatic intolerance: Difficulty standing or sitting upright for long periods due to issues with blood pressure or heart rate regulation.

Additional Symptoms May Include:

• Muscle or joint pain

• Headaches

• Sensitivities to light, sound, or chemicals

• Digestive issues

• Sore throat or swollen lymph nodes

Diagnosis:

There is no single test for ME/CFS. Diagnosis is based on:

• Symptoms lasting at least 6 months

• Ruling out other possible causes

• Meeting clinical criteria

There is no cure, and treatments focus on symptom management: