ME International has recently released its first video, entitled “Myalgic Encephalomyelitis – Understanding Diagnosis” on our YouTube Channel.

Click HERE for the LONG version – Transcript
Click HERE for the SHORT version – Transcript

Topics include:

• What is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis?
• ME: The Lived Experience
• How Does ME Relate to CFS?
• Getting An ME Diagnosis
• Confirming A Diagnosis of ME
• What Is Needed?, and
• How To Improve the Quality of Life for ME Patients

Many different disease descriptions have been created since the recognition and labeling of ME by Dr. Ramsay in the 1950s. Several criteria later broadened the patient population to include many patients who did not fit the original description.

In 2011 a group of experts with over 500 years of combined experience created a consensus criteria known as the International Consensus Criteria (#MEICC). ME-International supports the adoption of the #MEICC and the International Consensus Primer for ME (#MEICPrimer), which is a comprehensive primer for doctors.

We strongly believe that adoption of the #MEICC will ensure research is focused on the distinct ME patient population without including patients who fall into the wider category known as ME/CFS-SEID or CFS-Fukuda.

These videos discuss the history of ME, the lived experience, including recognition of the most severe patients, a full description of how to diagnose using the International Consensus Criteria as well as the challenges of getting a diagnosis. Proper diagnosis is vital for patients to get proper treatment.