Severe ME Awareness Day

Severe ME Awareness Day takes place every year on August 8th.

It is considered a day for remembrance of those who suffer from and have died from severe myalgic encephalomyelitis, as well a chance to educate the public about severe ME and advocate for better treatment and research.

Purpose

Twenty-five percent of people with myalgic encephalomyelitis have severe or very severe ME, meaning they are almost completely housebound, permanently housebound or bedbound. People with severe ME are frequently hidden away from the outside world, ignored and dismissed. Some patients with severe ME are unable to see doctors because they are refused home visits and are physically unable to leave their home or room.

History

Severe ME Awareness Day was started by the 25 Percent ME Group in 2013. The day August 8th was chosen to honor Sophia Mirza, a severe ME patient who died of the disease. In 2019, the ME Association marked Severe ME Awareness Day for the first time.

See also

Ethical issues.

Learn more

• Severe ME Day - 25% ME Group
• Severe ME Remembrances leaflet - 25% ME Group

See also

• 25% ME Group
• Severe and very severe ME
• International ME Awareness Day
• ME Awareness Month
• ME and CFS awareness images (category)

See myalgic encephalomyelitis.

myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.

myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.