Covid ‘long haulers’ double Myalgic Encephalomyelitis numbers

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Tomorrow is World ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) Day and is a chance to acknowledge the estimated 25,000 sufferers in New Zealand.

ME or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a long-term (chronic), fluctuating, neurological disease that causes symptoms affecting many body systems, more commonly the nervous and immune systems.

People with ME experience debilitating pain, fatigue and a range of other symptoms associated with post-exertional malaise, the body and brain’s inability to recover after expending even small amounts of energy.

It is estimated that between 17 million and 30 million people live with ME worldwide.

However, since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, this figure is thought to have doubled with the presence of Covid “long haulers”.

An estimated 25 to 35 percent of people who have contracted the Covid-19 virus and are still ill 12 weeks later are classed as having long Covid.

Some people who do not recover are then diagnosed with ME or CFS.

Long Covid is characterised as: fatigue, shortness of breath, fevers, gastrointestinal issues, sleep disorders, “brain fog”, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder  and depression.

That means many people do not fully participate in society as a result of ME/CFS.

This is likely to also be the case for those with long Covid.

Governments and medical bodies must sit up and take notice, says Associated New Zealand ME Society (ANZMES).

Besides the obvious decrease of people in the workforce, there are significant economic, medical and social cost to society.

Questions  for those who might be suffering from ME include:

Has your fatigue lasted more than six months.

Do you have unrefreshed sleep?

Do you feel worse after exercising?

Do you have brain fog?

Do you suffer muscle pain?

■ Gisborne’s ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome coffee group meets on the first Friday of each month.

Those who would like to meet others with similar health issues are welcome to attend.

The group meets at the CCS building, 7 Kahutia Street next to Three Rivers Medical Centre, at 10.30am.

Contact Moira @027 457 6923 or moiralewis@xtra.co.nz