If you are genuinely curious, I’d invite you to join a community of Long Covid and ME/CFS patients and researchers online, and ask any questions you have.
Comment on ‘I could bench-press 100kg. Now, I can’t walk’: Lucy’s life with long Covid
steeznson@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Neurology Today: Are ME/CFS and Long Covid part of the same disorder?, Neurology Today, by Gina Shaw, 18 April 2024
We believe these are virtually the same disease, although there are some differences, and they should be managed and studied in multidisciplinary clinics focused on post-infectious syndromes.
We’re seeing an increasing number of studies suggesting that there is a large overlap between CFS and long covid. Historically we were able to observe CFS occuring in patients who suffered from glandular fever which is another moderately severe viral infection. I had glandular fever back when I was 18 and the actual virus felt awful but I fortunately did not experience many long term symptoms; although my partner at the time (who I’m now married to) said she noticed I was low energy for a fair few months afterwards.
I’m extremely curious about further research on the relationship between the two diseases. Potentially the increased interest/research from the relatively large number of people who have experienced long covid could lead to a breakthrough which helps people suffering from other fatigue disorders.
mecfs@lemmy.world 5 months ago
steeznson@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Thanks for the link, might check it out later. To be honest this is more of a passing interest since I have experienced both viruses and seemed to have some limited long term effects from glandular fever.
mecfs@lemmy.world 5 months ago
I think one of the first things you’ll be interested to hear is modern definitions of ME/CFS don’t note fatigue as the most disabling symptom but a disease process called post-exertional malaise, wherein a person’s entire disease can worsen (sometimes permanently) based on the amount of energy they use.
It’s really fascinating, A recent study by Wust et al. found muscle clotting and abnormalities following exertion in people with ME/CFS.
Also people with ME are the only known disease group to preform markeldy worse in specific markers on a 2 day CPET. Which would serve as a biomarker if it were not for the fact doing the test can worsen people’s disease permanently.
I highly recommend this summarising article on the issue: nationalgeographic.com/…/long-covid-patients-exer…