"ME/CFS, ties to Long COVID are the focus of ongoing research studies"

https://accesspress.org/me-cfs-ties-to-long-covid-are-the-focus-of-ongoing-research-studies/

Recent findings from NIH study show that COVID infection leads to more cases of ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome)

New incidence cases of ME/CFS were 15 times higher than pre-pandemic levels

@mecfs @longcovid

The measles outbreak in Ontario is impacting more than 800 people, including the vaccinated.

Among the fully vaccinated sick with measles, 20-39 year olds have the largest number of infections.

I would have assumed it would be older groups due to waning vaccine effectiveness… so this intrigues me.

More people with young children? More socializing? What’s the X factor? Are repeat Covid infections playing a role?

You can speak to your doctor about getting a titre check to see if you need a booster, and a well fitted respirator like an N95 provides an extra layer of protection!

https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/M/24/measles-ontario-epi-summary.pdf?rev=da3ffec26cc0471f83ed9de3ca356e1c&sc_lang=en

This is the longest I’ve ever gone without publishing an article, and the stress of not having anything ready is weighing heavy on my heart

It’s ironic considering how often I write about the importance of resting and listening to your body when it needs a break.

I’m so grateful for the Disabled Ginger community, but my body and brain clearly need a break.

I sit down to write everyday, and so far all I have is 30+ drafts with titles, a few images and (at best) two lines of actual content.

This is the harsh reality of chronic illness. It doesn’t matter how much you WANT to do something… if your body says “No”… Its a No.

You can’t try harder your way out of it. You can’t play through the pain.

The more you try to fight your body, the harder and longer the crash.

If you’re struggling to rest right now, take this as a sign to unplug. Relax. Recharge. Give your body what it’s crying out for and do it without the guilt.

We will all be here for you when you’re ready.

Sharing my article on radical rest from the archives, because I need the reminder & maybe so does someone else:

https://www.disabledginger.com/p/its-time-to-throw-away-the-coulda

If MAHA truly wanted to tackle the chronic illness epidemic, they would provide the following:

Free respirators, Covid/flu tests and vaccines

Clean air in public spaces

Paid time off/sick leave

paid childcare

Mandatory masking in healthcare

Universal healthcare

Universal basic income

They don’t want to end the chronic illness epidemic, they want the chronically ill to disappear. There’s a big difference.

It’s eugenics on full display, and people are buying it because of their own internalized ableism.

They need to believe chronic illness can’t happen to them. That if they do the “right things” they will be fine.

Everyone is only temporarily abled. Help us fight for better social supports, healthcare and inclusion. It benefits everyone.

The man in charge of HHS used the R slur in an FDA meeting where he derided children with disabilities as well as people with autism.

This is the man in charge of health and human services for the entire United States.

RFK Jr is a snake oil salesman and a eugenicist. He speaks of disabled people as though they don’t deserve to live, and I truly believe that’s what he thinks of us.

He’s not going to cure autism (it’s not something that needs to be cured). He’s not going to cure the chronic disease epidemic.

He’s going to disappear us. Whether in ‘wellness camps’ or by making it impossible to access the treatments and supports we need to survive.

This article is deeply distressing:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-11/rfk-jr-warns-fda-staff-of-deep-state-in-all-hands-meeting?embedded-checkout=true

Living with chronic illness is hard enough without letting guilt stop us from accessing what we need.

Capitalism & ableism have conditioned us to see rest as a failure. To feel bad for needing accommodations.

Accessibility IS resistance. Survival is a way of fighting back.

Rest. Get that mobility aid. Ask for help.

I understand wanting to go 'back to normal'. Pandemics are traumatizing and scary. Of course people want to forget them.

But they don't end when we decide we've had enough. The threat doesn't go away because we have 'Covid fatigue' or because we’re sick of masking.

We must stop denying the reality that Covid is still with us, still killing and still disabling people.

We must work on our collective trauma and push for common sense measures like masks in healthcare, free respirators and tests and clean air in public spaces.

“Back to normal” isn’t working. It’s a mirage. The comfortable lie.

But we can move towards a new normal together. One where everyone is safer and healthier. It’s not too late.

"We set out to make our ‘invisible illness’ visible in South Africa with SICK Pride"

https://thesicktimes.org/2024/11/05/we-set-out-to-make-our-invisible-illness-visible-in-south-africa-with-sick-pride/

Image is from April 2025 AMMES Newsletter

@mecfs
#MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #MEcfs #CFS #PwME @longcovid
#LongCovid #PASC #PwLC @chronicillness
@spoonies
@disability
@disabilityjustice
#chronicillness
#chroniclife
#ChronicPain
#Spoonielife
#hiddenillness
#invisibleillness
#ChronicIllnesses
#Spoonies
#Spoonie
#ChronicallyIll

Informal notes of Tom Kindlon @tomkindlon (an Irish ME/CFS Association trustee) on a Community Law & Mediation webinar, “Housing supports for people with disabilities”, organised by the Irish ME Trust in April 2025

https://1drv.ms/b/s!AoHfldspRkWU14Fk8PxsH7FEHN1k3w?e=MvdxKH

#chronicillness #Disabled #Disability @chronicillness
@spoonies
@disability
@mecfs
#MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #MEcfs #CFS #PwME

"Cards2Warriors has a special program called Happy Mail, where they send snail mail cards to those [who are ill] who need encouragement & cheer"

Links:
https://www.cards2warriors.org/
https://www.cards2warriors.org/happy-mail

Image from Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine e-bulletin

#chronicillness @chronicillness
@spoonies
#chroniclife
#Spoonielife
#hiddenillness
#invisibleillness
#ChronicIllnesses
#Spoonies
#Spoonie
#ChronicallyIll @mecfs
#MEcfs @longcovid
#LongCovid @fibromyalgia
#Fibromyalgia #Fibro #FMS #FM

#chronicillness #autoimmune #chronicallyill #chronicillnesshumor #chronicillnessmemes #autoimmunememes #fibromemes #fibromyalgia #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicpainmemes mentalhealthmemes

The MAHA movement claims to want to “make America healthy again”… and RFK Jr says he will end the chronic disease epidemic.

Yet we’ve seen no plans to improve the health or life of the chronically ill, and many plans that will end our lives faster.

Anti vaccine sentiment. Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. Mask bans. Increase in the use of the R slur and various ableist attitudes.

Today Trump announced a tariff on pharmaceuticals, which will devastate the disability community.

We already live below the poverty line, often on a fixed income that barely covers the essentials. We can’t withstand economic uncertainty and supply chain disruptions as well as our non disabled peers.

This is another step in escalating eugenics. The Nazis targeted disabled people too… because they knew no one would stand up for us.

Please fight for us. Wear a mask. Call your elected officials. Reach out a hand in support.

Don’t leave anyone behind.

Informal notes of Tom Kindlon @tomkindlon (an Irish ME/CFS Association trustee) on a Community Law & Mediation webinar, “Housing supports for people with disabilities”, organised by the Irish ME Trust in April 2025

https://1drv.ms/b/s!AoHfldspRkWU14Fk8PxsH7FEHN1k3w?e=MvdxKH

#chronicillness #Disabled #Disability @chronicillness
@spoonies
@disability
@mecfs
#MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #MEcfs #CFS #PwME

FRIEND: Do you want to hike the Appalachian trail with me?

ME: Last night I got tired from eating a carrot.

"New Study Documents Iatrogenic Harm from Perceived Psychosomatic and Psychiatric Misdiagnoses of Rheumatic Diseases" by @david

https://virology.ws/2025/03/31/trial-by-error-new-study-documents-iatrogenic-harm-from-perceived-psychosomatic-and-psychiatric-misdiagnoses-of-rheumatic-diseases

Image is from latest Science for ME weekly update

#chronicillness #invisibleillness
@chronicillness
@spoonies
@mecfs
#MEcfs

It's far more prevalent than people think....

https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/penn-township-physical-therapist-helps-to-fill-gap-in-care-for-fast-heart-rate-syndrome/