Fibro or M.E.

Is there any real difference between Fibro and M.E.? When I look them up they seem to be the same. Also, when applying for disability does one carry more weight with the people reviewing your case that the other?

[TheAuthor]

My Neurologist tells me that there is. He says Fibro is a condition whereby the brain sends signals saying pain, and ME is a condition whereby the brain says tired.

I want to genuinely wish you all the best of luck

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[bluejeans16]

Ken is right. I have ME. Both ME and fibro have a cross over of symptoms if you look them up, but the main symptom of ME is exhaustion. My way of describing it is as if someone has sucked all the energy out of me with a straw. It doesn't matter how much sleep or rest I get I always seem to be running on autopilot. As for applying for dla I don't think ME is taken as seriously as fibro but it obviously depends how badly you are affected by it.

[Lima6MCT in reply to bluejeans16]

Whilst a diagnosis is helpful to Assessors/Decision Makers, to give them a baseline to work from, a particular condition doesn't mean you definitely will (or won't ) get an award. All the Assessor/DM want to know is how your illness or disability affects you day to day and how that then fits in with the Descriptors which decide how many points you get. You need to score at least 8 points in Care or 8 points in Mobility to get any award for that component.

Unsure about ME being taken less seriously than Fibro because, here in Fife at least, there are dedicated specialist ME nurses. As someone with Fibro, access to that specialist service has been denied me. The only Neurologist I see is the one I receive my TMJ Botox injection from. The Rheumy who diagnosed me has, after my GP requested a further consultation, refused to see me as there was nothing else she felt she could do!

[Hidden in reply to bluejeans16]

Yup that sounds like me. I was diagnosed with Fibro but now I'm in bed almost all the time. The other day I slept 14 hours. Only woke up once to take a pain pill. I can no longer afford to see a doctor but keeping a log as I feel I'm getting worse.

Thanks

Thanks

[Missty]

I would have a look on the ME association's website as there is some very useful information on there. I have recently been diagnosed with ME and Fibro and it has left me housebound and unable to work. Everyday is a battle and I can identify with the description I have read of it feels like constantly having the flu, with a hangover having run a marathon the day before. Some people with severe ME are bedbound and require 24hr care as cannot eat etc so I would sincerly hope that the DWP takes it seriously.

[Hidden in reply to Missty]

Hi, that sounds like me. I was diagnosed with Fibro but now I'm in bed almost all the time. The other day I slept 14 hours. Only woke up once to take a pain pill. I sometimes think that if it was not for needing a pain pill I would go on sleeping.

Thanks

Mark

[Lima6MCT]

Whilst a diagnosis is helpful to Assessors/Decision Makers, to give them a baseline to work from, a particular condition doesn't mean you definitely will (or won't ) get an award. All the Assessor/DM want to know is how your illness or disability affects you day to day and how that then fits in with the Descriptors which decide how many points you get. You need to score at least 8 points in Care or 8 points in Mobility to get any award for that component.

[Hidden in reply to Lima6MCT]

I was diagnosed with Fibro but now I'm in bed almost all the time. The other day I slept 14 hours. Only woke up once to take a pain pill. I can no longer afford to see a doctor but am keeping a record as I have gotton worse. My lawyer says that's the best we can do since there is no test to prove I have Fibro or ME.