Last night (Thursday 25/02/2021) there was a program on BBC2. (Sorry if you are anywhere else - probably only available within the UK.)
Horizon
2021: Coronavirus Special - What We know Now
In this third Horizon special, Dr Chris Van Tulleken is joined by his brother Xand and Dr Guddi Singh to take us through the latest developments and answer current concerns.
Though the effect of the coronavirus pandemic has been devastating to many, the team reveal the breakthroughs in genetics, medicine and modelling that have provided a way out of this situation and given hope and confidence that, in the event of a future pandemic, we can take it on and win.
The reason for posting is nothing to do with Covid-19 and the virus! It is everything to do with a short interview with Dr David Strain of University of Exeter Medical School who is the BMA's lead on the NHS's long Covid task force.
Specifically the references to CFS/ME.
The interview starts at: 43:02
The CFS/ME bit starts at: 47:00
Ends: 48:20
I suspect many members here are aware of the many questions about CFS/ME and their relation with thyroid disorders.
I found this programme really interesting and thought at the time that perhaps now the right research will be done into ME/CFS. I campaigned about ME/CFS years ago but it didn't get anywhere. Perhaps now things will change....
I fell asleep during the second half of the programme so missed the ME connection, but am going to watch it today. A couple of weeks ago, I emailed Layla Moran, the MP looking into Long Covid and I asked if they had looked into the thyroid connection and particularly testing FT3 levels. I told her of the late Dr Skinner’s work on the connection between ‘ME’ and it actually being hypothyroidism.
If more people contact the above MP, perhaps, at long last, there could be an awakening of thyroid problems when there is a lack of T3! I don’t know if it’s coincidence, but my daughter was terribly ill with Covid and a bacterial infection , but has fully recovered; she takes Armour Thyroid for her hypothyroidism ... maybe the T3 in this has spared her from Long Covid! She also thinks Long Covid is a lack of T3. I definitely think a short note to the above MP could finally bring hypothyroidism and lack of T3 , to the attention of the medical profession.
Are you aware of whether the admin team will contact Dr David Strain to enlighten him about the link between hypothyroidism and CFS? I am delighted that the light is being shine on CFS at last but it would be a shame to lose this opportunity for progress and an opportunity to highlight the many who suffer from CFS.
Thanks for calling this to our attention. I thought the program was well done. I was curious to know more about Dr. Mark Strain's work on long COVID arising from his clinical interest in CFS. Interestingly, this BMA article features doctors who develop greater understanding once they experience an illness themselves.
‘I think a lot of people with long COVID had found giving up sugar very helpful, and she’s got me on a load of supplements. I said to my husband years ago that if he ever caught me taking turmeric for medicinal purposes, then shoot me,’ she laughs. ‘Boy did I live to regret that. I think my attitude has changed.’
I spontaneously clapped when I heard Dr Strain say what he did. It has taken far too long for the medical profession to take ME seriously and to see it being discussed in such a mature and sensible manner was manna! I only hope that Dr M, who had had a torrid time but who has stuck to her principles and scientific guns, gets the praise she deserves for all she has done for the ME community and apologies from her detractors (who should be holding their heads in shame).
I agree - but better that it is mentioned than not at all.
We can hope that there is a fourth program and that it delves further. Though even then, it is unlikely to provide more than overviews and indicators of what is know by then.
I think the problem is that so little is known about long covid. The first battle was to get it recognised, which thankfully it now is. I remember reading six months ago that it would last a few weeks or months at the most and definitely it would not last a year. Yet with me and I'm sure hundreds or even thousands of other people have reached they're first anniversary. Talking about it is the first step. Realising that I am not alone has helped enormously emotionally if not physically.
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ME/CFS discussed in terms of thyroid dysfunction
Blue horizon lined up ,what next?
