Michael Crawford & M.E. www.dailymail.co.uk/fem... - Thyroid UK

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Michael Crawford & M.E. www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/...

hamble99b profile image
32 Replies

just watched a programme about michael crawford and he had to stop performing for 7 years as he had M.E. he went to new zealand to recover.

I think they said he'd just been at the peak of fitness in Barnum for three and a half years and was a few days into a new show when he took ill.

If only there could be more "known" people speaking about debilitating conditions.

sandra.

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hamble99b profile image
hamble99b
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32 Replies

Did he say what he did in New Zealand to get better?

Jane x

hamble99b profile image
hamble99b in reply to

no. I'd have liked to know more.

in reply to hamble99b

I wonder if they have a better grip over there of chronic viruses like EBV or HHV6 which are often the cause of ME/chronic fatigue and consequently use antivirals. Jane x

hamble99b profile image
hamble99b in reply to

auckland

sandi profile image
sandi

Or maybe he took some time out in a quieter country and in fresh air to simply allow his body to start to sort itself out?

I so wish I had the money and support to be able to take time out and just rest. I think I'm heading for burnout, not from a demanding job these days (that is oh so in the past!) but from dealing with ill health, the NHS and having to make constant decisions on what to do each day with my limited time - all while watching my home and relationships decay as there is not enough energy to go round.

Hear, hear to more well known people speaking out if they are ill rather than giving the impression that they are and we should be superhuman. It says so much about the shame surrounding these illnesses that more don't.

thecookiemonster profile image
thecookiemonster in reply to sandi

Hi Sandi, I know exactly how you feel. I,ve lived with mild/mod CFS since 1996, I had to give up a very well paid career because of it. Then in 2001 I was diag with an underactive thyroid, in 2006 High Blood Cholesterol. Recently been told my Kidneys are slightly damaged (found out this is because of the meds I take for my Cholesterol),I am just turned 60, but feel like a very old person most days - its awful. The only way I can describe my tiredness, is like someone has just switched off the light, so know how you feel. You sound alot younger than me though, so you have my sympathy. I have learned to live with my ailments, and do get times when I feel hunky dorey, but whereas I was getting say 4/5 weeks at a time, now im lucky to get 4/5 days, but perhaps that,s my age as well. I do hope you feel better soon, and I agree, if there were more Celebs speaking out, perhaps more research would be done.

Take Care, Best wishes, Kath x.

sporty333 profile image
sporty333 in reply to thecookiemonster

Hi kath

Do you think you had M E all along or was it something else?

Si

thecookiemonster profile image
thecookiemonster in reply to sporty333

When I became poorly in the early nineties, they did check me for everything under the sun, before diagnosing my ME/CFS in 96. I new someone at the time who was also diagnosed with ME, and I have to admit I was horrified, as he was wheelchair bound. I on the other hand just had the extreme fatique. I was quite sickly as a child, having tonsilites practically every other week in the winter months,and I had wires put down my nostrils into my throat for about 2 years when I was 15, my tonsils were removed when I was 21. ME/CFS I know, is linked to your immune system, so perhaps all that happened in my younger years may have contributed to my ME/CFS. I was diagnosed at the age of 43. Do I think it was an accurate diagnosis, yes I do, as I have the brain fogging that is also associated with ME/CFS. Kind regards, Kath

sporty333 profile image
sporty333 in reply to thecookiemonster

yes but what is M.E/CFS...it's just a name! Whats gone wrong at the centre of all this!? Brain fog goes with adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism....

sandi profile image
sandi in reply to thecookiemonster

I sound young - whoopee! But am only just behind you.

It sounds like you have a similar path to mine. Hypo diagnosed five years after having to leave my career due to CFS - and I'm just gradually getting fewer good days when I can do any brain work or drive, recovery time too getting longer. Like the light is gradually being turned off.

I'm not sure I've really accepted it all, am still sad over all I've lost and all I can no longer do that I so would like to do.

Just dream of an answer..

Sandi x

thecookiemonster profile image
thecookiemonster in reply to sandi

It is truly upsetting Sandi, I know, as I have friends my age that ive known all my life.... who do actually have a life!. I try to convince myself that my age has something to do with my ailments, but when I see what they fit into their lives, I know this is not the case. But what can we do......as you say just dream things will get better. Take care of yourself. Kath x

twinks profile image
twinks in reply to sandi

Sandi, that's the exact word I use, feel my body is on burnout, I worry how long it can continue with this last 2yrs feel like almost total collapse but I'm fighting it all the way.

Take care all Twinks x

twinks profile image
twinks in reply to sandi

Did Barbara Windsor, stop for a while from eastenders with me. ?

hamble99b profile image
hamble99b in reply to twinks

I believe Martine McCutcheon [sp?] might have had it and one time.

Dorabella profile image
Dorabella

It is certainly treated far more seriously in Australia. A friend of mine with long term M.E

, like myself, emigrated and they found an endocrine link with hers and have done great things to restore her health.

in reply to Dorabella

I'm surprised she got accepted for emigration with these health issues. Having done it twice I know how tough they can be.

Good for her. ;) It should be the norm here too.

hamble99b profile image
hamble99b in reply to Dorabella

how do they test for that?

Whippetlover profile image
Whippetlover

I agree with you. It would be great if more people spoke out. I notice he hasn't spoken out for years. It was just like that at my job. If I had ever given that as an excuse for being off work, I would never have got another job. As it was I lost mine in the end anyway.

Where did you see the programme?

morgana1 profile image
morgana1

My son had ME. We used Reverse Therapy. Thats reeducating your hypothalmus, and it works!

foxglove profile image
foxglove in reply to morgana1

Could you be kind enough how one goes about re-educating one's hypothalmus?

Thank you!

akcoop profile image
akcoop in reply to foxglove

Check out the guptaprogramme.com - amygdala retraining and see what you think - I think it's like the lightning process by another name and i'm not convinced - the whole Harley Street thing is also very scammy - anyone can set up to have a consultancy there nowadays, they hire out rooms to any practitioner for consultancy - The Optimum Health Clinic did that too, a similar kind of scheme. I'll bet the registered business address ISN'T actually Harley Street.

If you look at the 'contacts' on the website for individual practitioners they mention working through emotional issues and hypersensitivity - i.e. it's mental based stuff that's causing your physical problems. There's obviously a link yes but whether that's all it's cracked up to be???

I paid a lot for one of these kind of 'retraining' programmes a few years back and it didn't help. It all depends what the ACTUAL CAUSE of your 'CFS' is. I don't believe ME is synonymous with CFS.

Dorabella profile image
Dorabella

Stormylove l doubt it was on her records. Nearly impossible to be taken seriously in my exp. with M.E. l've been ill for 21 years, but didn't get diagnosed until l fell pregnant 7 years ago. Despite a massive report from the M.E. place in Romford, all it says on my notes is 'Chronic Fatigue episode during pregnancy' FFS

sandi profile image
sandi

Your poor son. I hope he's much better now. Hope you got them to test for adrenal insufficiency if they suspected it - amazed but maybe whatever computer programme the operator was using comes from somewhere where they recognise it!

I wonder if warmer climates help, I know I feel slightly more energetic when the sun shines and it has taken a hell of a long time to get here this year. When my partner and I were first married in 1973 I wanted to emigrate to Australia, we never got there, he didn't want to do it. I often wonder if we had, would I have developed Hypothyroidism, and even indeed would he still be alive now having died of bowel cancer 17 months ago. An outdoor active lifestyle all year round has to be more beneficial for anyones health.

hamble99b profile image
hamble99b in reply to

I'm sorry for your loss, my Dad had bowel cancer.

in reply to hamble99b

Thank you sandra99b, so am I.

sandi profile image
sandi

I like the word crodd. I think I may use it - it sort of sums up being cross with brain fog :)

Gullaway profile image
Gullaway

Hi - the New Zealand ME Association has a very developed base and back in the 90ties Dr Leslie Simpson came to talk to the local ME Support Group my husband and I used to run. He was on one of his regular overseas tours and spoke so convincingly of his convictions regarding the composition of the blood of ME sufferers compared to 'normal' samples. He has written a book called 'Blood Viscosity Factors' and particularly recommended at the time solutions which raise the oxygen carrying potential of red blood corpuscles. One of his favourite remedies is Evening Primrose Oil.

in reply to Gullaway

I don't do twitter but someone who does could ask Michael Crawford if he has an account.

sandi profile image
sandi in reply to Gullaway

This is interesting. The one very abnormal blood test I've had was for IgM which in my case was something like 15 times higher than norm. They said it would just make blood sticky (think that might be more viscous?) but have otherwise continually ignored it.

Will see if I can chase this book/ more info. Thanks.

ThankfulWanyana profile image
ThankfulWanyana

what channel was Michael on, is it poss. to watch the prog. on iPlayer? (which I'm not familiar with)...

hamble99b profile image
hamble99b

bbc 2 and I think it's on the bbc iplayer.

sandra.

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