Geelong ME/CFS awareness day

A GEELONG support group will next week shine a light on a little known illness that leaves tens of thousands of Australians bedridden due to exhaustion each day.

Geelong ME/CFS Support Group is hosting an awareness day on Tuesday (May 2) which will also raise money for the condition’s national patient organisation, Emerge Australia.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex illness that can result in a range of illnesses that causes severe fatigue, pain, post exertional malaise, autonomic nervous system disturbances, brain fog, gut issues such as Irritable bowel syndrome, and chemical sensitivities.

The disease impacts about 1 in 100 Australians, with a quarter of people suffering from the condition become housebound or bedbound. It usually results in lifelong impacts for people diagnosed, with the full recovery rate at less than 10 per cent.

This week’s Geelong event is ahead of the international ME/CFS day on May 12, which encourages people to dye their hair or dress up in blue.

Geelong ME/CFS Support Group member Sue Price said the day aimed to bring more attention to the prevalence and impacts of the disease.

“Many people are left bed-ridden or house bound and can no longer work, socialise, go to school or university or take part in the activities they once loved,” she said.

“They are left behind in society as they simply don’t have the energy to take part anymore.

“There is very little support available and still many doctors do not know how to diagnose or treat the symptoms.

ME/CFS has similar symptoms to long COVID – a condition that is expected to impact about 10 per cent of people that contract the virus.

Ms Price said she hoped a silver lining of the increased prevalence of that condition would help draw attention to the issues that ME/CFS sufferers have long faced.

“It is estimated there are 250,000 people in Australia with ME/CFS and millions worldwide yet it is still poorly understood and there is no cure,” she said.

Next week’s event will include a guest speaking appearance from Emerge chief executive Anne Wilson and Geelong medical practitioner Dr Steven Sommer, who has ME/CFS and has written two books.

The event is at Noble Street Uniting Church at 36 Saffron Street, Newtown, from 1-3pm. Cost is café prices.