About ME & Long Covid
This project is been created and run by people living with ME and Long Covid, we recognise that there is a huge range experiences relating to both conditions. Below is an introduction to each, and we would encourage you to find out more information through the organisations we have provided links to below
What is ME/CFS?
ME – Myalgic encephalomyelitis is a neurological condition which affects more than 250,000 people in the UK and has a major impact on individuals’ health and life. At any one time, one in four of those with ME. are affected so profoundly that they are housebound or bedbound.
ME can be caused by glandular fever, COVID-19 and other viral infections, but the precise trigger isn’t always identifiable. It leads to debilitating fatigue and pain, amongst other symptoms, and people with the condition are often unable to recover from the slightest exertion.
While some people with ME can make good progress, others battle illness for many years and sometimes never recover. Severe ME may lead to cognitive impairments. People may depend on a wheelchair for all movement and be unable to tolerate dim lighting or soft sounds. At the most severe end of the spectrum, people are unable to swallow and must be tube fed.
For more information on ME, visit Action for M.E.
What is Long Covid?
Long Covid is a rapidly emerging condition caused by COVID-19 that is increasingly seen as a post-viral fatigue syndrome akin to ME. In 2024, it was estimated that 1.3 million people in the UK – over 2% of the population – were living with Long Covid symptoms.
Long Covid has a wide range of symptoms that may arise due to virus-induced organ infection. Many of these symptoms align with those experienced by people with ME
For more information on Long Covid, visit Long COVID SOS and Long COVID Support.
