Wokingham Times

Help for ME and FM sufferers

2008-10-02T00:14:00.000-07:00

Bracknell/Wokingham News: September 25, 2008

People suffering with ME and other muscle-related conditions are being encouraged to use a mobile massage service. Members of the Reading Area ME Support Group, which covers most towns in Berkshire, say having a massage improves their quality of life.

Friends from the group met at member Sarah Bloodworth’s house in Waverley Way, Finchampstead, on Saturday for a coffee morning and information session about the service.

Massage therapist Kerrie Newton has set up the sessions after realising people with ME (Myalgic Encephalopathy) and FM (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) needed care brought to their home. She said: “A lot of people with ME and FM have bad days when they cannot travel, so it’s very good to try and get therapy into their homes.”

Group co-ordinator Eileen Shoosmith said she is stepping down at the end of the month and is looking for someone to help the 70 members and arrange regular meetings around Bracknell, Wokingham, Ascot, Slough, Windsor, Maidenhead and Reading.

She said: “Those of us who do join it have got a lot from it. Because the illness is not something everyone can cope with you can find friends here.”

For more information on the group contact Sylvia Daniel

For information from Kerrie Newton on the mobile massage service click here.

ME Support Group Holds First Meeting

2008-09-05T03:04:00.000-07:00

Wokingham Times 27th August 2008

A new support group has been launched in Wokingham for parents caring for children with ME (myalgic encephalopathy).

The group met for the first time on Thursday, June 26, and contained six parents from across the borough who look after children with the illness. The members exchanged stories of their experiences and said they felt they formed a much closer bond than they could with any professionals.

At the meeting they decided to form a new network which they hope will help both parents and their children.

The group was formed by Brenda Dean, who is urging parents to come forward. She said: “It is great that parents of children with ME met for support and to discuss ways of helping the children badly let down by the lack of specialist health resources in this area.”

“I am glad Brenda has taken the next step to forming a support group with them, so they can share their own personal experiences as parents and carers of their children, which is a very different need to the person with the illness.”

For more information on the group, please click here.

Fibro gets web recognition

2008-07-30T02:13:00.000-07:00

Wokingham Times 28th July 2008

Campaigners for a little-known medical condition have scored a victory in raising awareness about the illness......

Miriam

Finding strength to evaluate support for fatigue patients

2008-04-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

Wokingham Times Wednesday 9th April

Thousands of people with myalgic encephalitis (ME) and Fibromylagia (FM) are being asked to complete an NHS questionnaire.

Campaigners want to see new NHS services for people who have ME or FM, because a feeling of extreme tiredness. Reporter HUGH FORT spoke with Eileen Shoosmith from The Reading Area ME Support Group to find out more about the assessment and the problems faced by people with the conditions.

The needs assessment for people with ME and FM has been launched for feedback on treatment and services.

The survey is designed to find out which therapies, if any, are of help - including exercise or behavior therapy.

The effectiveness of symptom management such as diet and relaxation will also be evaluated.

Reading Area ME Support Group covers Reading, Wokingham and East Berkshire and is working with West Berkshire ME and FM Group to promote better treatment.

There is no specialist treatment for ME or FM and the group feels there are huge unmet needs.

Eileen Shoosmith, co-ordinator for Reading ME Support Group, has both ME and FM.

She said 'At my best I can stay up for about two hours at a time, at my worse I can't really do an awkful lot'.

Some doctors have claimed ME and FM have a basis on psychological, rather than physical, illness.

Mrs Shoosmith, says: 'I believe it is definitely a physical illness, which an lead to psychologicial conditions.

'I've suffered from depression and it was my psychiatrist who was my saviour after my GP was not taking it on board.

'It took about 18 months for me to be properly diagnosed with ME.

'In recent months, since talking to health service commissioning staff locally, we have found them to be very responsive to the idea of setting up a much needed specialist service - once they have assessed just what will be involved and providing they can find the money for it.

'Many GP's who care for people with ME and FM, feel at a loss as to how to provide ongoing care at their surgeries.

Lots of patients with these illnesses feel abandoned by the health service, and many are so ill, they often can't summon up the strength to get out of the house to see their doctors for even basic help to improve their worst symptoms.

Ultimately, we would like to see a multi discipline medical system led by a medical consultant who is ideally a GP with a specialist interest in ME, as well as a psychologist to deal with the mental side.

It would include dietitian and an osteopath to deal with the pain.

Its' happened in other areas, but we need it to move forward in Berkshire.

The needs assessment is only for people with ME, not FM, groups are campaigning with FM to contact their MP's to protect about this.

For more information please contact Lindsey Middlemiss on (01635) 529676.

To download a questionnaire, please request one here.

The Reading ME Support Group meets in members' homes.

For more information call Mrs Shoosmith on (0118) 9786480, or click here.

There is also a Wokingham Support Group for Fibromaylgia. Email Tracy Baker or Cathy Trotter,or call on 0845 345 2603.

Web news for ME surfers

2007-09-14T06:38:00.001-07:00

Wokingham Times 12-09-2007

A support group, for people who have ME, has launched a blog, to keep members up to date. The Reading Area ME Support Group, plans to show information about its latest events, on the blog, as well as contact details.

Please visit the blog here for more details.