Have you ever stood up and suddenly felt dizzy, light-headed, shaky, weak, or as though your heart is racing? For people living with ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), this can be surprisingly common. Some people find that simply standing in a queue, taking a shower, cooking a meal, or having a conversation while upright can leave them feeling unwell. This is often related to something called orthostatic intolerance — difficulty tolerating being upri

Long COVID vs ME/CFS Since the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors have seen many people who continue to experience disabling symptoms long after the initial infection has resolved. At the same time, awareness of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) has increased significantly. One of the biggest questions patients ask is: "Do I have Long COVID or ME/CFS?" The answer is not always straightforward. Increasingly, research and clinical practice suggest that these c

For people living with severe ME/CFS, accessing healthcare and social care can be extremely difficult. Leaving the house may cause a significant worsening of symptoms, and even a short journey can trigger Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM). For some people, travel to an appointment may be impossible altogether. As an ME/CFS specialist, I regularly see how important it is for services to understand the difference between ordinary tiredness and the disabling symptoms of ME/CFS. In s

For many years, people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) have asked the same question: Why does this illness happen? Researchers have made progress, but many important questions remain unanswered. A major new UK research project called SequenceME hopes to help answer some of those questions. Building on the earlier DecodeME study, researchers will analyse the DNA of thousands of people with ME/CFS to better understand the biological cause

Living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) can make working incredibly challenging. Many people with ME/CFS want to remain employed, but symptoms often fluctuate from day to day. One of the biggest reasons for this is Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM), the hallmark symptom of ME/CFS that can cause a significant worsening of symptoms after physical, mental, or emotional activity. As an ME/CFS specialist, I regularly help patients understand how their i

Many people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) describe the same frustrating experience: they know something is seriously wrong, but they struggle to be believed or supported. If your GP has dismissed your symptoms, suggested that you simply need to exercise more, or seems unfamiliar with the latest guidance, you are not alone. As an ME/CFS specialist, I regularly meet patients who have spent months or even years searching for answers befo

Brain fog is one of the most frustrating symptoms experienced by people with ME/CFS, Long COVID and fibromyalgia. Many patients describe feeling as though they are "thinking through treacle"—finding it difficult to concentrate, remember information, process conversations, or make decisions. As an ME/CFS specialist, one question I am increasingly asked is whether resonance frequency breathing can improve brain fog. The technique has become popular on social media and wellness

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has attracted growing interest among people living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Long COVID, fibromyalgia, and post-viral fatigue. As an ME/CFS specialist, I am often asked whether HBOT is an effective treatment and whether it is worth considering. The short answer is that HBOT is an interesting area of research, but the evidence is still developing. Some studies have shown promising results, while others hi

Many people living with ME/CFS ask the same question: “Are there any supplements that can help my symptoms?” As an ME/CFS specialist, I regularly discuss supplements with patients during assessment and follow-up consultations. People often arrive with lists of vitamins, minerals, and nutritional products they have seen recommended online. Some report benefits, while others have spent significant amounts of money without noticing any improvement. The truth is that supplements

Many people diagnosed with ME/CFS ask the same question: What is actually causing this illness? The honest answer is that researchers still do not have one single explanation. But over the last few years, especially with increased interest in Long COVID research, scientists have made important progress. As an ME/CFS specialist and online ME/CFS doctor, one of the most common misconceptions I hear is that ME/CFS is simply “being tired.” Modern research increasingly suggests so

If you live with ME/CFS, one of the hardest parts is often not just the symptoms themselves — it is trying to explain them to other people. Many people with ME/CFS tell me the same thing: “People can’t understand me. I look normal, they think I just feel tired.” Unfortunately, tiredness is only a small part of the picture. As an ME/CFS specialist, one of the most important things I discuss during consultations is how patients can explain their illness in a way that others can

Living with ongoing fatigue can be frustrating, frightening, and isolating. Many people spend months or even years searching for answers before receiving a diagnosis such as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). One phrase patients often hear is that “ME/CFS is a diagnosis of exclusion.” But what does that actually mean? As an experienced ME/CFS specialist, I often explain that diagnosing ME/CFS is not simply about identifying tiredness. Fatigue can hav

Many people living with ME/CFS spend years being misunderstood. Friends, employers, and even healthcare professionals may wrongly assume the illness is “just tiredness” or caused by stress. In reality, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a serious, complex medical condition that can significantly affect daily life. Major health organisations, including the CDC and NICE, recognise ME/CFS as a biological illness that affects multiple body systems. As

If you are considering speaking to an ME/CFS specialist in the UK, it is natural to wonder what actually happens during an online appointment. Many people living with ME/CFS, Long COVID, fibromyalgia, or post-viral fatigue have often spent months — sometimes years — searching for answers. They may have had normal blood tests, conflicting opinions, or been told to simply rest more and exercise gradually. For many patients, this can feel frustrating and isolating. An online con

Many patients I see as an ME/CFS specialist arrive with a familiar question: “Do I have fibromyalgia, ME/CFS—or both?” It’s a very valid question. These two conditions share many symptoms, are often confused with each other, and can occur together. I regularly assess people who have been diagnosed with one condition but actually meet criteria for both. In this article, I’ll explain how fibromyalgia and ME/CFS overlap, how they differ, and why understanding the connection matt

Long COVID fatigue is one of the most common and frustrating symptoms people experience after a COVID-19 infection. For some, it improves within weeks. For others, it lingers for months and begins to affect work, daily life, and overall well-being. As an ME/CFS specialist in the UK, I often see patients who are unsure whether what they are experiencing is “normal recovery” or something that needs specialist input. This article explains when to seek help from an ME/CFS doctor,

If you have ME/CFS, one of the most important — and often misunderstood — aspects of management is pacing. As an ME/CFS specialist in the UK, I regularly see patients who have tried to “push through” fatigue, only to feel significantly worse afterwards. Understanding pacing properly can be life-changing. In this article, I’ll explain what pacing really means, why it matters, and how to apply it in daily life — based on current ME/CFS research, clinical experience, and what we

One of the most frustrating parts of living with ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) is hearing: “Your blood tests are normal.” Many patients feel dismissed at this point—especially when symptoms are severe and life-changing. As an ME/CFS specialist in the UK, I want to explain clearly why this happens, what it means, and what more advanced approaches to ME/CFS testing can involve. The short answer: standard tests don’t measure ME/CFS Routine blood t

What are NICE Guidelines? In the UK, doctors follow guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The latest guideline (NG206, updated 2021) sets out how ME/CFS should be recognised and diagnosed. The key point is this: ME/CFS is a clinical diagnosis. There is no single blood test or scan that confirms it. Instead, doctors diagnose it based on symptoms, medical history, and ruling out other conditions. When Should ME/CFS be Suspected? According

One of the most important features of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM). PEM is not simply feeling tired after an activity. It is a worsening of symptoms following physical, mental, or emotional exertion, and it is considered the core symptom that distinguishes ME/CFS from many other fatigue conditions. As an ME/CFS specialist in the UK, one of the first things I look for when assessing patients is the presence of PEM