For a number of years, it has been said amongst the global M.E/C.F.S community that there is an increased risk of suicide amongst our patient population. One research paper responsible for this belief stated; The researchers noted that the overall risk of death in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome seemed no different from the risk …
Many of the current problems experienced by the global M.E/C.F.S community are exacerbated by the many medical professionals who might recognise they have behaved appallingly to patients, quite possibly even harmed them, but are too ashamed or embarrassed to admit they got it wrong. As is said in this #StandUpForGigi video. One medical profession that …
Our courses have been extensively researched and contain up-to-date information from within the global M.E./C.F.S community which includes patients, patient advocates, charities, scientists and researchers. Learners will benefit from the insider knowledge Managing Director Sally Callow brings as a patient (12 years) and from being a global M.E./C.F.S advocate since 2014. In this blog, we …
In general, the wider community doesn’t take the global Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome crisis as seriously as it should. Yes, it’s a crisis. In the UK alone, there are 250,000+ patients with an economic burden of over £3.3 BILLION per year (2017 statistics). Worldwide, most countries have not done any research into the condition or …
I am baffled. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (M.E./C.F.S) is not a new condition. The illness itself, under various names, has been around for at least 150 years (Florence Nightingale herself is said to have had an M.E-like illness and was bedbound for part of her life) and was classified as neurological by the World Health …
This blog is inspired by an online conversation I had this evening with an employment specialist. His comment wasn’t taken negatively, it just made me aware that much more awareness is needed as to why Stripy Lightbulb CIC is needed. We were discussing M.E/C.F.S patients and employment, I was explaining that only patients with a …
I first had the idea to create an M.E./C.F.S. training organisation around 2 years ago. My 5 years or so of being an M.E./C.F.S. advocate and 12 years of being an M.E. patient had opened my eyes about the desperate need for education about M.E./C.F.S amongst professionals who have a duty of care over the …
Read moreMy Social Entrepreneur ‘Journey’ by Managing Director Sally Callow
Since becoming an M.E./C.F.S. advocate in 2014, I have had many conversations with people from outside the M.E./C.F.S community who are sure in their belief that people in less developed countries aren’t able to ‘give in’ to M.E./C.F.S. and have to ‘push through’. These people believe that M.E./C.F.S. is a developed-world illness that simply doesn’t …
During the six months prior to launching Stripy Lightbulb CIC last September, I undertook extensive market research and I did a SWOT analysis. As is the case for a majority of businesses I’m sure. However, how many businesses discover that there is no equivalent worldwide? I did. It was my equivalent of Starbucks doing their …
A research study conducted by the Crohn’s and Colitis UK charity was published today, the study looked into the discrimination experienced by people suffering from invisible disabilities. This is of particular interest to Stripy Lightbulb and myself as an M.E./C.F.S. patient as M.E./C.F.S. is an invisible disability. The study concluded that Crohn’s and Colitis patients experienced …