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    Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of and finding treatments for complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia (FM), long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.

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Take part in our Severe M.E. Symposium from home

justy

Donate Advocate Demonstrate
Messages
5,524
Location
U.K
Live chat quite political but AFME not answering difficult questions - perhaps they will take it in and think it over. AGME next and people asking why they cant vote if they are a member like other orgs.
 

justy

Donate Advocate Demonstrate
Messages
5,524
Location
U.K
Well did my best to poke them. my round table discussion on solutions was good. we came up with a few main points about care for PWME - severe.

1. Education about the nature of severe M.E - the reality but also the real physical issues eg POTS, cardiac etc. To educate NHS, DWP, schools, public etc.

2. Advocacy - advocacy for pwme severe through home visits or SKYPE to help with negotiating benefits system, NHS, social services etc. ascurrently this is exhausting for most pwme severe.

3. Specialist nurses like MS nurses or district nurses to have regular home contact and liase with GPs hospitals etc - many had trouble accessing care aside from for ME eg dental care etc

points 2 and 3 above - many orgs such as MS society already offer these kinds of services to patients and we could use thier template rather than trying to do our own from scratch.

Afme rep fed this back to main group, but I felt was watered down somewhat - frustrated that I couldn't stand up and say it myself.

more patient testimony would have been good. afme will ask for feedback at the end of day.
 

eafw

Senior Member
Messages
936
Location
UK
Messages
65
Location
UK
Thanks for what you said about it as it was going along @justy - much appreciated.

I liked that they did the Livestream in the first place, and the Roundtable, but they really need to up their game with the camera/ sound. It would have been so much better if the camera had been central at the front and if there were feeds direct from mike for sound, and screen for slides! It was really really hard to follow...

That said, hopefully it's the start of them listening. They have said they want to, so if we say how we feel, they will at least know. If we don't give feedback, then we won't have a leg to stand on if nothing changes!

The key thing for me that came out of the day was the urgent need for decent advocacy. Cos with that, it's more likely things get done.

(today for example I found out that a whole year ago my VitD was only 15. Hospital forgot to tell GP, GP forgot to ask hospital. I didn't get around to asking for paper copy til yesterday. sigh. I am unimpressed. I stupidly assumed that if no-one said anything the results were fine. Once it's sorted, there will be a conversation about cracks in the floor, inadequate safeguards and training needs! If I'd had an advocate, or someone co-ordinating (like everyone's supposed to have a care plan and one person co-ordinating everything) I don't imagine it would take a year to realise there's a fixable problem. And I've got a supportive social worker & close family around: those who don;t have that, it's appalling how abandoned they could be)

*muses* it would be great if other bodies or charities did livestream of their events or roundtables etc to allow us to be more involved. resources permitting.
 
Messages
65
Location
UK
Mostly though I'm cross that the bloods need to be done again. I hate it, I always pass out and it hurts afterwards.
 
Messages
68
Location
Wales uk
They are making a start that has been long over due. Let's hope they listen to the severely ill this time as they should have done in 1990...

They have also upped the game as far as patient contact is concerned. I hope other charities have the guts to take in the challenge of interactive debates.
 

eafw

Senior Member
Messages
936
Location
UK
*muses* it would be great if other bodies or charities did livestream of their events or roundtables etc to allow us to be more involved. resources permitting.

they really need to up their game with the camera/ sound.

It's not that expensive or difficult to do this nowadays, modern technology and all. Mid-range consumer camera and lens, tripod, HDMI box, a few leads, directional mike, internet connection and you're away. According to a comment in live chat they had TWO techies supposed to be looking after the broadcast so don't know how they made such a mess of it.

However, at least they made an attempt, and it would be good if those who couldn't get to these conferences and meetings, because of health, finance, family, whatever, got access to the events and a chance to contribute. Those of us living with this, for a long time some of us, do have a useful and much needed contribution to make