Long-term ailments need research funding

In addition to the “Chronic Lyme sufferers feeling abandoned,” March 6, in Linda Reeves’ letter, there are millions who have suffered for years, if not decades, from what was once described, and often dismissed as chronic fatigue syndrome. The majority of those who first presented with symptoms were women. Most physicians and researchers at the time were men therefore, symptoms were routinely dismissed as being “all in the patient’s head,” and funds for research were nonexistent.

While chronic Lyme disease sufferers have an initial infection to blame, those with chronic fatigue syndrome often do not, although the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes mono, is frequently linked.

Recently, chronic fatigue syndrome has been given the official-sounding diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome. Even more recently, it has become equated with fibromyalgia. While it has become widely considered to be a real disease with real causes, funding for research is still inadequate, given the number of people affected and the extent to which their lives are negatively transformed.

There may, however, be a light at the end of the tunnel. With the recognition of “long COVID,” there is now widespread acceptance that a disease can produce long-term effects, even ones that were not present in the initial illness. Chronic Lyme and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome share many of the same symptoms as long COVID.

When funds are devoted to research this phenomenon, the findings may also provide relief for those suffering from other long-term, disabling ailments.

Nancy Faddegon

Latham

her family’s 14,000-acre ranch while crafting regional dishes using her own fresh ingredients. The series makes its linear cable premiere with two back-to-back half-hour episodes.