ME/CFS and Lyme Association of WA, Inc.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a complex and potentially devastating chronic illness affecting multiple body systems/organs including the brain and central nervous system. The most common symptoms are severe, persistent and incapacitating physical and mental fatigue/exhaustion, sleep dysfunction, widespread and intense muscular/joint pain and impaired cognitive function, concentration and short-term memory. A distinctive feature of the illness is post-exertional malaise/fatigue and a worsening of symptoms following even minimal or trivial physical/mental exertion. Sufferers experience a highly individualized and variable constellation off symptoms that can fluctuate markedly in severity from day to day and even within any 24 hour period. Many sufferers are completely bed-bound, and are desperately in need of support.

The ME/CFS and Lyme Association of WA, Inc. is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. Both it and its national counterpart (ME/CFS Australia) liaise with government, medical and welfare agencies to raise awareness and understanding of ME/CFS and to encourage the provision of better services for sufferers and their carers. The Society also provides sufferers and their carers with information and support in coping with the devastating consequences of ME/CFS. We would love to be able to provide home-support to the many sufferers who are bed-bound, but we need to raise much needed funds before this can be possible.

Many of our members and local WA patients with ME/CFS are now testing positive to Lyme disease and/or related coinfections. Australian authorities don't yet recognise the presence of Lyme disease, however research is underway in testing ticks for the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, and any other pathogenic bacteria the ticks may be carrying. It is possible that Australia has its own unique type of Borrelia that is contributing to the Lyme disease related symptoms that many Australians are currently living with. Regardless of the name of the infections responsible, the suffering of these patients is very real and they require support and understanding from the community and medical professionals.