Researchers hope that a new biobank will help them develop a blood test for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
To understand why a diagnostic test is so important, you first need to put yourself in the shoes of someone with an invisible illness.
Imagine, you’re suddenly very unwell and haven’t been able to go to work all week.
You manage to make it to the doctor. You say, you’ve never felt this bad before.
Your doctor notes your high temperature, but thinks it’s just a virus. She recommends taking time off work and runs some blood tests just to be safe. “We’ll give you a call if anything shows up,” she says.
Months pass. You never get that call, but you never get better either.
Every day you are physically deflated by bone crushing fatigue. Not tiredness. Medical fatigue. They are two completely different things, but no one understands this.
“You look so good,” you hear your friends say. Or even worse, “Oh, I completely understand what you mean. With the kids, and work and everything, I get tired too.”
