The Impact Of A Wrong Diagnosis

Clearly if you suffer from Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome, ME or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome there can be huge implications if you are misdiagnosed.

A wrong diagnosis is likely to create great difficulties for you when you seek the correct treatment, management, recovery techniques, and other types of support...

Recovery is already difficult enough when you have the correct and most up-to-date support and advice. So what hope does a sufferer have if they are misdiagnosed and as a result, are following bad advice that can actually worsen their condition?

A Wrong Diagnosis Can Cause Physical Damage...

A wrong diagnosis and/or incorrect advice can severely worsen your condition, possibly even causing significant damage. A Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome, ME or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferer who may well have recovered within a few months, may become bed-ridden for years just because they have been diagnosed incorrectly and have unknowingly followed bad (albeit well-intentioned) advice.

But it goes further than that...

The Effect That Wrong Diagnosis Can Have On Entitlement To Financial Support Or Compensation...

ME/CFS can profoundly affect every aspect of a sufferer's lifestyle (often with shattering results). Many sufferers are forced to stop work because of it and as a result, have little-to-no income. And unfortunately, a wrong diagnosis can quash a sufferer's entitlement to the financial support they so desperately need (e.g. state benefits or insurance).

Lack Of Acknowledgement & Support...

Many sufferers are told that their illness (ME/CFS) is purely psychological. To suffer from such a devastating and utterly disabling physical, neurological condition, and to then be told that it's 'it's all in your mind' can deeply affect your morale and self belief.

In fact, a recent report published by 'Action for ME', a UK non-profit organization, revealed that a staggering 51% of survey respondents have felt suicidal as a result of their illness. Those with the most severe cases of the illness and who received delayed diagnosis and management were most likely to have considered suicide.

Arm Yourself With Knowledge...

So what do you do as a ME, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome sufferer? How can you tell if you've been misdiagnosed? How can you tell whether you're receiving good or bad medical advice?

The answer: you make sure you know enough about the condition yourself...

...arm yourself with knowledge.

Buy at least one good book on the condition (I recommend you get two because the approach to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome can vary from book to book) and learn as much as you can about your condition.

You can check out the ME / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome book review section here...

In Summary...

• ME/PVFS IS classified by the World Health Organisation as a 'disease of the nervous system'
  
  
• It is NOT psychological: It is NOT 'Fatigue Syndrome', 'Chronic Fatigue' or 'Neurasthenia'
  
  
• It is NOT Depression

Category: Wrong Diagnosis of ME/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Diagnosis of M.E., Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) - Diagnosed Incorrectly

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