Many thanx 4 your meaningful & thoughtful reply - it made a difference to my day and i'm v.grateful 4 u 4 that.

Poetry is brilliant, i'm a big fan. You're skilled at it - your poem is a v.effectiv metaphor for the illness. The lost funding 4 poetry is v.sad. 

I'm realy glad u kno supportive peopl & hopefuly i'll be able to meet some sometime too : ) it's great that u drive so ur not as isolated. how long have u had ME?

would b gr8 to get to know more about u & ur interests etc - mail sometime if u like : )

U take care Jonathan : )

PS please excuse the spellings - i use no.s & reduce words so theyr quicka 2 use less energy & can write a bit more

They are a very nice bunch, do you think you will be able to make it next time?

as some are very unaware, does anyone possibly know if there are any organisations that produce a list of GP's who understand all about ME and all its wide-ranging implications?

thanks

take carexxxx

I am happy to note that the popularity of our forum is increasing day by day. I would welcome Clouds with open hands. To introduce myself, I am a 50-year-old retired school teacher. I had this disease nearly 5 years back. I underwent treatment for nearly two years. Now I am perfectly okay.

Many thanks for the welcome

Delighted to hear you are OK again now - I love to hear about people recovering.
I seem to remember the statistics are that of the people who do recover, the majority do so within the first two years.

What did your treatment involve?

and welcome
There is an introductions thread (in chat, I think) where I've introduced myself - you could write something about yourself, too?

Unfortunately I can't be much help on this one - not something I've ever experienced. Nausea, and food intolerances do seem to be pretty common in pwme (people with m.e.) though - any particular kind of food? 
Quite a few pwme seem to get MCS too - multiple chemical sensitivity.
It could all be a sign of an immune system which isn't doing the job properly I would have thought - over-reacting to some things.

Sorry, not much help, more like random thoughts!

I really hope this forum can remain functioning & grow?!

If funds are a problem, could a lottery grant etc be applied for to keep it running? Unfortunately I don't have much knowledge of how those sort of things work unfortunately.

take carexxxx

For telephone support on CFS/ME you can call:

• Action for M.E. Telephone support: 0845 123 2314 or email support@afme.org.uk

• M.E. Association M.E. Connect: 0844 576 5326 or email meconnect@meassociation.org.uk

All members were made aware of the difficulties that the Group was experiencing in a letter sent out in the early part of the year. The view still stands that, for the Group to remain vital and to provide a worthwhile service to members, it needs a core group who can:

(a) provide the continuity to ensure that the administration remains sound and complies with Charity Commission requirements

(b) provide the drive to organise events and raise funds and

(c) to communicate with a vibrant newsletter and, ideally, a website.

Needless to say, with the nature of our illness this is asking an awful lot. It  also seems that matters have changed about sharing information both with the development of the national groups and with the internet in general.

The Executive Committee has reviewed all the responses made to the letter. There was certainly an encouraging response, with two very specific offers to help on the financial side. However, it must be said that virtually all the other offers were made on the basis of :  "I would be pleased to help in a small way, as and when my health allows".

In response to these comments extensive efforts have been made to see how things could be progressed. Voluntary Action Leeds and the Charity Commission have been consulted. There has also been a lengthy involvement with a neighbouring group to explore whether some sort of merger would be feasible. This did not prove to be fruitful.

After the most careful consideration, therefore, the Committee has most reluctantly concluded that the Group will need to be formally disbanded on 31 December 2010. Please regard this letter as a formal notice of this.

There are several outstanding matters to be wound up:

1. Efforts are being made to secure an appropriate home for the tape and book libraries.

2. It is very much hoped to keep the informal meetings going at Pugneys Country Park, Wakefield. These are held at 2pm on the 2nd Thursday of the month. All are very welcome. (See the Events forum for more information) 

3. The website www.ldmeg.org.uk has been dormant for some time. I am pleased to be able to let you know that arrangements are in hand to re-set it in a new format as a notice-board where people will be able to keep in touch. Simply log-on as before and follow the instructions provided.

There have been no subs paid for 2 years and there are still outstanding bills to pay. However, if there is a remaining surplus, it is proposed to contribute half to Action for ME and half to AfME's research fund.

We really can say no more than to offer thanks to all the volunteers and everyone else who has contributed to the Leeds Group over the years.

The Executive Committee, Leeds & District ME Group