Because ME/CFS & COVID have the same symtoms we have been lucky to learn more about ME/CFS. However, I also learned that the money we were receiving has been cut back again according to a post I received.
I think you mean (certain types of)
Long Covid. And it's true, quite a lot of ME/CFS people are seeing more trials, more money and more results due to connections, see Cort Johnson on the healthrising blog, who is very optimistic about research increasing now. The NIH ME/CFS annual conference also just referred to these connections. There has been a cutback in research money in one area, but there have also been quite a lot of areas this year starting up new.
I’ve always assumed that somehow both FM & CFS go together, is it true?
I think the point is: looking over that small fence can help us combat symptoms, even if the two might not be that similar. If someone's fibro comes with a great deal of fatigue and esp. post exertional malaise, like mine, or if someone's ME/CFS comes with a good deal of pain.
I was surprised the other day to see or hear someone in the know (I think again Cort Johnson) say that
70% of people with ME/CFS "have fibromyalgia" too. My impression from the forums is more like sunkacola's that the co-morbidity/overlap is less. But our impressions can be faulty, just as research can.
A review of 21 studies by Ramírez-Morales et al. from 2022 found a clinical overlap (of symptoms) in 47.3% between ME (as they call it) and fibro. Most studies used the 1990 ACR fibro criteria, whilst more modern studies using the 2016 ACR fibro criteria would probably provide for even more overlap. But as they say: overlap is association which suggests comparing might be helpful, but it doesn't prove it really works similarly. ("
Some authors consider these two syndromes as different illnesses with separate physio-pathological mechanisms.") (Quite a few study text snippets on sciencedirect. Study quoted on meresearch)
cfsselfhelp think "
Research suggests that about two thirds of people diagnosed with ME/CFS also meet the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia, and vice versa. Often the diagnosis made first depends on which medical specialist is consulted. A primary care physician might spot ME/CFS, while a rheumatologist may be more likely to diagnose fibromyalgia."
ammes think "
The most common overlapping condition with ME/CFS is fibromyalgia. In ME/CFS dominant patients, the fibromyalgia pain is not constant, but tends to appear when there is an additional injury or infection, such as an accident, a viral infection, or a surgical procedure."
An example how looking at the co-morbidities can help is for instance me seeing that LD N is being used more and more in ME/CFS, fibro and post vac and other types of Long CoV. That helped convince me to try it despite hearing of side effects, and find out that it seems harmless for me and was immediately and has for 11 weeks been very helpful for my jab-triggered exhaustibility.
