I always find this subject interesting.
In the first ten years of my pre-ME illness............I had had a severe unidentified infection (suspected to be EBV) in 1972......... after three tetanus jabs................. which left me unable to understand or express speech..............I had endless colds , infections and bouts of pneumonia that always left me with PVFS. Then in 1981, after moving into a new timber framed home that had been treated with a combination of lindane, pentachlorophenel, dieldrin and possibly an OP, full-blown ME hit. (My neighbours who lived in identical houses also developed various chronic immune diseases, one dying. I have also recently been informed that a relative's husband who was responsible for the building of the houses and who daily handled the wooden frames, also died and the company have admitted that exposure to the chemicals did cause his death. )
From 1981, I haven't been able to develop a cold or run a proper fever. When......oh bliss!......I try to develop flu-proper.......although my temperature is pathetic I feel so much better and am like a 'normal' person who has the flu. I have little symapthy for peple who complain of being ill with flu anymore. They don't know how fortunate they are! It feels to me that my immune system, instead of attacking me, attacks the bug instead. When the flu eventually resolves, often a bout of pneumonia later, I feel so much more ill again.
The one time I have been very grateful for ME was when everyone around me was suffering from the Norvo virus......a very icky experience for all concerned..apart from me. I became a little queasy and could just about detect that I had the bug, but the mighty ME floored it. It didn't stand a chance.
I would love to know exactly what is wrong with our immune systems. Stories such as the above must present clues to immunologists.
C.G.