I'm not sure why they didn't do more people. That would have helped a lot (and this stuff isn't that expensive any more).
There was more people in the original study which at the time they did (I cant remember now exactly how many, it may of been 20-30 with ME/CFS with then an equally matched sex, age, weight group as control for each person in the study).
I dont think they planned originally to do a follow up study the way they did. They had to go and track us all down again and most of us including myself had moved (so it was a surprise to get contacted again), they were having a hard time finding us all, I was told some had moved overseas. (Australians really move around)
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I forgot to add that Dr Kwiatek did my interview for this study to check I had ME/CFS though previously diagnosed and seeing ME/CFS specialists for years, I was asked about if my symptoms were post exertional etc. Dr Kwiatek is a very knowledge dr who is aware the ME and CFS dispute stuff between the two. Hence I guess is why they played smart one could say and used both diagnostic criteria.
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Once its fully published (or is it now?) I really hope I'll be sent my results from this study as I was from the last. The neuropsych testing on this study was so involved and indepth, looking at the different areas our brains have issues in (it was done over 2 days and on the second day my brain was near dead, I was getting terrible results).
They did so much during this study they would of gained a lot of info. Unfortunately thou during this study an specialist eye exam which got done with latest equipment looking at nerves at back of the eyes showed for me a problem to which they then refered me on to an eye specialist.
The follow up eye specialist they sent me too (not related to the study) thou was unaware that things in ME/CFS come and go, Im sure the bulging disc showing in my scan during this study was related to my due to having ME, out of regulated properly BP which spikes high and falls low (severe hypertension can show the issue which showed on my eye scan) so when I had followup check up it was fine and then my results then I believe were wrongly put down as a bad photo angle.
So on this occassion I do think a ME complication of those who have severe dysautonomia with severe ME, which showed during this study was missed.