ME/CFS: An Infectious Disease by Dr. Rosemary Underhill

[alex3619]

Nobody knows how the ME trigger works. I have made some educated guesses as to what happens in cases like yours. I suspect the infection was just a minor bump, and the ME was already primed to go. One final infection and the immune system fell into the trap. I used to call this the two hit hypothesis, but its really a many hit hypothesis. Many patients get worse in stages, each infection driving them down some more. I suspect this happens before the symptoms become obvious as well, at least in some patients.

Coxsackie virus is a special case as it disseminates through muscle and other tissue, and may provoke things long after the acute phase is done.

 

[BurnA]

Nobody knows how the ME trigger works. I have made some educated guesses as to what happens in cases like yours. I suspect the infection was just a minor bump, and the ME was already primed to go. One final infection and the immune system fell into the trap. I used to call this the two hit hypothesis, but its really a many hit hypothesis. Many patients get worse in stages, each infection driving them down some more. I suspect this happens before the symptoms become obvious as well, at least in some patients.

I agree - nobody knows !
The problem is association, we are all guilty of it and because nobody knows it becomes obsessive thinking at times.
I did feel 100% before my infection and the other feature of my onset was that the initial infection seemed to clear up and I felt 100% for a few days before I got hit with me/cfs. I don't know how this fits in with your theory?
Thats what makes me wonder was the problem there already or not ? I've heard theories comparing this to poliomyelytis or biphasic onset type, but I don't know if there is any evidence for this ?

 

[alex3619]

I have read stories like this before. Its not very common, but not unknown. I wish we had better answers, but 90% of what we discuss with ME is somewhat speculative, but that is all we have.

 

[BurnA]

I have read stories like this before. Its not very common, but not unknown. I wish we had better answers, but 90% of what we discuss with ME is somewhat speculative, but that is all we have.

Thanks, yeah no harm in speculating until we do find out ! Just as well we enjoy speculation!