SMILER GIRLPANTS & DR ANNE MACINTYRE

Bonjour, 

I started this week with yet again more sad news and the loss of two people in the M.E. community. 

So I want to dedicate this blog to them. 

The first one was Smiler Girlpants  who was Facebook friend of mine and an M.E. warrior. It's even sadder because it was sudden and she was talking about the future with her partner, a wedding and buying a home. She will be very much missed.

The other loss was Dr Anne Macintyre. 

"  Anne will always be remembered as an extremely kind and compassionate doctor who helped large numbers of people with M.E. over many years.

She helped them obtain a diagnosis, to get appropriate management advice and she provided support when they were battling with the DWP over benefit entitlement.

She will also be remembered for her book ‘M.E. A Practical Guide’ which was extremely well received and is still regarded by many as being one of the best."

Her book for me became the bible of M.E. 

When I fell ill in 2002/2003 I didn't have the internet and I knew no one who was suffering with the same symptoms as me. 

I searched everywhere for information or for a book that would help me. I searched in my local library and in the town's bookshop. 

I found the book written by Dr Anne Macintyre entitled 'M.E. chronic fatigue syndrome a practical guide' .  I bought the 1998 edition which I still have to this day even though it's a bit dog eared and I've scribbled all over it! It validated how I was feeling and I could identify with everything she wrote as well as providing me with lots of help. It has been invaluable. Even though I never knew or met Anne Macintyre I will be forever grateful to her. 

Miranda Brewster has made a very useful video explaining the book

  
This is Annie's main documentary on exposing the medical scandal surrounding M.E. 

In her video Anne talks about Lyn Gilderdale. You can read the very sad story about her and her mother here 

Anne also talks to Ean Proctor and his terrible mistreatment that happened in the 1980s. Read his story here 

We have to thank Dr Anne Macintyre for relating these stories and the unbelievable suffering that took place. She placed these testimonies on record so we can see the ignorance of doctors at that time and the terrible treatment that was inflicted. 

I think, not just myself, but the whole M.E. community have a lot to thank Dr Anne Macintyre for. 

If you have never read her book or watched these videos I suggest you do so today. I'm sure you will also find them interesting but you need to realise that this took place in the 1980s 

Au revoir
The French Femme 
xxx