MEDICAL MATTERS
- Medical Matters features questions asked by Members of the ME Association on health-related topics.
- Dr Charles Shepherd and the ME Association's other advisers answer these questions by sharing their expert knowledge.
- Medical Matters is based on the popular ‘Ask the Doctor’ series in ME Essential magazine.
- It is a free resource that supplements the detailed information contained in the full range of literature that can be found in the website shop.
Search all questions
Choose a letter to see our categories
- Show all
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- V
- W
- Y
- 5
- VEGF
- VZV
- Vaccination
- Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme
- Vaccines
- Vaginal Dryness
- Varicella-zoster Virus
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
- Vasculitis
- Vasodilators
- Vega Test
- Vertigo
- Very Severe ME/CFS
- Viral Infection
- Virus
- Vision
- Visual Problems
- Vitamin B1
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Vitamin Deficiency
- Vitamins
- Vivid Dreams
- Volunteer
- Vomiting
Questions in the Category: Vitamin D
Bone pain and ME/CFS
I have just been reading the new MEA information leaflet on pain management. This covers muscle, joint and nerve (neuropathic) pain ME/CFS. But why isn’t there any mention of bone pain? I have hip pain that was eventually diagnosed as being due to osteomalacia and vitamin D deficiency – which I understand is more common in ME. This is now being treated because my doctors felt I was at increased risk of having a fracture in the hip bone.
Symptoms: Gradual deterioration
I’m in my late forties and have had ME for over 10 years. For the past few years it has been fairly stable with occasional exacerbations, normally when I get an infection. But I’ve recently noticed a gradual deterioration in almost all of my ME symptoms. I don’t have any new or unusual symptoms and there are no obvious reasons for this deterioration in health – infection, stress etc. I’m reluctant to see my GP – who knows very little about ME – but I am starting to feel concerned.
Treatment: Vitamin D & Safety
Following on from the question in the Summer issue of ME Essential about the risk of developing osteoporosis in ME and the use of vitamin D supplements, I was concerned to see a newspaper report about someone who had been recommended to take a vitamin D supplement by a nutritionist which had caused serious side-effects and resulted in hospital admission.
So should people with ME/CFS be taking vitamin D supplements? Or any vitamin supplement? And is it safe to do so?
Osteoporosis
I have several family members who have developed osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) in later life – some of whom have had nasty fractures as a result – and I understand that people with ME may be at increased risk of developing osteoporosis.
Why is this? Is there anything we can do to reduce this happening? And is there any treatment for osteoporosis?
Covid-19: Treatments
I'm looking for some guidance on possible treatments for Covid. I care for my partner who is bedbound with severe ME/CFS. He hasn’t been able to get vaccinated due to also having multiple allergies and the possible anaphylaxis risk. Vaccination would therefore have do be done in hospital and he isn't well enough to go to hospital.
We are still shielding as a household – although the rest of us are triple-jabbed – to avoid the risk of bringing in Covid and infecting him. However I'm becoming increasingly concerned that this virus isn't going to go away and that it's going to be harder to be able to protect him. So I'd like to have a possible treatment plan agreed in advance with the GP, in case he catches Covid-19. However, the NHS list for those available for antiviral drug treatment doesn't specify ME/CFS. Any thoughts or advice welcomed!
Treatment: Vitamin D
Can Vitamin D help people with ME/CFS and are we more susceptible to Vitamin D deficiency?
Treatment: High-dose Vitamin C
I have read about the use of high dose vitamin C injections being used to treat people with coronavirus infection. Could this also be used to treat ME?
Diet and Nutrition: Restrictive Diets
All kinds of strange and restrictive diets are recommended for people with ME/CFS. I know of people who have cut out loads of different food groups, especially dairy, gluten and meat. Some of them have lost weight and made themselves worse as a result. So is there any evidence that any of these restrictive diets can be helpful? And what are the potential problems?
Prognosis: Progressive
I’m in my late forties and have had ME for over 10 years. For the past few years it has been fairly stable with occasional exacerbations, normally when I get an infection. But I’ve recently noticed a gradual deterioration in almost all of my ME symptoms. I don’t have any new or unusual symptoms and there are no obvious reasons for this deterioration in health – infection, stress etc. I’m reluctant to see my GP – who knows very little about ME – but I am starting to feel concerned.
Dr Charles Shepherd
Dr Shepherd has been Trustee and Hon. Medical Adviser to the ME Association for more than 40 years. He is integral to the charity's activities and provides information and support based on his professional knowledge, personal experience as a doctor with ME/CFS, and the understanding gained from helping many thousands of people with the condition. He was a member of the comittee responsible for the 2021 NICE Clinical Guideline and is a recognised expert on ME/CFS in the UK. His knowledge extends to Post-Viral Fatigue Syndromes (PVFS), Myalgic Encephalopathy/Encephalomyelitis (ME), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) or Long Covid.
If you have questions about ME/CFS or Long Covid, you can:
- Review the free information in the What is ME/CFS? section of the website, and the free Covid-19 and Long Covid information in the website shop.
- Review the largest range of literature covering all aspects of living with ME/CFS. Download detailed information about symptoms, diagnosis, management, co-mordities, employment, education, related health conditions, The 2021 NICE Clinical Guideline, welfare benefits etc.
- Join the ME Association as a member and you'll receive the highly-rated ME Essential magazine, and you can ask questions of the charity’s expert advisers including Dr Shepherd.
- Contact us via the ME Connect Telephone Helpline (open 365 days a year) and speak to one of the national team of fully-trained volunteers who waiting to provide information and support.
- Contact us via email or social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn.
Medical Matters is based on the popular ‘Ask the Doctor‘ series featured in the highly-regarded member’s magazine, ME Essential, and in the healthcare professional magazine, ME Medical. Both are produced by the ME Association and published as hard-copy magazines every 3 months and sent to members and healthcare professionals by post to home or business addresses.
If you are an HCP you can sign-up here to receive ME Medical magazine (people with ME/CFS can also nominate their HCP by completing the sign-up form).
