Chronic fatigue: one woman's account of long-term symptom management

Kira Love says she developed severe ME/CFS in her 20s and that dietary and lifestyle changes coincided with a major reduction in her symptoms; Australian clinicians report growing research interest and national guideline updates are under review.

Kira Love describes a period in her early 20s when severe fatigue, glandular fever and widespread pain left her able to spend only minutes out of bed. After many medical visits she reports receiving a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) from a holistic doctor in Singapore. Dissatisfied with limited treatment options at the time, she says she changed her diet, reduced stress and altered life circumstances, and that these steps coincided with a large reduction in her symptoms. She also reports tracking autoimmune markers that she says fell markedly as her health improved. Key points: - Kira reports a severe episode of ME/CFS that greatly limited daily activity and quality of life. - She attributes major symptom reduction to dietary changes, stress reduction and broader lifestyle shifts, and says some medical tests improved. - Associate Professor Bernard Shiu is quoted describing ME/CFS as a multi-system condition marked by post-exertional malaise, and he notes research interest in the gut microbiome and multidisciplinary care approaches. - The article reports that Australian clinical guidelines from the NHMRC are under review and that researchers have recently identified an immune-cell channel that may support future diagnostic work. Summary: Kira's account highlights an individual experience of long-term symptom change that she links to lifestyle and dietary adjustments. Clinicians quoted in the article say ME/CFS is complex, involving symptoms such as delayed post-exertional malaise, and that research into biological mechanisms and microbiome links is under way. The piece notes that national clinical guidelines are in review and that recent laboratory findings reported by researchers could enable development of diagnostic tests going forward.