"ME stands for myalgic encephalomyelitis. Classic ME has always been known as virally triggered. The biggest study that's been done was by Dr. Dowsett and myself. We found it was the commonest cause of long-term sickness absence from school in children and in teachers. When I was 15, I began to get headaches, tiredness, lack of energy. I lost these small legs and had to be admitted into hospital, where I was treated for suspected meningitis. After two weeks I was sent home, I gradually improved and then I had another decline and that's when my consultant gave me the diagnosis of ME. ME can affect anyone, but there is a peak in the middle years, there's another peak in the early to mid-teens and you do tend to find more girls than boys. You never know what the next day is going to be like. You don't know if you're going to be well, you don't know if you're going to be bed-bound. The fatigue is one of the main factors and heavy limbs, painful legs. People didn't believe I was it at first. There is no physical sign of it. People used to say that I was spoiled and lazy. They did hurt a lot."