A tale of two rheumatology clinics So, in the nearly-four years that I’ve been sick, I’ve been to a total of two rheumatology clinics. For the first two full years, none would see me because of my lack of compelling lab …

swimmingthroughthefires.wordpress.com/2025/12/14/a...

#chronicillness #autoinflammatory #postinfectiousillness #rheumatology

#SevereME #SevereMEAwareness #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #MyalgicE #MECFS #EBV #HHV6 #Polio #PostInfectiousIllness

A smart young woman with glasses and a book is talking to an exhausted woman in an armchair. The young woman is saying; “It says here that some psychiatrists believe you’re only ill because think you’re ill…” The exhausted woman is replying “If I was so powerful I could create PEM with my thoughts, I’d have thought those doctors dead and replaced them within a a research department years ago” The cartoon is by #FanningTheFlames

@pausedME @PaulRKeeble @swastrosarah @CraftyMissB @NoHealthNoFun
@c4newsteam @guardiannews @MEAdvocatesIre
@actionforme @MEFoggyDog @MEAssociation
#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

A cartoon about Cochrane.

@pausedME @PaulRKeeble @swastrosarah @CraftyMissB @NoHealthNoFun
@c4newsteam @guardiannews @MEAdvocatesIre
@actionforme @MEFoggyDog @MEAssociation
#ME #MEcfs #LC #PEM #PostInfectiousIllness #ChronicIllness
#ChronicIllnessMemes

There is a picture of a man with glasses, an elaborate beard, a bow tie and a pipe The heading says “WARNING SIGNS of BPSM disease in doctors” The caption says - “this doctor is unlikely to be helpful” USEFUL RESPONSE - “I see you prefer bow ties to science”

#FanningTheFlames
@pausedME @PaulRKeeble @swastrosarah @CraftyMissB
@MEAdvocatesIre
@actionforme @MEFoggyDog @MEAssociation
#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

There is a drawing of two rich Victorian gentlemen talking and laughing together. The one on the left is saying “I don’t think the GMC would stop us if we recommended lobotomies for #pwME” The man on the right is wearing a top hat and laughing. He’s whispering “Well, we’re already prescribing death with GET” At the bottom is a mock-up of the Cochrane logo with the words “Wessely Speaks - We Comply - You Die” The cartoon is by #Fanning The Flames

Yes, it’s truly despicable - here’s my cartoon on the issue.
#ME #LC #PEM #PostInfectiousIllness @theguardian1.bsky.social @Cochrane.org

There is a drawing of two rich Victorian gentlemen talking and laughing together. The one on the left is fat and is saying “we could get away with murder in this business” The man on the right is wearing a top hat and laughing. He’s whispering “I think we already have” At the bottom is a mock-up of the Cochrane Library logo with the words “Our Ignorance - Your Death The cartoon is by #Fanning The Flames

#ME #LC #PEM #PostInfectiousIllness
#ChronicIllness
@theguardian1.bsky.social

The image is of a fake notice from Cochrane Library. The heading says ‘Cochrane Library - Our Ignorance/Your Death The main message says - Cochrane Library has today endorsed the reintroduction of lobotomy for any behaviour that annoys doctors, opium cordial for childhood coughs, chloroform for asthma, and lying inside a dead whale as a cure for rheumatoid arthritis When asked: about the dubious science, The BMJ responded "We'll wait 40 years before commenting in case they're right" The cartoon is by #FanningTheFlames

@pausedME @PaulRKeeble @swastrosarah @CraftyMissB @NoHealthNoFun
@c4newsteam @guardiannews @MEAdvocatesIre
@actionforme @MEFoggyDog @MEAssociation

#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

There is a pen and ink drawing a rabbit is talking to the a mad hatter - the mad hatter has the name Cochrane on his hat band. The rabbit is looking worried and saying ‘are you ever going to produce a Cochrane Review of GET?’ The Mad Hatter is waving a hand around dismissively and has a superior look on his face. He’s saying “my dear chap, we don’t need to read the science, NICE guidelines, or the WHO report because everyone knows that exercise is medicine” At the bottom the caption says “Has Cochrane crossed the line between laziness and murder? The cartoon creator is #FanningTheFlames

Has Cochrane crossed the line between mad adherence to the BPS fanatics and headed into gross negligence manslaughter territory?

#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

There is a pen and ink drawing of a rabbit talking to the a M ad hatter - the mad hatter has the name Cochrane on his hat band. The rabbit is looking worried and saying ‘are you ever going to produce a Cochrane Review of GET?’ The Mad Hatter is waving a hand around dismissively and has a superior look on his face. He’s saying “my dear chap, we don’t need to read the science, NICE guidelines, or the WHO a report because everyone knows that exercise is medicine” At the bottom the caption says “Has Cochrane crossed the line between laziness and murder? The cartoon creator is #FanningTheFlames

When your medical advice is out of line with other major institutions, do your actions now constitute gross negligence manslaughter?

#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

There is an image of a young woman on the floor. She is being crushed by the letters P.E.M. and she is saying “Ooof” The caption below says “…the BPS model of #ME is an elaborate web of utter bullshit”” The cartoon is made by #FanningTheFlames

Yup. Patients with #ME have been in hell for decades as well because of the preposterous and unverifiable BPS model that defines our illness as psychosomatic. I make cartoons about this
#ChronicIllness #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS#Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

In the cartoon there is a young man on the left and a woman on the right. The man is looking slightly taken aback. The woman has her hand and arm out in a ‘stop’ sign and is creating a visible barrier between them. He is saying “Everyone knows you’re pretending to be ill, we read it in the newspapers etc etc blah blah…” The woman is saying “yeah, we talked about you - we’re not impressed by the idiot-followers of medical ignorance” The title says “When you’re targeted by an individual…” The caption says “remember you’re part of a group.”

Vielen Dank und schön, Sie kennenzulernen. Ich habe #ME seit 38 Jahren und schüre derzeit die BPSM für Cartoons, um Bewusstsein und Veränderung zu schaffen - dies wird eine nützliche Quelle für internationale Informationen sein

#ChronicIllness #PEM
#ME #LC #POTS #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

There is an image of an Angel with clouds, sunlight and the gates of heaven. Next to the Angel is a silhouette of a man begging in prayer and at the bottom is a cherub praying The Angel is saying “No room for you here - you killed hundreds in the UK alone” The begging man is saying ”Don’t compare us to Harold Shipman…” The cherub is saying “I think you just did that yourself”

At what point does ignoring the scientific research, the death toll, #MaeveInquest and patient statements, shift from scientific differences to negligence and homicide?
#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

There is an image of the devil surrounded by flames. On the wall is a poster saying “Genocidal Medics ALWAYS welcome here” The devil is saying “the road to hell is paved with the bodies of people brutalised by the unverifiable nonsense of the BPS obsessive” The cartoon was made by #FannngTheFlames

#ChronicIllness #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

It is pretty outrageous when people are dying, the science is showing organic disease, and they simply won’t change course. At what point does intransigence become murder?

There is an image of the devil surrounded by flames. On the wall is a poster saying “Genocidal Medics ALWAYS welcome here” The devil is saying “the road to hell is paved with the bodies of people brutalised by the unverifiable nonsense of the BPS obsessive” The cartoon was made by #FannngTheFlames

#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

There is an image of an Angel with clouds, sunlight and the gates of heaven. Next to the Angel is a silhouette of a man begging in prayer and at the bottom is a cherub praying The Angel is saying “No room for you here Simon- you killed hundreds in the UK alone” Simon is saying ”Don’t compare me to Harold Shipman…” The cherub is saying “I think you just did that yourself”

If a doctor refuses to change course when it’s clear that people are dying, and the science is against him - does that make him a murderer?
#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

There is an image of an Angel with clouds, sunlight and the gates of heaven. Next to the Angel is a silhouette of a man begging in prayer and at the bottom is a cherub praying The Angel is saying “No room for you here Simon- you killed hundreds in the UK alone” Simon is saying ”Don’t compare me to Harold Shipman and Ian Paterson” The cherub is saying “I think you just did that yourself”

Thanks for this. Here’s a newer version. Does a doctor become a murderer if he refuses to change course once his pervasive (but false) ideas have been shown to kill people?
#ChronicIllness #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

There’s a photo of the Bishop of Washington taken while she was giving the sermon at Trump’s inaugural and an inset smaller photo of Simon Wessely looking smug. The heading says “People with MEcfs are not criminals. They pay their taxes and are good neighbours” The bishop is looking directly at Wessely and saying “yes, I’m looking at you too”.

Trump isn’t the only man guilty of brutality and contempt for other human beings.

#IYKYK
#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

There’s a photo of the Bishop of Washington taken while she was giving the sermon at Trump’s inaugural and an inset smaller photo of Simon Wessely looking smug. The heading says “People with MEcfs are not criminals. They pay their taxes and are good neighbours” The bishop is looking directly at Wessely and saying “yes, I’m looking at you too”.

Trump isn’t the only man guilty of brutality and contempt for other human beings.

#IYKYK
#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

There is an image of an Angel with clouds, sunlight and the gates of heaven. Next to the Angel is a silhouette of a man begging in prayer The title says Judgement Day for the BPSM The Angel is saying “We expected so much more of you Wessely” A skeleton is popping his head round the edge of the image and pointing at Wessely. The skeleton is saying “No-one else did”

In the absence of justice, imagining a judgemental god is a last resort. <<sigh>>

#IYKYK
#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

There’s a cartoon of a woman looking fed p with her chin on her hand. She’s saying ‘Tests and treatments? I’d settle for being believed!’

Oh yes - doctors who can’t cope with chronic illness are good on the judgement, ridicule and blame. Grrr

#IYKYK
#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

There’s a cartoon image of a woman looking fed up with a hand propping up her cheek. She’s saying “Tests and treatments? At this point i’d settle for being believed” The cartoon is by #FanningTheFlames

You’re right - we’re sick and we do exist. I go from reading to blocking via thinking in seconds. Here’s my cartoon about the whole BPS mendacity

#IYKYK
#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

There’s a cartoon image of a woman looking fed up with a hand propping up her cheek. She’s saying “Tests and treatments? At this point i’d settle for being believed” The cartoon is by #FanningTheFlames

There are plenty of bio-markers for #ME but none have been turned into tests. How about doctors ditch the denigrating BPS model of this organic and simply start believing us?

#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

There’s a cartoon image of a woman looking fed up with a hand propping up her cheek. She’s saying “Tests and treatments? At this point i’d settle for being believed” The cartoon is by #FanningTheFlames

Yup -just in case we’re lying perhaps? Grrr!

#IYKYK
#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

In the cartoon there is a young man on the left and a woman on the right. The man is looking slightly taken aback. The woman has her hand and arm out in a ‘stop’ sign and is creating a visible barrier between them. He is saying “Everyone knows you’re pretending to be ill, we read it in the newspapers etc etc blah blah…” The woman is saying “yeah, we talked about you - we’re not impressed by the idiot-followers of medical ignorance” The title says “When you’re targeted by an individual…” The caption says “remember you’re part of a group.”

The ignorance is appalling - it drives me mad.

#IYKYK
#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

In the cartoon there is a young man on the left and a woman on the right. The man is looking slightly taken aback. The woman has her hand and arm out in a ‘stop’ sign and is creating a visible barrier between them. He is saying “Everyone knows you’re pretending to be ill, we read it in the newspapers etc etc blah blah…” The woman is saying “yeah, we talked about you - we’re not impressed by the idiot-followers of medical ignorance” The title says “When you’re targeted by an individual…” The caption says “remember you’re part of a group.” #IYKYK #ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM #ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease #PostInfectiousIllness

Yup - the idiot-followers of medical ignorance pop-up everywhere. Grrrr

#IYKYK
#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

In the cartoon there is a young man on the left and a woman on the right. The man is looking slightly taken aback. The woman has her hand and arm out in a ‘stop’ sign and is creating a visible barrier between them. He is saying “Everyone knows you’re pretending to be ill, we read it in the newspapers etc etc blah blah…” The woman is saying “yeah, we talked about you - we’re not impressed by the idiot-followers of medical ignorance” The title says “When you’re targeted by an individual…” The caption says “remember you’re part of a group.” #IYKYK #ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM #ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease #PostInfectiousIllness

Great image. Thank you. Here’s mine on a similar topic💙💙

#IYKYK
#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

In the cartoon there is a young man on the left and a woman on the right. The man is looking slightly taken aback. The woman has her hand and arm out in a ‘stop’ sign and is creating a visible barrier between them. He is saying “Everyone knows you’re pretending to be ill, we read it in the newspapers etc etc blah blah…” The woman is saying “yeah, we talked about you - we’re not impressed by the idiot-followers of medical ignorance” The title says “When you’re targeted by an individual…” The caption says “remember you’re part of a group.”

You’re so right. Being ill and disabled is not the same as being useless or powerless. 💙💙

#IYKYK
#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

In the cartoon there is a young man on the left and a woman on the right. The man is looking slightly taken aback. The woman has her hand and arm out in a ‘stop’ sign and is creating a visible barrier between them. He is saying “Everyone knows you’re pretending to be ill, we read it in the newspapers etc etc blah blah…” The woman is saying “yeah, we talked about you - we’re not impressed by the idiot-followers of medical ignorance” The title says “When you’re targeted by an individual…” The caption says “remember you’re part of a group.”

Disability also doesn’t mean we’re alone - we’re a pressure group for change.💙💙

#IYKYK
#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness

In the cartoon there is a young man on the left and a woman on the right. The man is looking slightly taken aback. The woman has her hand and arm out in a ‘stop’ sign and is creating a visible barrier between them. He is saying “Everyone knows you’re pretending to be ill, we read it in the newspapers etc etc blah blah…” The woman is saying “yeah, we talked about you - we’re not impressed by the idiot-followers of medical ignorance” The title says “When you’re targeted by an individual…” The caption says “remember you’re part of a group.”

Oh yes- today’s main cartoon is about this. We are not alone, we’re a force to be reckoned with. 💙💙

#IYKYK
#ChronicIllness #ChronicIllnessMemes #WheelchairUsers #PEM
#ME #MEcfs #LC #POTS #MCAS #InvisibleIllness #Fibromyalgia #LymeDisease
#PostInfectiousIllness