How the Isle of Man's specialised service is helping tackle Long Covid and ME

Manx residents living with illnesses such as Long Covid and ME have praised a specialised service dedicated to helping those with chronic fatigue syndromes.

More than 1,000 are thought to be living with Long Covid in the Isle of Man, with 350 known to have Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).

Debs Dixon caught Covid-19 at the beginning of 2022, at a time where she described herself as 'fully fit, hiking, biking, and running life at a really high level'.

She experienced problems with her lungs and chest infections, leading to a 'massive crash' in April.

She said: "At that point I was relying heavily on my wife. I was doing as much as I could possibly do at work and then coming home and doing nothing. At this point the fatigue was overwhelming."

Debs has been living with Long Covid since 2022. Credit: ITV Granada Reports

By September Debs said her body 'crashed completely', leading to her staying at home for three months.

"It was probably the lowest I'd ever been in my life, I really didn't think I was going to get well again.

"I had fatigue, brain fog, the inability to even make a cup of tea without forgetting what to do - a real mental low".

Debs said there was little to no support available at the time for people who were suffering with Long Covid, relying entirely on her own online research for treatment.

Farmer says ME 'stole his childhood' while living in the Isle of Man
Juan Corlett campaigned for a specialised service for those living with ME and Long Covid. Credit: ITV Granada Reports

Meanwhile, representative from ME Support Isle of Man were campaigning for a dedicated service to help those with debilitating illnesses, such as Long Covid.

Chair of ME Support Isle of Man, Juan Corlett, was one of those leading the campaign.

He said: "There was all of these Covid-19 cases, which to us seemed likely to generate a proportion of people with post-viral syndromes.

"There was a clear link between developing a virus, and developing a post-viral syndrome and I think once we got local politicians on board, then the momentum built."

In April 2023, Manx Care launched a specialist service to help people with Long Covid and other chronic fatigue syndromes.

Manx Care launched a specialist service in the Isle of Man for those suffering with debilitating illnesses such as ME and Long Covid. Credit: ITV Granada Reports
Manx Care launches dedicated Long Covid and ME service for Isle of Man patients

Sonya Chowdhury is the Chief Executive for Action for ME, and says more services are needed across the UK.

She said: "We sent out a freedom of information request to fourty NHS Trusts and integrated care services in the North West, and only one came back with a substantial service for ME.

"So it is quite shocking that we don't have specific services, not least because of the impact of those that have developed Long Covid and now have ME-like symptoms."

Action from ME are calling for more services to be introduced across the UK. Credit: ITV Granada Reports

Debs concluded: "I was lucky, I was housebound not bed-bound, there are people who are still bed-bound.

"So its little achievements now, but I do think I'll fully recover."

More information on the Isle of Man's specialist ME, Long Covid and CFS service can be found here.

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