“G.Etreal, you clearly have never had any real experience of this condition. Sure, you can fake being tired, and everyone would love a month or 2 off work.That's not M.E. I genuinely do not believe that anyone would voluntarily stay in bed, not moving, in a darkened room, not able to use a computer, watch TV, read or even communicate, for years on end - BY CHOICE. Because that's how severe M.E can get, and no person would choose that. Real, genuine M.E is not an illness you could, or would, fake.
What about the children as young as 5 who suffer from it? Are they simply trying to get time off work? I don't think so, somehow. And so much for "when everything's going well at work, everything's fine" - many sufferers are too ill to even consider working. And as for "down to the doctor's for a sick note and re-register at the benefits office" - that could be a little tricky if you're bedbound and can't even walk as far as the bathroom.
Clearly you have never heard of Sophia Mirza, who, after being bedbound for years and requiring tube feeding, died of the disease. So, is tube feeding and death a "suberb way of guaranteeing years on benefits" or "a nice con job"? I really don't think so.”

“Peter. You state that Charaltans should get up and get moving, it probably would be good, if people with ME could just do that, you probably have led a very sheltered life, and not know very much of such things, But why do you live in this rich country! Men are the worst sufferers of a cold. Just remember that there are some people out there who cannot do as much as you probably can.”

“How come it's only in the rich developed world that you get these 'ME' sufferers. You don't get many africans being too lazy to walk 5 miles to the well do you? CHARLATANS, GET UP AND GET MOVING!”

“I have know Elizabeth since she was 7 years old, she is a very remarkable young lady to have had to put up with ME for the time that she has had to. I can fully understand how she can be feeling as my own daughter suffers with it, also Elizabeth's parents and family have had suffered aswell as they are constantly there to give her the love and support she needs, so come on you people, for some to say that ME is a life of benefits, is not true as they do not get a penny for her illness. Elizabeth has not really had a life and you who states what you say, should be ashamed of yourself and just think yourself lucky that you have not got it yourself.
Well done Libby for sticking to something that you strongly belive that people should listen and hopefully learn by what you have and your family have had to do, to make your life comfortable.
Libby you have my support, you little love. Go get em girl.”

“I had to laugh out loud when i saw the 'on and off at whim' comment. My husband has recently retired after working every day of his life. We had plans to do all sorts of things once I retired too (in 1 year). He began suffering with M.E and now can struggle to just watch TV some days.
I'm all for others having their opinions and I think GEtreal's acieved that in spades now. I can only assume he's either met some fake ME sufferers (of which, as with any other disease, there are afew), or is a bit of a forum troll. Either way I would like to reassure him that if he meets a true M.E sufferer on a bad day (and certainly stress can significantly worsen the condition), there will be plenty of physical (and unfake-able) symptoms for him to see (refer to Tina's list). They do have good days when you wouldn't tell them apart from a well person. But their bad days out number the good.
I pray GEtreal never comes to know what it's really like. Wouldn't wish it upon anyone.”

“Thank you Frances, you're too kind.”

“Your comments are articulate and you obviously have a modicum of intelligence, so why not use your intelligence to do a little research to enable you to make an informed comment? I have noticed that you comment on other articles so assume you are probably too busy sharing your profound meanderings with the world at large to use any of your valuable time to good effect. I bet you are a nightmare in a pub, holding court for all who is within earshot. At least that's one blessing for sufferers of M.E, that the majority of them are probably too ill to have the misfortune to be anywhere that people like you might go anyway!”

“I do have a little experience of mixing amongst people who have claimed to have ME at various times.
Uniquely, this condition seems to be able to be switched on or off at whim.
For example, when things are going well at work, everything¿s fine. As soon as there¿s a problem at work, or pressures of work increase - oh dear, ME magically re-occurs, and it¿s down to the doctors for a sick note, re-register at the benefits office ¿ then back home and into bed.
I have a relative who has managed to get early retirement from teaching due to ME ¿ striking gold with a substantial payout and an early pension. Within days he was 100% fit and laughing about it.
I¿ve seen this occur a number of times and have never met a single ME ¿sufferer¿ who is, in my opinion, genuinely ill.”

“My wife contracted severe ME about three years ago. We were both about to take early retirement financially secure both healthy and looking forward to good times together. My wife was hard working always on the go, always willing to help other people do you think she wanted this. Bang out of the blue a virus resulting in severe ME. Does G.Etreal think that this is what my wife wanted. I would just like G.Etreal come to live with a family afflicted with severe ME for a day. I just hope G.Etreal dosn't have to live with a severly disabling illness.”

“M.E is certainly not physically symptomless. Most M.E sufferers have consistently swollen joints, swollen glands, red and swollen throats, diarrhea, puffy eyes, a raised temperature, severe sensitivities to foods/ medication etc (physically shown as a rash or swelling). All of these things on an almost daily basis and are all clear for the eye to see.
When M.E is called an 'invisible illness' it is called so because when the patient feels fine (which for some people will be once every few days, sadly for most it's every few weeks or months) there's nothing to see. But to say it's a physically symptomless condition is plain incorrect. Entitled to your opinion? Yes. Entitled to ignorance? Sure, why not.
Thank you Evening Telegraph and the girl feautured for this story. I really hope it will help others sufferers out there :-)”