We provide support, education & advocacy for people living with MECFS in Canterbury & West Coast, NZ Repeat offenders will be blocked from the page.
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PLEASE NOTE that MECFS Canterbury does not recommend any treatments. Any advice, either explicit or implied, is not intended to replace qualified medical advice. We do not accept any responsibility for any treatment undertaken by readers of any articles, or for any error or omission in connection with any article published on our social media. Any Comments on posts that are discriminatory will be removed.
07/11/2025
It’s our 40th Ruby Anniversary!
Thank you to the individuals and funders who have supported our journey since we became a charity in 1985.
People often tell us that our charity is the only health service that has understood their debilitating chronic illness and provided appropriate supports.
We welcome donations to mark this occasion to enable us to continue to support our vulnerable chronically ill community over our 41st year.
________
In the last year alone...
277 people enrolled in our Registered Nurse Service to receive support for diagnosis, symptom management, and advocacy.
74 people supported by our advocates to explore the financial assistance available to them from Work and Income NZ.
45 group meetings held around our region to provide connections and education.
574 members: people receiving our updates or engaging with our services in some way.
631 subscribers of our newsletter, including professionals.
8 educational events and material delivered for professionals supporting our community.
$0 received from the government’s health budget.
TO DONATE: Check out the linktree in our bio
06/11/2025
We’ve created some special merch pieces to celebrate our 40th Birthday, the best part is by purchasing one of these items you donate $10 toward providing vital supports for Cantabrians and West Coasters affected by ME/CFS and Long Covid.
Did you know we receive NO government funding?
People often tell us that our charity is the only health service that has understood their debilitating chronic illness and provided appropriate supports.
In the last year alone...
277 people enrolled in our Registered Nurse Service to receive support for diagnosis, symptom management, and advocacy.
74 people supported by our advocates to explore the financial assistance available to them from Work and Income NZ.
45 group meetings held around our region to provide connections and education.
574 members: people receiving our updates or engaging with our services in some way.
631 subscribers of our newsletter, including professionals.
8 educational events and material delivered for professionals supporting our community.
$0 received from the government’s health budget.
Check the linktree in our bio for our CRASH WEAR Merch site.
04/11/2025
It’s our 40th Ruby Anniversary!
Thank you to the individuals and funders who have supported our journey since we became a charity in 1985.
People often tell us that our charity is the only health service that has understood their life with debilitating chronic illness and provided appropriate clinical, lifestyle, social and other supports.
We welcome donations to mark this occasion and to enable us to continue to support our vulnerable chronically ill community over our 41st year. Are you able to join our Ruby Crew?
________
In the last year alone...
✦ 277 people enrolled in our Registered Nurse Service to receive support for diagnosis, symptom management, and advocacy.
✦ 74 people supported by our advocates to explore the financial assistance available to them from Work and Income NZ.
✦ 45 group meetings held around our region to provide connections and education.
✦ 574 members: people receiving our updates or engaging with our services in some way.
✦ 631 subscribers of our newsletter, including professionals.
✦ 8 educational events and material delivered for professionals supporting our community.
✦ $0 received from the government’s health budget.
We invite you to share this campaign to spread the word.
Check the comments and our bio for ways to donate and our disclaimer.
04/11/2025
It’s our 40th Ruby Anniversary!
Thank you to the individuals and funders who have supported our journey since we became a charity in 1985.
People often tell us that our charity is the only health service that has understood their life with debilitating chronic illness and provided appropriate clinical, lifestyle, social and other supports.
We welcome donations to mark this occasion and to enable us to continue to support our vulnerable chronically ill community over our 41st year. Are you able to join our Ruby Crew?
________
In the last year alone...
✦ 277 people enrolled in our Registered Nurse Service to receive support for diagnosis, symptom management, and advocacy.
✦ 74 people supported by our advocates to explore the financial assistance available to them from Work and Income NZ.
✦ 45 group meetings held around our region to provide connections and education.
✦ 574 members: people receiving our updates or engaging with our services in some way.
✦ 631 subscribers of our newsletter, including professionals.
✦ 8 educational events and material delivered for professionals supporting our community.
✦ $0 received from the government’s health budget.
We invite you to share this campaign to spread the word check the comments or our bio for how to donate.
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04/11/2025
It’s our 40th Ruby Anniversary!
Thank you to the individuals and funders who have supported our journey since we became a charity in 1985.
People often tell us that our charity is the only health service that has understood their life with debilitating chronic illness and provided appropriate clinical, lifestyle, social and other supports.
We welcome donations to mark this occasion and to enable us to continue to support our vulnerable chronically ill community over our 41st year. Are you able to join our Ruby Crew?
________
In the last year alone...
✦ 277 people enrolled in our Registered Nurse Service to receive support for diagnosis, symptom management, and advocacy.
✦ 74 people supported by our advocates to explore the financial assistance available to them from Work and Income NZ.
✦ 45 group meetings held around our region to provide connections and education.
✦ 574 members: people receiving our updates or engaging with our services in some way.
✦ 631 subscribers of our newsletter, including professionals.
✦ 8 educational events and material delivered for professionals supporting our community.
✦ $0 received from the government’s health budget.
We invite you to share this campaign to spread the word.
03/11/2025
It’s our 40th Ruby Anniversary!
Thank you to the individuals and funders who have supported our journey since we became a charity in 1985.
People often tell us that our charity is the only health service that has understood their life with debilitating chronic illness and provided appropriate clinical, lifestyle, social and other supports.
We welcome donations to mark this occasion and to enable us to continue to support our vulnerable chronically ill community over our 41st year. Are you able to join our Ruby Crew?
________
In the last year alone...
277 people enrolled in our Registered Nurse Service to receive support for diagnosis, symptom management, and advocacy.
74 people supported by our advocates to explore the financial assistance available to them from Work and Income NZ.
45 group meetings held around our region to provide connections and education.
574 members: people receiving our updates or engaging with our services in some way.
631 subscribers of our newsletter, including professionals.
8 educational events and material delivered for professionals supporting our community.
$0 received from the government’s health budget.
We invite you to share this campaign to spread the word.
Reporter Cushla Norman shares the experiences of several young Kiwi’s whose lives have been dramatically altered by Long Covid.
Among them are Karina Tickle 24, who is now up to 95 percent bedbound and was even offered rest-home care; Raquel Parackal 28, who was studying to become a doctor has lived with Long Covid for four years and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis for six, and is now 90 percent bedbound and relies on an electric wheelchair, Elvira Edmonds 28, who must spend 80 percent of her day resting; John O’Malley 22, whose hopes of becoming an electrician were cut short; and Isla Hewitt 25 from Hanmer Springs, who continues to battle debilitating symptoms despite receiving compassionate medical support.
Their stories highlight a health system still struggling to meet the needs of those with Long Covid, and the profound isolation and misunderstanding faced by young people living with these disabling conditions. We hope that the media will continue to shed light on these urgent and overlooked issues, helping to drive greater understanding, compassion and action for those affected.
A group of young Kiwis prove what international studies show: that long Covid has a particularly debilitating effect on young people. But how much medical support is there for them?
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when MECFS Canterbury posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Established in 1985, MECFS Canterbury is a registered charity based in Christchurch and servicing the Canterbury and West Coast regions.
Our mission is to support and empower people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis /Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and their whānau through inclusion, education, sharing and advocacy.
We aim to use our page to advertise our events and to share information, research, and experiences to raise awareness of this debilitating illness.
If you are a health professional or know someone that has ME/CFS, please follow us to learn more about ME/CFS.
If you are a person with ME/CFS and living in Canterbury, we invite you to join our community and receive our services. Please visit our website to become a member. You may also like to join our private facebook group for online peer support.
Please Note:
MECFS Canterbury does not recommend any treatments. Any advice, either explicit or implied, is not intended to replace qualified medical advice. We do not accept any responsibility for any treatment undertaken by readers of any articles, or for any error or omission in connection with any article published on our social media.
Any Comments made on posts that are discriminatory will be removed. Repeat offenders will be blocked from the page.
What is ME/CFS?
ME/CFS is a serious long-term illness. It affects people of all ages, ethnicities and both male and female. Overseas studies suggest the prevalence of ME/CFS is 4 in 1000 people, implying that there are 20,000 people affected in NZ, and 2,000 people in Canterbury (including 300 young people).
The causes and the specific pathologies of ME/CFS aren’t yet understood. It often starts after an infectious illness such as glandular fever. Researchers are finding issues with energy production, blood circulation and oxygen use.
Core Symptoms
Greatly lowered ability to do activities that were usual before the illness.
This drop in activity level occurs along with fatigue and must last six months or longer (3 months in children).
Worsening of symptoms after physical or mental activity that would not have caused a problem before the illness.
This is known as Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM). PEM is often delayed, typically happening 12 to 24 hours after exertion. People may be house-bound or even completely bed-bound during PEM.
Sleep problems.
People with ME may not feel better even after a full night’s sleep. At times, people with ME may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, may sleep for over 12 hours a day or may have a delayed sleep onset.
Problems with cognition.
Most people with ME/CFS have trouble thinking quickly and concentrating for periods of time compared to prior to illness onset; there may be trouble finding words or slurring of speech, particularly during PEM.
Worsening of symptoms while standing or sitting upright.
This includes feeling lightheaded, dizzy, weak, or faint while standing or sitting up. They may have vision changes like blurring or seeing spots. This is known as Orthostatic Intolerance.
Refer to our website for more information.
What are the impacts of having ME/CFS?
When someone develops ME/CFS, there is an enormous change in their life and that of their families.
Previously active people may be suddenly unable to work or attend school. Parents with ME/CFS may struggle to care for their children. The lack of energy and the flu-like symptoms means that many people are confined to their homes or even their beds. It is hard for family, friends and employers to understand, and many medical professionals and schools are not sufficiently well-informed to provide good support.
