How we are funded The ME|FM Society of BC finances its activities through membership fees, tax deductible donations, grants, fundraising events and bequests. While the majority of the activities of the Society are undertaken by a small, dedicated group of volunteers, we rely on all our funding sources to increase our support programs, hire consultants and meet administrative expenses. Sponsors We are profoundly grateful to the Ko family and Opera Mariposa for gifting us the proceeds of annual fundraising events, and to The Wickerson Foundation for their ongoing support of our work. ​ We also acknowledge the generous partnership between RBC and the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society. With this support, the ME|FM Society of BC is piloting a series of social support groups including individuals impacted by what is commonly known as Long-COVID, and meeting the diagnostic criteria for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). Inquire about becoming a sponsor ​Recent accomplishments The Convene Project A preliminary project examining the unmet needs of British Columbians living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. The My MLA and ME outreach campaign Click here for resources . ​ Support Groups The implementation and expansion of support groups for Patients, and Allies and Loved Ones. Our updated website New logo, branding, navigation and layout. Updated content. ​ Donate now Most recently, we have used funding from membership, donations and grants to accomplish the following. For up-to-date news on these and other initiatives, click here . Membership We are always seeking to grow our membership and we encourage everyone to join. Choose the membership type most suitable for you. Membership types and voting rights are explained here . Our membership year is from October 1 to September 30 of the following year. ​​​​ We manage our membership database and donations through a program called MemberPlanet. Membership types and annual fees Individual $30 Sponsored $0* Non-Profit $100 Affiliate $10 Professional $50 Corporate $250 Join us now Grants Learn about our free Social Support Groups In the last several years, the ME|FM Society of BC has received research grants from the BC Women's Hospital , The Vancouver Foundation , and the BC SUPPORT Unit Fraser Centre . In addition, program funds were received from BC Gaming . We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia. The ME|FM Society of BC is receiving funding from the Community Gaming Grants program to assist the delivery of social support groups and other community engagement efforts.

Ways to donate Donations The Society is a registered charity and all donations are gratefully accepted, regardless of the amount; however, tax receipts are provided for all donations over $20. When you give a gift, your generosity impacts the lives of those living in BC with ME and/or FM. Donate Now because patients have waited long enough. Donate Now Your donations may be used to: Support continuing research projects and collaborations. ​ ​ ​ Continue to provide and enhance our existing patient support programs. ​ ​ Develop education directed to our BC clinical communities, people living with ME|FM and their families. Donate now Legacy Why leave legac y funds? ​ ​ A planned gift to ME|FM Society of BC is an effective way to honour yourself and loved ones, and to help us pursue our goals. A charitable receipt can lower estate taxes. ​ ​ How to leave legacy funds Consider leaving a dollar amount or a percentage of your residual estate (what is left when all debts are paid and gifts are made). Consider altering your will or adding a codicil. ​ Contact your lawyer or notary to facilitate your wishes. ​ ​ If you choose to leave a legacy to us, please note ​ Legal name: ME|FM Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Fibromyalgia Society of BC Mailing address: PO Box 46879 Stn D, Vancouver, BC V6J 5M4 Registered BC Charity number: 893185173RR0001. Suggested language for your legacy ​ "I, ______(your full name)_____, give to ME|FM Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Fibromyalgia Society of BC, Registered BC Charity number 893185173RR0001, _____________ (enter a lump sum or % of the residue of my estate), to be used at the discretion of the society." ​ For more information on leaving a legacy click here

Our free "Living with ME/Long-COVID" email series Register for our free "Living with ME/Long-COVID" series Get up-to-date, fact-based information developed by experts, patients and caregivers, straight to your inbox. Includes friendly, easy-to use info sheets, tips, and practical tools. First Name Last name Email Register Receive 12+ helpful, informative series modules, sent to you personally by email. • Understand your symptoms • Know your options • Sift through misinformation • Practical health and living tips • Tools to manage your illness • Feel understood and supported • Help for diagnosis • Help talking to doctors, family & friends If you do not receive a confirmation email upon registration, contact techsupport@mefm.bc.ca . What others are saying about this series Christina Wiebe "I feel like this series is a life-line for people with ME or Long-COVID who are faced with healthcare and social support systems that provide so little access to knowledgeable help and meaningful support. It’s making valuable information and tools available to us from within the safety of our own homes, empowering us to learn how to cope with and manage living with these chronic illnesses. If I’d had access to this information when I first got sick, I would’ve felt less lost and more supported."

Medical info FAQs FAQs are reviewed and up to date as of March 2024. These FAQs will be reviewed periodically and updated accordingly. Do you have more questions? Please email us at support@mefm.bc.ca. Medical info 1. I'm looking for a doctor who knows about ME and/or FM. 3. My doctor doesn’t believe me or my symptoms. 5. Is there a cure for ME? ​ 2. I don’t have a family doctor. ​ 4. Who can help determine a diagnosis for ME? 6. What treatments are available for ME? Sign up: our free Social Support Groups FAQ 1-6 Support info Managing 7. What is pacing and how do I do it? ​ 8. What type of home support is available for people with ME and FM? See our free "Living with ME/Long-COVID" email series FAQ 7-8 Legal, financial and other resources 9. I have to complete disability forms. How do I start? ​ 10. Where can I find a list of community and financial resources? Get free support here FAQ 9 - 10 Relationships 11. How do I explain ME to family members? ​ 12. How can I connect with others living with ME and FM? FAQ 11-12

ME/Long-COVID Symptoms & diagnosis Symptoms of ME and Long-COVID Hallmark Symptoms for ME and Long-COVID ​Additional symptoms that may occur with both Joint and general body pain; headache ​ ​ Light, sound, smell, vibration, touch, chemical, and food sensitivities ​ ​ Fever-like symptoms, sore or swollen glands, sore throat, tinnitus ​ ​ Cardiovascular symptoms, like rhythm irregularities ​ ​ ​ Feeling of lack of oxygen (air hunger) ​ ​ Digestive issues (bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, or constipation) ​ ​ Sweating, chills, trouble with heat or cold ​ ​ Rashes and swelling ​ ​ ​ Effective functions (emotions) can be altered, and anxiety and mood changes may range from mild to severe. Depression may also occur, as a reaction to, rather than as a cause of ME. View printable version of Symptoms of ME and Long-COVID For diagnosis, must have all of: Extreme Fatigue that is not improved by rest and interferes with daily activities ​ ​ Post-exertional malaise (PEM) - a worsening of symptoms after physical, mental, or emotional effort ​ ​ Unrefreshing or disturbed sleep Must also have at least one of: Cognitive impairment (brain fog), such as problems with memory, concentration, thinking, or speaking ​ ​ Orthostatic intolerance - a feeling of lightheadedness, dizziness, imbalance, or fainting when standing or sitting up ​ Additional symptoms that are common with Long-COVID Cough, chest pain, trouble breathing ​ ​ Persistent loss of taste or smell ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Hallmark Symptoms for ME..... Challenges with diagnosis It often takes years or decades to get an ME diagnosis and the CDC estimates that over 90% of people with ME in the US remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, and this is likely similar in Canada. “The path to an ME diagnosis is often lengthy and challenging… with few practitioners knowledgeable or confident to diagnose” (p.15 ). In a 2021 report , 83% of healthcare workers in BC reported no to moderate knowledge of ME. They also had very low confidence in their ability to diagnose ME, with 76% stating they had no confidence to diagnose. With the increased awareness around Long-COVID, diagnosis for both illnesses may become less challenging. CAUTION! Functional Capacity Evaluations or FCEs are not recommended for people with ME/CFS. The test may not work The results of FCEs are likely incorrect or invalid (will significantly overestimate functioning) in people with ME/CFS. The test may cause a crash The test itself poses a serious risk of triggering PEM (post exertional malaise, or a worsening of symptoms immediately or 12-48 hours after exertion), that may not be evident for a day or more. The test may contribute to permanent worsening of your illness Triggering PEM can cause an immediate crash and triggering PEM too hard or often may lead to a permanent or long-term worsening of your illness. These conclusions should apply equally to those with Long-COVID who exhibit exercise intolerance and PEM. Path to diagnosis Both ME and Long-COVID have no single test or biomarker to confirm diagnosis. This means that both illnesses are diagnosed: 1. by a list of symptoms, that may be very different day to day and person to person (see above ). ​ ​ 2. by excluding other illnesses that have common or overlapping symptoms. There are tests that can help. Note: Diagnosis requires persistence of symptoms for several weeks 6 months for adults for ME 3 months for children for ME 3 months for everyone with Long-COVID). ​ There are available tools for your doctor, such as the symptom list above , a summary on the healthlinkbc website adapted from a National Academies clinician’s guide (previously IOM, 2015) , the Canadian Consensus Criteria for ME, the National Institute for Care and Excellence, (NICE, 2021) and the WHO Clinical Case Definition for Long-COVID . ​ If they are comfortable to do so, your GP can give you a diagnosis. Learn about our free “Living with ME/Long-COVID” email series Forgotten Plague Informative documentaries What happens when you have a disease doctors can't diagnose​ Unrest

Our goals Introduction Our purpose is to educate, raise awareness, advocate for and provide support to the ME and FM community in BC; the need is great. There is a severe shortage of knowledgeable doctors and health care professionals resulting in very little patient access to care, treatment and management tools. Patients are confronted by stigma at all levels of the health care system, waiting years to receive a proper diagnosis and experiencing barriers to receiving disability benefits. Join us in making a difference - Become a Member! The Society's primary goals are to: Educate, inform and increase awareness of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and Fibromyalgia (FM) . ​ Build an inclusive organization which will reasonably accommodate and allow the participation of ME and FM patients, as well as their carergivers and families, to the extent they are willing and able. Provide information and education for physicians, other medical professionals and the community at large, to increase public awareness of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Fibromyalgia. Promote and fundraise for ongoing medical research to encourage early, accurate diagnosis and effective treatments for ME and Fibromyalgia. Champion issues impacting the lives of people with ME and FM through community partnerships and advocacy with local, provincial and federal stakeholders and decision-makers. Liaise with other individuals, groups and organizations to achieve the goals of our Society. Donate now

Long-COVID & ME Is there a connection between Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Long-COVID? Researchers have estimated that approximately 80% of ME/CFS cases are infectious in origin, often following a virus such as Epstein Barr, West Nile or Influenza. Some now believe that the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), could also contribute to the development of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis . ​ Many individuals living with Long COVID report symptoms that resemble ME/CFS, most notably post-exertional malaise, cognitive dysfunction and persistent exhaustion. Five studies (below) have estimated the prevalence of ME/CFS within Long COVID to be over 40%. A 2021 study estimates that up to 400,000 Canadians (or 80,000 British Columbians) may have newly developed ME/CFS from Long-COVID in 2022/23 alone, almost doubling the number of people with ME/CFS in Canada. See the research on the ME/Long-COVID Connection 1 Similar biomarkers 2 ½ of LC patients meet ME criteria 3 Overlap in diagnosis 4 Overlapping symptoms 5 Some people with LC also have ME Learn about our free "Living with ME/Long-COVID" email series Support for those living with Long-COVID The ME|FM Society of BC supports those living with ME, Long-COVID and other post-infectious illnesses. - Sign up for our free "Living with ME/Long-COVID " email series - See our Pacing and energy management resources - Join our online support groups that welcome Long-COVID patients suffering from chronic exhaustion, worsening symptoms after mental or physical activity, cognitive dysfunction ("brain fog"), sleep troubles, pain and other symptoms. Register for our News Updates What are experts and researchers saying? Dr. Anthony Fauci (US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director and US Coronavirus Task Force member) described in several interviews that people who are not recovering after contracting COVID-19 are showing symptoms “that are highly suggestive of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome”. Dr. Alain Moreau, the Director of ICanCME (a CIHR funded research network for ME/CFS in Canada), discussed in The Scientist that “with this very severe COVID-19 disease, where we’re now dealing with millions of people suffering from it worldwide, the question is not if [some] will develop ME/CFS—it’s how many.” Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) hosted a webinar on ME/CFS and Long COVID with Dr. Nina Muirhead (UK). Dr. Muirhead comments that “ME clinicians who have been seeing ME patients for a long time can see the similarities in the Long-COVID patients coming in” and that “we do expect a subset of long COVID patients to develop post viral ME”. The NIH’s National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) published an article outlining the overlapping symptoms between Post Acute Covid Syndrome (PACS) and ME/CFS, and the connection on its COVID-19 webpage. ​ In the Media Excellent articles about COVID “long haulers” developing ME/CFS in: ​ CTV The Scientist TIME magazine New York Times Vox Magazine Globe and Mail Maclean's Scientific American Selected published research Here is a sample of the research linking ME/CFS with Long-COVID. For more research, please follow this search string to the NIH Pubmed Database: myalgic encephalomyelitis AND covid - Search Results - PubMed (nih.gov) ​ ​ Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)-A Systemic Review and Comparison of Clinical Presentation and Symptomatology - PubMed (nih.gov) ​Frontiers | Will COVID-19 Lead to Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? | Medicine (frontiersin.org) ​ ​ ​Humility and Acceptance: Working Within Our Limits With Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - PubMed (nih.gov) ​Insights from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome may help unravel the pathogenesis of postacute COVID-19 syndrome - PubMed (nih.gov) ​ ​Pediatric Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis /Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal (lww.com) Learn about our free "Living with ME/Long-COVID" series International advocacy Long COVID & ME: Understanding the Connection - #MEAction Network ME/CFS Clinician Coalition letter to US clinicians urging them to consider ME/CFS as a differential diagnosis for long haulers.

MLA resources BC MLAs are giving voice to ME patients and their issues - we thank you! Helpful resources Briefing note: Need for Early Diagnosis (May 1, 2023) ME|FM Society of BC Board letter to Adrian Dix (October 1, 2021) Backgrounder: a four-page summary of the provincial issues (April 2021) ​ ​ ME - A Clinical Case Definition and Guidelines for Medical Practitioners: An overview of the Canadian Consensus Document (2005) ME|FM Society of BC letter to Adrian Dix (June 22, 2022) Briefing Note: Diagnosis and Billing Codes for ME (Sept. 15, 2021) Briefing Note: a two-page synopsis of the issues (April 13, 2021) ​ Ministry of Health response to October 1, 2021 letter (Nov. 5, 2021) Briefing Note: Physician CME for ME (Sept. 15, 2021) "Unrest" movie: Jennifer Brea's Academy Award-Nominated movie documenting her journey with ME (January, 2017) Contact us Our research M.E. in BC: How the Healthcare System for M.E. Impacts Clinicians and Patients : Report on a preliminary project examining the unmet needs of British Columbians living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) (2021) Short Report Long Report Summary Graphic My MLA and ME advocates Some of our My MLA and ME volunteers Siobhan B Siobhan was once a ballet dancer and is now helping others with ME. She was born in South Africa and immigrated to Canada with her family in the 90s. From a young age she knew she was destined for a life on the stage. She began dance lessons at three and had landed her first major role in a ballet at ten. From then on, she dedicated her life to making it as a ballet dancer and by sixteen she was dancing professionally! Unfortunately, just a few years later she’d have to quit her dream job as her body seemingly shut down. Continue reading... Sue K Sue loved her life! At 58, she had the job of her dreams, administering a small non-profit agency, enjoyed living on a small hobby farm with her husband and loved travelling the world. She had an active social life and was looking forward the retirement she and her husband had planned and saved for over many years. But gradually, and insidiously, illness overcame her. Gradually she was able to do less and less. Her daily dog walks, once the highlight of her day, became a chore. Eventually she could only sit in the car and watch the dogs play as others walked them. Headaches, nausea, sore bones, dizziness, and a profound and overwhelming fatigue became her constant experience. Work was no longer possible, and she was forced to resign the job she loved. Within months of leaving work, she was bedridden, no longer able to tolerate bright lights or loud sounds. Movements in the room would overwhelm her. Her symptoms became worse. Her husband became her caregiver. Despite a sympathetic physician, there were no medical answers. Weeks turned into months. Finally, she was referred to one of the only physicians in BC knowledgeable about ME, who began to turn things around for her. Slowly, with appropriate care, she improved. Now, 8 years later, she is still primarily homebound, but with aggressive management of her disease, able to participate in family life, and contribute to the work of the ME/FM Society of BC. Janice B In November 2019, after working for 11 years as a manager of an independent seniors' residential building, I had to finally succumb to my illness and my limitations. The five years prior leading up to this decision was the most difficult as I tried to gain support and understanding from my GP and specialists, all the while seeing the quality of my life and abilities go from working almost full time and running our 18-year tax business. I was reduced to working one day a week just months prior to resigning and closing my tax business. I was devastated to lose my accomplishments and quality of life. In May 2017, I was finally accepted into the CCDP at BC Woman's hospital and given the diagnosis of ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia. They over the next 2 years gave me all the support I needed, but please keep in mind their sole purpose is to diagnose with a lengthy report and explanation of treatment recommendations that are to be carried out and supported by our GP. Even though my GP sent in the referral he was not willing to accept or support the recommendations. I was forced to leave my GP and find a new one who would help me. The CCDP in the meantime were gracious enough to help with my application for disability benefits. I was able to find a new GP that accepted and supported my care. Unfortunately, this year she needed to close her practice for personal reasons but did give her patients another doctor that was willing to take us. My new doctor has been supportive; however, in our first meet and greet based on the information I provided her, she wanted to first make clear that if I was looking for narcotics for pain, she would not be able to help me. I do not need that for pain, but what if I did? We are in desperate need of a medical system that acknowledges and supports patients with a diagnosis process and once confirmed, continuing to provide that support. Kelly L I was a driven, positive, mother, wife and management consultant, Chair of the Board of a biotech, and strategy consultant for developing businesses. I was strong, healthy, happy and focused. I had a socially engaged, smart, exuberant girl of 11 who did Ninja Warrior, gymnastics, soccer, circus classes, swimming, leadership group, knitting club, “little buddies” with younger kids, and was said by all teachers and coaches to be kind, positive, tough, and a real leader. My daughter and I canoed, camped, did art projects and ropes courses together, and climbed trees. Our mother/daughter saying was “push it – always push it,” and we loved it. Then ME hit us. We all (my daughter, my husband and I) caught a nasty virus on December 27, 2019 and my daughter never recovered. She lost the infection, the sore throat and the fever, but she never regained her energy. She would get exhausted with the smallest amount of physical or mental effort. She was calling to be picked up from school after an hour every day and we finally had to just keep her home. She missed almost all of her final year in elementary school and could not keep up with the work. Her friends started to drift away. Our GP was insulting and accused her of being lazy. I was told to push her back to school and activities. We tried a pediatrician who accused me of being a bad mother and told me it must be a mental problem. Why, I asked? Do you see anything in her that suggests that? “No, but all the “real” tests came back negative, so it’s obvious she is just not opening up to me and she simply needs a psychiatrist and pressure to get back to school.” We were dismissed. And hurt. And angry. And alone. And we both knew they were wrong. Dead, dangerously wrong. We still do not have any support form the medical community – there are few to no resources for children (or anyone!) with ME. My daughter can rarely leave the house and will not be able to enter high school with her friends. We work together to keep positive and see the light and life in small things. But the pain, fear, loss, mourning, lack of contact with other kids, nausea, body spasms, sometimes difficulty breathing and thinking straight is exhausting and hard to handle for us both. I have lost much of my career, a lot of my joy, and my vision for my daughter’s future. My daughter has lost almost everything. This is ME. Jana S My name is Jana and I was the sole caregiver to my husband who was bedbound with ME. He was first diagnosed in about 2007 after experiencing symptoms that ranged from shortness of breath to extreme exhaustion to body pain. The first few years he was sick, he was still able to work and live almost normally. Then one day, a couple of years after he was first diagnosed, he felt better, back to normal. He likened it to a switch being flipped and we both forgot all about ME. Then at the beginning of 2018, he was feeling tired, achy, dizzy and nauseous all the time. He went to the doctor and she gave him very strong anti-nausea medication. It didn't do anything. He was experiencing abdominal pain so he went back to the doctor and she didn't have any explanation so she ordered some tests. They all came back negative. The dizziness continued so she sent him to an ENT doctor. He finally got to see an internal medicine specialist and had even more tests that came back negative. While still undergoing tests with the specialist, he was still experiencing seemingly unrelated symptoms and his primary care doctor was not helping. In fact, she began to cancel his appointments and he was basically left without a doctor. This actually turned out to be a good thing since I was able to get him into a new doctor who knew a little about ME and suggested it might be a resurgence. By the end of 2018, my formerly active husband was housebound and increasingly bedbound. His official diagnosis came after countless blood tests, CT scans and an MRI ruled out diseases like Addison’s and MS and his (new) doctor and two specialists said that the only remaining diagnosis was ME. The diagnosis took more than a year to get but we consider this fast. Many ME patients suffer for years without a proper diagnosis. He lived in bed until his passing in 2023. Claudia K Office renovations in 2010 brought on the end of my “used-to-be” when I began to develop an overwhelming list of symptoms with fluctuating severity, some of them “mainstream” and some rather strange. After numerous fruitless tests, my doctor’s advice was reduced to “Don’t feel like you have to be sick”, and a subtle hint at my aging. My doctor did refer me to specialists for some of my symptoms. I patiently waited, usually for months, to see them: respirologists, gastroenterologists, rheumatologists, an allergist, a dermatologist, a physiotherapist, ENT specialists, a neuro-ophthalmologist, psychologists etc. – each focusing on their area of expertise through the lens of their specialized knowledge - dots that didn’t get connected. For years I was left looking for answers to questions no one else seemed to be asking. Sometimes people around me thought I was going crazy; sometimes I myself was sure I had. Until a nurse-friend of mine handed me an article she had received from a patient with similar symptomatology. Through it I found out about the Complex Chronic Diseases Program at the Women’s Hospital. With a hopeful heart I initiated a referral, earning myself a spot on their … drumroll … two year plus waitlist! My doctor had never heard of the Program. I eventually wrote her a letter, attaching the Canadian Consensus Criteria for ME as well as the Central Sensitization Model. In our follow-up conversation, she told me she had not been the only one who didn’t believe me, something I had sensed all along. But then again … how could she? Nobody, it seemed, had taught her about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in medical school. Seven years after the 2010 incident I finally received the correct diagnosis of ME/CFS. But because ME is lacking so much equality compared to other diseases, I had by then lost not just my ability to work, but also a big chunk of my trust in the medical profession, any illusion about certain insurance provider’s “fair processes” as well as too much of my mental health. What I have gained however; is an unbreakable determination to rebuild the level of wellbeing I once had the luxury to take for granted. I have fine-tuned my self-awareness. I have developed deep gratitude for my friends and family, my chosen care providers, nature, and the many little things which make life the big deal that it is. Plus, I have gained insight into our medical-political system with its oh-so-much room for improvement. Therefore, this “My MLA and ME” advocacy initiative caught my attention, because – as Jon Bon Jovi would say: “When you can’t do what you do, you do what you can.” Contact our Advocacy Committee

Resources For Phone Line Volunteers Training Manual Use this PDF as your resource Support Group Contact list In process of being updated Accessing Phone Lines Call Log Use this as a tutorial to access phone lines password Use this link to update each call received Schedule March 2022 April 2022 May 2022

Our advocacy: a future of equitable care The ME|FM Society of BC is committed to championing issues impacting the lives of people with ME, long-COVID and FM through community partnerships and advocacy with local, provincial and federal stakeholders and decision-makers. Over the years we have collaborated with patient organizations across the country and internationally to advance the agenda for our community. We are extremely proud of the provincial-level work of the Society's Advocacy Committee and our wonderful MLA and ME Advocates. Introduction Learn how our advocacy work has created results Provincial Advocacy The Society’s My MLA and ME Advocacy Campaign volunteers have steadily built awareness and relationships with decision makers and government representatives. In addition, the Society led broader community participation in the public consultation process. These relationships, submissions and presentations to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services have resulted in an ME-specific Budget recommendation for three consecutive years. 2024 Recommendation #80 ​ "Improve supports and services for those diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis by establishing guidelines, developing specific billing codes, and training medical professionals to increase awareness." Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services: Report on the Budget 2024 Consultations; August 2023 Read more ​ ​ ​ ​ 2023 Recommendation #118 “Prioritize and fund the development of myalgic encephalomyelitis-specific billing codes for BC clinicians and the development of continuing medical education credits, modules or incentives for BC physicians, medical students, and other medical professionals to attend training about myalgic encephalomyelitis.” Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services: Report on the Budget 2023 Consultations; August 2022 Read more 2022 Recommendation #72 “Prioritize and fund the development of myalgic encephalomyelitis-specific billing codes for BC clinicians and the development of continuing medical education credits, modules or incentives for BC physicians, medical students, and other medical professionals to attend training about myalgic encephalomyelitis.” Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services: Report on the Budget 2022 Consultations; Dec 2021 Read more Learn more about our My MLA and ME Outreach Campaign Provincial advocacy Federal Initiatives March 2017 ME Patients and Advocates Meet with Health Canada, 23 March Our involvement in this campaign has continued since that date, and our main collaboration has been with Millions Missing Canada ​ and independent patient advocates throughout the country. July 2018 Members of our Board met with Dr. Khan, IMHA Scientific Director at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to continue discussions begun at the Montreal Conference, requesting much more money for ME research and to prioritize expansion of Canadian research capacity. May 2019 Our Society partners with Millions Missing Canada and ME Victoria Association for the province's first live Millions Missing action!

Become a member Membership types and annual fees Individual $30 Corporate $250 Affiliate $10 Professional $50 Sponsored $0* Non-Profit $100 *Membership types explained here. Our membership year is from October 1 to September 30 of the following year.​​​ Learn about our free Social Support Groups Benefits of membership With membership, you will: Receive our Membership Package. Have the right to a vote at our Annual General Meeting (Individual and Sponsored members only). Have the opportunity to be elected to the Board of Directors or join one of our committees. Be eligible for membership rates for our ME|FM Society of BC events. Be on our Members' email list for news and other member updates. Join us in making a difference! How to become a member Click on the "Join us now " button below and complete our registration form. You'll be able to manage your own profile and contact info, and receive our news updates. Join us now

Additional Healthcare education: FM Diagnosis and treatment FM is a chronic condition that can greatly impact a person's quality of life. Diagnosis, early intervention and comprehensive care can make a significant difference in managing FM and enhancing the well-being of those who have it. Getting started HealthLink BC Fibromyalgia Treatments ​ Complex Chronic Diseases Program (CCDP), BC Womens and Childrens Hospital Treatment Protocol ​ Complex Chronic Diseases Program (CCDP), BC Womens and Childrens Hospital Self management support and programing Diagnosis Canadian Rheumatology Association Fibromyalgia Guidelines for Diagnosis Complex Chronic Diseases Program (CCDP), BC Womens and Childrens Hospital Diagnosis (2 page) Complex Chronic Diseases Program (CCDP), BC Womens and Childrens Hospital Basic work-up recommendations Become a Professional Member of the ME|FM Society of BC Treatments Complex Chronic Diseases Program (CCDP), BC Womens and Childrens Hospital Treatment Protocol HealthLink BC Fibromyalgia Treatments Complex Chronic Diseases Program (CCDP), BC Womens and Childrens Hospital Self management support and programing Learn about our free Social Support Groups