Lives Interrupted: the Hidden Costs of Having a Neglected Illness
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Lives Interrupted seeks to illuminate the economic and other costs of having diseases like chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), post-treatment Lyme disease, and long COVID. These diseases affect millions, typically receive little research funding, and, as a consequence have few good treatments available. Find out more about Lives Interrupted here.
All Stories
| Name: ABC | Years Ill: 4 |
| Location: Mount Vernon, United States | |
| Former Activity Level (0-100): 90 | Current Activity Level (0-100): 20 |
|
Total Projected Economic Losses For Years Not Worked:
$257,601 |
|
| Name: Don | Years Ill: 2 |
| Location: Langham, Canada | |
| Former Occupation: Heavy duty journeyman Mechanic | |
| Former Activity Level (0-100): 100 | Current Activity Level (0-100): 30 |
|
Total Projected Economic Losses For Years Not Worked:
CA $149,607 |
|
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Story: We all have our remembrance dates, maybe the wrong word to use. The day you knew something was go… |
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| Name: Megan | Years Ill: |
| Location: Randolph, United States | |
| Former Occupation: Day care worker | |
| Former Activity Level (0-100): 100 | Current Activity Level (0-100): 40 |
|
Total Projected Economic Losses For Years Not Worked:
$351,470 |
|
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Story: https://tinyurl.com/mpabrct7 My blog on my chronic illness story and topics we all go through fe… |
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| Name: Rondo | Years Ill: 3 |
| Location: Soledad, United States | |
| Former Occupation: Veterinarian (I have a BS and a DVM, not a PhD degree) | |
| Former Activity Level (0-100): 100 | Current Activity Level (0-100): 30 |
|
Story: From childhood I had always wanted to be a country veterinarian. I graduated from veterinary scho… |
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| Name: Bob Graybosch | Years Ill: 12 |
| Location: Lahaina, United States | |
| Former Occupation: Resort General Manager | |
| Former Activity Level (0-100): 100 | Current Activity Level (0-100): 30 |
|
Total Projected Economic Losses For Years Not Worked:
$1,261,443 |
|
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Story: From about the age of 8 I worked my butt off to get ahead. My family was relatively poor and I kn… |
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| Name: Allyn Archer | Years Ill: 20 |
| Location: Atlanta, United States | |
| Former Occupation: Architect, Professor of Architecture | |
| Former Activity Level (0-100): 100 | Current Activity Level (0-100): 10 |
|
Total Projected Economic Losses For Years Not Worked:
$2,768,291 |
|
|
Story: In some ways, my life has resembled a work of fiction. Descended from seven generations of East … |
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| Name: Ani W | Years Ill: 5 |
| Location: Hobart, Australia | |
| Former Occupation: Parenting | |
| Current Occupation: Advisor | |
| Former Activity Level (0-100): 50 | Current Activity Level (0-100): 100 |
|
Story: I don't think my answers to some of the questions will quite make sense or fit the format since I… |
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| Name: JudyH | Years Ill: |
| Location: Atascadero, United States | |
| Former Occupation: Student | |
| Former Activity Level (0-100): 100 | Current Activity Level (0-100): 50 |
|
Story: My non-miraculous, extremely slow, non-recovered, successful life, so far I first got CFS … |
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Lives Interrupted
Lives Interrupted Latest Story
Lives Interrupted Stats
Years of Work Lost: 349
Average Total Economic Losses:
$829,836
Total Economic Losses:
$29,044,251
Lives Interrupted Sponsor
StudyME
Enroll in the OMF’s StudyME project and help bring about a cure for ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, POTS and long COVID.



