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: Georgie Coghlan | Years Ill: 22 |
| Location: Byron Bay, Australia | |
| Former Occupation: Interior Designer | |
| Former Activity Level (0-100): 100 | Current Activity Level (0-100): 60 |
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Total Projected Economic Losses For Years Not Worked:
A$2,210,234 |
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Story: I remember being in my late teens and always having a sore back, shoulders, neck and legs. I tho… |
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| Name: Corey | Years Ill: 13 |
| Location: West Bend, United States | |
| Former Occupation: Electrical Engineer - Wireless Design | |
| Former Activity Level (0-100): 90 | Current Activity Level (0-100): 50 |
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Total Projected Economic Losses For Years Not Worked:
$893,187 |
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Story: I came down with the Swine Flu and never recovered. It set off an inflammatory cascade in my bod… |
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| Name: Ani | Years Ill: 15 |
| Location: Canberra, Australia | |
| Former Occupation: I.T. apprentice | |
| Former Activity Level (0-100): 100 | Current Activity Level (0-100): 30 |
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Total Projected Economic Losses For Years Not Worked:
A$967,481 |
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Story: I was in a car accident in 2008 at age 25. Prior to the accident I had a promising IT career an… |
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| Name: Alison Wiltbank | Years Ill: 32 |
| Location: Ocala, United States | |
| Former Occupation: Part time RN | |
| Former Activity Level (0-100): 100 | Current Activity Level (0-100): 30 |
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Total Projected Economic Losses For Years Not Worked:
$382,347 |
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Story: I have lived a long unhealthy life so I’m going to condense into Timelines for travel, disease … |
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| Name: Bryan | Years Ill: 22 |
| Location: Huntsville, United States | |
| Former Occupation: Family Physician | |
| Former Activity Level (0-100): 100 | Current Activity Level (0-100): 50 |
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Total Projected Economic Losses For Years Not Worked:
$3,660,079 |
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Story: Prior to my illness, I was a very active, very successful member of my community. I was seeing 3… |
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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.
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