Around Scotland with ME

28/07/2025

Four days of diversions are planned for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful in Argyll because of hillside investigations.

Transport Scotland said the work would inform the construction of a mile-long tunnel to protect vehicles from landslips.

The Rest and Be Thankful has regularly been closed by falling rocks and debris.

Com tae see us the noo
now
Tadhail air Alba a-nis

Alba
Scoa'lund scoa'ish

We hiner ye hae a stoatin life
Tha sinn an dòchas gu bheil beatha mhath agad
We hope you have a great life

Lang may yer lum reek

28/07/2025

Com tae see us the noo
now
Tadhail air Alba a-nis

Alba
Scoa'lund scoa'ish

We hiner ye hae a stoatin life
Tha sinn an dòchas gu bheil beatha mhath agad
We hope you have a great life

Lang may yer lum reek

Limited Edition Print

Name: Seaview

Location: South Ronaldsay, Orkney

Limited edition prints are available to purchase from the gallery or online at www.avrilthomsonsmith.com

28/07/2025

Com tae see us the noo
now
Tadhail air Alba a-nis

Alba
Scoa'lund scoa'ish

We hiner ye hae a stoatin life
Tha sinn an dòchas gu bheil beatha mhath agad
We hope you have a great life

Lang may yer lum reek

Fantastic shot of the 5 Sisters of Kintail ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Photo by Rossa from our group 🙏

28/07/2025

Com tae see us the noo
now
Tadhail air Alba a-nis

Alba
Scoa'lund scoa'ish

We hiner ye hae a stoatin life
Tha sinn an dòchas gu bheil beatha mhath agad
We hope you have a great life

Lang may yer lum reek

Isle of Iona, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

24/07/2025

A Mechanical Basis Brainstem Dysfunction as a Potential Etiology of ME CFS and Long COVID

https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202506.0874/v1

This paper proposes a novel model linking post-viral syndromes like / and to mechanical brainstem deformation.

It highlights the role of connective tissue degradation after infection, triggering brainstem instability and widespread systemic dysfunction.

The model explains chronic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and varied symptoms. It also aligns with existing metabolic theories and points to clear paths for clinical validation and treatment development.

23/07/2025

This June 2025 study by Aberdeen, Academia Sinica, and collaborators shows chronic pain—common in ME/CFS and fibromyalgia—is driven by persistent activation of specific nerves due to elevated glutamate.

Unlike acute pain, this mechanism resists standard painkillers.

The discovery pinpoints glutamate blocking as a promising target for future therapies, but drug development may take about a decade.

Importantly, individuals with chronic pain feel validated by this finding, bolstering hope for treatments that may prevent conditions like fibromyalgia altogether.

22/07/2025

The Poker Face of Murder by Audrey Alden review

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0FD7W6GG2/

Audrey Alden sets this mystery on a cruise ship during a poker tournament.

A contestant dies. Someone placed gold chips over his eyes.

Rose Cruz, the cruise director, investigates. She carries trauma from past cases. She hides it, but it shows. Her therapy sessions and dissociation ground the story.

The pace drags early on, and the murder takes time to arrive.

The victim, Jasper Thorne, lacks depth. His death feels hollow.

The later chapters gain speed. Rose pulls the threads as each clue adds weight. The mystery holds firm.

The story works best when it stays close to Rose. Her thoughts steer the plot.

The dialogue moves fast. The setting feels tight. Every scene stays on course. The emotional beats hit. The writing stays clear.

The dialogue moves fast and keeps pace with sharp scenes, clear writing, and well-placed emotion.

21/07/2025

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y2kj303e8o

Industrial eye-sore into a work of art.

Com tae see us the noo
now
Tadhail air Alba a-nis

Alba
Scoa'lund scoa'ish

We hiner ye hae a stoatin life
Tha sinn an dòchas gu bheil beatha mhath agad
We hope you have a great life

Lang may yer lum reek

06/07/2025

How To Diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

https://www.healthrising.org/forums/resources/how-to-diagnosing-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-me-cfs.475/

ME/CFS diagnosis has long been controversial. Early criteria were vague or too broad.

The 2015 IOM report introduced a clearer framework. It emphasised four major symptoms.

Diagnosis also requires ruling out similar conditions.

Many patients have related diseases.

Tools now exist to help both doctors and patients recognise ME/CFS.

Future promise for accuracy offered with subtyping and refined criteria.