ITV News: “How I’ve learnt to live with an invisible illness,” Gary Burgess| 06 June 2019

June 6, 2019



ITV Report, 03 June 2019

“Imagine your worst hangover combined with the flu permanently.”

Gary Burgess, ITV Channel TV

That is our how ITV Channel TV reporter Gary Burgess has described living with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

ME, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, is a medical condition characterised by long-term fatigue and other persistent symptoms that limit a person's ability to carry out ordinary daily activities.

Gary's video has been viewed over 130,000 times from the ITV News Facebook page!

Gary was in the middle of a live news broadcast when he had what he described as an “out-of-body experience”.

Following this, he says his body came to a crashing halt.

He went to see his GP assuming he would be signed off work for a few weeks, but this led to almost two years.

“Being diagnosed with ME was like a grieving process, grieving for the old me. Until I had it myself I didn't quite understand what a hidden disability is and how all-encompassing these symptoms are because you simply can't see them.”

Gary Burgess

Since his diagnosis, Gary has set up an online support network called “Zonked Club”, which aims to offer support for people with fatigue-linked illnesses.


You can also catch Gary on The ME Show, here on the ME Association website, iTunes, or your favourite podcast platform.


The ME Association

Real People. Real Disease. Real M.E.

We are a national charity working hard to make the UK a better place for people whose lives have been devastated by an often-misunderstood neurological disease.

Please Help ME!

If you would like to support our efforts and help ensure we can inform, support, advocate and invest in biomedical research, then please donate today.

Just click the image opposite and visit our JustGiving page for one-off donations, to establish a regular payment or to create your own fundraising event.

Or why not join the ME Association as a member and be part of our growing community? For a monthly (or annual) subscription you will also receive our exclusive ME Essential magazine.


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