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Anna Wood Profile
Anna Wood

@Annakwood

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STEM Ed researcher @UniEdinburgh (part-time). Physicist, digital education, bird photographer, #mecfs Author of 25 Birds:

Glasgow
Joined December 2009
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
Just a wee reminder that my book 25 Birds is on sale in all good bookshops and makes a great Christmas present for nature lovers. All profits to @actionforme #TwitterNatureCommunity #NaturePhotography #MECFS
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 years
My cleaner turned up without a mask today because 'they aren't needed anymore'. Well they bloody are in this house with cases still high and two vulnerable people.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
5 months
@markeology If you can, open your window and use the merlin app to identify birds. It keeps me going when I can't get out.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
5 months
@RachelWardbooks I almost bought 250kg of cheese from Waitrose. Luckily they phoned up and said we don't have that much in stock.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 years
People with chronic illness should get a medal. Those who manage without a heathly partner/family member should get an even bigger medal and those of us who also care for someone sicker than ourselves should get a massive one, because it's bloody hard at times.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
5 months
I didn't feel able to say this before, but a few weeks ago I passed the milestone of being ill for half my life. With no end in sight.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
I'm on holiday this week, and I'm always nervous of posting about it in case it looks like I'm exaggerating my illness. I'm lucky to be able to manage it, especially the travelling. But this doesn't change the fact that I'm mostly housebound. Once I'm there, I'm still mostly
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Anna Wood
3 years
I've accepted that I will probably never get better from #MEcfs #MyalgicE But I struggle with the idea that I'll never know what causes it simply because there is no funding for research.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
9 months
Something I've noticed (won't apply to everyone) If I go outside of energy envelope I get PEM If I rest excessively I feel no better (unless recovering from PEM) If I do small things within my energy envelope I feel a little better temporarily (certainly no worse)
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
Being a mostly housebound #naturephotographer with an energy limiting chronic illness is hard. I have to find ways of doing it that work within my limitations. I can't spend hours setting up a shoot. I rely on serendipity. On paying attention. So that if a bird appears and
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
Friends - you are not going to believe what just happened! A blood test has come back postive - I'm highly allergic to dust mites, which explores why my sleep quality is so poor, why I can't breathe through my nose very well and and possibly some of my exhaustion.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
Why are some people against biomedical research? Given that: •we've tried CBT/GET/ mind-body techniques •they didn't work or made us worse Are we supposed to twiddle our thumbs and wait to die? Progress is happening. The gold standard is patient-resrarcher partnerships.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 years
Does anyone else look back at a paper (or other writing) that they've written and find it hard to believe they actually wrote it? Like how did I know all that stuff?
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
@jenniferdoleac Hey, being disabled is endlessly exhausting. Trying to get equal access is endlessly exhausting. Trying not to be shut out is endlessly exhausting.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
4 years
Is it ok to celebrate small achievements? My 2018 paper in Teaching in Higher Education has now had 1000 views 😊
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
#MEAwarenessHour Sending hugs to all dealing with this illness. It's sometimes not even the illness itself that is the hardest, but the way we are treated. I could could do with some hugs myself if anyone has any spare.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
housebound but, a combination of adrenaline and not having to use energy on daily chores means I can get out for short trips. I'm very grateful I can get a change of scene. Anyway, I'm on the Outer Hebrides this week! Bird pics will come soon, but here's a lapwing chick 🐥
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 months
Heron, taken at claypits on Sunday - I'm still amazed they can fly!
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
With what other illness would someone who is desperately ill be terrified of going into hospital because the chances are that some aspects of their care will make them more ill (unnecessarily). Or even die.
@FrickerAlice
Alice Fricker💘
1 year
Alice’s M.E consultant wants her to be admitted to hospital this evening. We’ve been able to keep her out of hospital now for 5yrs. We are terrified. She’s Very #severeME & is getting worse. There are things that need to be done that sadly won’t be done at home. #pwME #MECFS
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
4 months
I think what I find so hard about Christmas is the breaking of the 4th wall type effect. Mostly I live in my little bubble only vaguely aware of others' lives. On Christmas I am confronted with what life could be - I feel the loss of the family I've not been able to have.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
5 months
Especially for anyone who (like me) needs cheering up - a fluffy blue tit taken in the early morning sun yesterday. First photo from my new camera. Very pleased so far - you can see the ice crystals on its beak!
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
5 years
This will not seem like an amazing achievement to many of my academic friends BUT: My first 3 (physics) education research papers now all have 10 or more citations 😄 (according to Google scholar) 🎉
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
I am literally begging @Tesco now to give vulnerable customers bags not tray liners. I can't risk having someone in my house. I can't lift the tray liners (neither can the delivery driver - my shopping scattered all over my hallway). Why do we not matter?
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
6 years
Some days I just need people to understand how much of a struggle getting through each day is. How bone-crushing the exhaustion, how overwhelming the weakness. And how lonely the whole experience is. #mecfs #MEawarenesshour
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 years
What are your thoughts on healthy people using the term 'spoons'? Someone I know in Facebook has posted about being out of spoons and it's made me deeply uncomfortable.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
Really enjoyed recording a podcast today with Dr Nina Muirhead and the team from @actionforme about a new GP training module about #MECFS (targeted at Scottish GPs, but available to anyone). Really hope this leads to better treatment including for #longCovid
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
Whatever the outcome of @NICEComms round table on Monday I hope that all #MEcfs clinics will be required to have proper monitoring in place. We need to know who they see, how many, how often and what happens at long term follow-up, especially those discharged or who drop out.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
5 months
The rollercoaster of academia - WE GOT THE OTHER GRANT! I have a job beyond January - and it'll be a two year contract 😁☺️😀
@Annakwood
Anna Wood
5 months
Grant funding rejection. Was always a long shot, but never gets easier.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
I'm absolutely delighted to announce that I've now raised £850 for @actionforme from my book '25 Birds' Thank you so much to everyone who has encouraged, commented, liked, shared, and bought. #MECFS #MillionsMissing #LongCovid #chronicillness #birdphotography
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
10 months
I'm absolutely delighted to be able to reveal the book cover for my forthcoming edited collection - Effective Teaching in Large STEM Classes. Look out for leaflets at @ViCEPHEC And thank you to the wonderful selection of authors who contributed:
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
I love goldfinches, especially when they feed on the seed heads left in the garden (I'm amazed there are any left!) Photo taken through a window so not the best quality.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 months
My healthy friend in Sheffield took part in the ME research project on microclots today - so grateful to her!
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
Given that the draft ME/CFS guidelines were published months ago, haven't the practitioners had plenty of time to prepare? @NICEComms
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
10 months
Whitney is really really unwell again. He's asking that we each reach out to 3 people with ME/CFS that we don't normally hear from much.
@Dan_Wyke
Dan Wyke 🦠➡️🧠🔥
10 months
Very sad to hear Whitney Dafoe has deteriorated again. Please read and look after each other like he suggests. #MECFS #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
4 months
Wow this has been a boxing day to remember! My first views of a kingfisher (apart from some fly pasts). Very grateful to a local photographer who helped us find it.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 months
My husband bought me some flours for Valentine's Day 💘🍞
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
@NICEComms You can't go through a whole process, have everything agreed then change your mind at the last moment, presumably at the behest of a few very powerful people, leaving thousands of very vulnerable people in the dark.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 months
Right, surely we've now wasted enough money on this - if even Esther Crawley can't magic up some positive results, it's time to give up
@TomKindlon
Tom Kindlon
2 months
New major UK trial: Graded exercise therapy compared to activity management for paediatric #ChronicFatigueSyndrome / #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis : pragmatic randomized controlled trial Free fulltext Null result on primary outcome measure #MEcfs #CFS #PwME 1/
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 years
Every news report on #longcovid needs to mention #mecfs . Post viral illness is not new.
@Dr2NisreenAlwan
Prof Nisreen Alwan 🌻
2 years
Every news report on #LongCovid needs to include the prevention dimension. Telling people how devastatingly bad LC is but not linking it to public health policy of an ongoing pandemic is no good. It’s not a tragic past. Mass infection means more LC. Put the future in there too.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
I took this video for a friend with severe ME and thought others might like it too. Me paddling in the sea on the Outer Hebrides (it was verrry cold, I do a good job of not swearing)! If it's too painful I totally get that, please just scroll past.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
The way people with very severe ME are treated is horrific. And some die as a result. It's not ok to keep ignoring this. #DontLetMEDie
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
4 months
Sending a gentle hug to everyone who is more alone than they wish to be this Christmas. May tomorrow be as easy a day as possible for you. 💕
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 years
Holidays can be impossible for people with ME so I'm very grateful that I'm just about well enough, and that I have relatives who come and do all the shopping/cooking/driving. For anyone who needs a slice of nature, here's a Hebridean beach in the sunshine!
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 months
I've been so lucky to have 2 amazing days in Edinburgh. Two birding trips, figgate park meeting up with Twitter birding pals @PuzzleWild and @glenisilla for the first time, dinner with a friend, work meeting, more birding in Musselburgh where I took this photo of a curlew.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
Happy Christmas to everyone celebrating today. Especially thinking of those with severe #mecfs and #longcovid who can't join in as they'd like to. Hoping for more research into these conditions next year.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 months
Ok the results are in! Thanks so much to all 1080 people who took part. Headline figure - 75% of participants (excluding the 'show me results ' people) have tried mind/body therapy to cure their ME/CFS/LC or similar.
@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 months
After yesterday, let's do a poll. Regardless of the effect, have you ever tried a mind/body type approach to cure your ME/CFS/LC or similar illness?
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
Funny how anecdotes are useful in this case but not when the show the people left permanently disabled by GET
@trishgreenhalgh
Trisha Greenhalgh
3 years
Long Covid takes many forms. Some (with heart damage or persistent fever) shouldn't exercise hard. For others, we don't know. Here's a story of one person's full recovery with graded exercise (yes, an anecdote, but deserves consideration). Time for an RCT?
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
This morning I went to the opticians. This afternoon I slept deeply. I wish that was it, but no, I have days of #PEM ahead of me. It's ridiculous. And even more ridiculous it's not taken more seriously. #mecfs
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
4 years
I had a joke about brain fog but I can't remember it.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 years
@thebohemianbud1 It's actually amazing that yours is the only mean comment I've had - so much for you being a Buddhist!
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
The only reason you would go on national TV and tell a personal anecdote is because you believe that anecdote is applicable to other people. If that anecdote is harmful to a group of people it is fair to criticise it.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 month
Another cormorant picture from earlier in the week
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
5 years
Forget my degree, forget my PhD, forget my MSc and my academic publications- THIS IS MY FINEST ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE! #knitting
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
This is really important. One of the reasons I didn't recognise ME in myself was I was so mild- I didn't fit the 50% reduction in activity criteria. Sadly for me it led to worse illness.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
11 months
Such a joy to discover mobility scooters for hire at Queen Elizabeth forest park. Normally Phil and I use one boot scooter - me sitting on his lap. These were so comfortable and so fast!
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t 😡 Just had notification that building works will start behind my (small) garden on Tue. We thought planning had expired A year of not being able to sit in the garden and listen to birds. As if my life wasn't small enough already 😞 #MECFS
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
6 months
Photos of waxwings from Garscube Rd earlier today. Challenging light conditions but a delight to see them.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
Another week another #meAwarenessHour Today I was reminded of the GP who diagnosed me over 20 years ago. The lack of advice about rest and pacing means I'm still ill. So depressing that not much has changed, but I think things are moving in the right direction.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
Typical dilemma of someone with #mecfs I want to change my bed as I've been getting horrible night sweats. But the effort of doing that will trigger a night sweat. #MEAwarenessWeek
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 months
I love long-tailed tits, but they are so hard to photograph! Happy with this one.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
Some lovely news today - I gave my old car that no longer started to @MEAssociation via @Giveacar and it raised nearly £100 😀
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
4 years
Fed up of @Tesco ignoring the needs of disabled people. No I can't lift a tray liner into the house. Yes I do need bags, but your driver's refuse to put my shopping into the ones I provide. And don't tell me it saves plastic- they are huge and can't be reused.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 months
Well @Fionas_Story blocked me for this and for asking her not to campaigning against the NICE guidelines. I was polite throughout. So much for open discussion.
@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 months
@Fionas_Story @scotjess3 @Naomi_D_Harvey Fiona, none of that is relevant to what I wrote. You know I have engaged with curable and other types of mind-body approaches, (I don't have pain, so PRT is less relevant). My issue is with what you are doing publicly re the NICE guidelines.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 years
Someone in the Glasgow ME support group has been advised do Lightening Therapy by the Centre for Integrated Care 😡 (and given no help with pacing). Utterly shocked that this is happening. Anyone from @MEAssociation @actionforme @meactionscot want to follow this up? #MECFS
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
Also, does find they are embassed my having #MECFS ? I tried to explain to someone why I couldn't do a thing on zoom because I'd seen a friend that day and felt so silly. #pwme #InternalisedAbelism
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
10 months
Some exciting news - I've opened a RedBubble shop (mugs, cloth bags, coaster etc) all featuring my bird photos. All profits to the @mecfsbiobank (Cure ME) #MECFS #LongCovid #MillionsMissing 20% RedBubble if you haven't joined before. Please share
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
8 months
15 years!
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
4 years
Finally finished my #FairIsle jumper. Took 6 months, but enjoyed it and learned so much! #knitting #handmade
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
4 years
It's really hit me today how much harder this situation is for people who are chronically ill. In normal times I just about manage by relying on various internet services. Now I'm struggling to get my food shop and prescription delivered. I can't get my car MOT or help with
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 months
Captions please! I had 15 minutes at @ClaypitsLnr yesterday watching this cormorant preening and then this happened! #Glasgow
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
4 years
@kingstonwrites In my German oral I was talking about school subjects and ended up saying I didn't like French because of the teacher. He was behind the screen moderating the exam 😂
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 months
After yesterday, let's do a poll. Regardless of the effect, have you ever tried a mind/body type approach to cure your ME/CFS/LC or similar illness?
Have tried
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Have not tried
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Show results
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
22 days
Chiffchaff ❤️ - not easy to photograph as they flit around so quickly. And are normally at the top of a tall tree 🤣
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 years
Sooo - I have some exciting news! I am going to be (self) publishing a book of bird photos eeeek! Still working on the title, but something like: Bird-Life - A year of housebound birding. All profits to go to charity (ME research etc) via @actionforme . #birdphotography
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
It doesn't even make sense. Publish the guidelines, then work on how you implement them, retraining HCP if necessary. Don't change the guidelines to fit the whim of the folk who have done more harm than good.
@MEResearchUK
ME Research UK
3 years
NICE delay publication of tomorrow's replacement ME/CFS guideline - - "In order to have the desired impact, the recommendations must be supported by those who will implement them and NICE will now explore if this support can be achieved." #mecfs #pwME
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
Having a rough day today. I just want to be outside watching birds. How is it possible to be so ill from doing so little? Anyway, here is a dunnock from last week when we had sunshine!
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
6 months
I haven't posted bird pics for ages mostly as I had nothing to post. But here is a gorgeous goldfinch taken while visiting my in-laws.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 months
Another view of the curlew from last week
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 years
Eeek, delighted that @actionforme have done the cover reveal for #25Birds Details of how to order in the thread. Please share #mecfs #LongCovid #NEISvoid
@actionforme
Action for M.E.
2 years
We are delighted to reveal the beautiful cover for @AnnakWood upcoming bird book: 25 Birds, One Year One Garden! Anna plans to donate proceeds to Action for M.E. with 50% going to biomedical research. #mecfs
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 months
First trip out since my sickness bug and wow was it worth it! First a magnificent fly-past from this kingfisher chased by a pigeon, then met up with @ClaypitsLnr folk doing the #bgbw and got another view of it perched.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
Just been invited for my vaccination! So shocked, but also over the moon 🎉
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
5 years
#DearMeTenYearsAgo I know that you believe that this #mecfs relapse, leaving you housebound, is temporary, so I won't tell you it is permanent. I will just remind you, you are stronger than you ever thought possible. #MillionsMissing #CanYouSeeMEnow
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 years
How to celebrate your birthday by a person with ME. Have a flare up of both hips so sleep is disrupted all night. Finally get up then choke on your own saliva. At least it can (hopefully) only get better from here!
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 years
I've rejoined @actionforme ! I left many years ago when they supported and abetted GET and CBT for curing #mecfs . But recently I've been so impressed with what they have achieved, working at a higher level for funding, real change @DecodeMEstudy and more.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
8 months
My first unboxing video!
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
4 months
Merry Christmas from me and this dunnock Thanks to everyone on here for being lovely
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
Hello everyone, remember you are amazing just for keeping going, getting through each day. Sometime soon things will improve for us #MEAwarenessHour
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
5 years
Folks - I'm setting up a facebook group (closed) for academics/researchers and related people who have an energy limiting chronic illness. A friendly place to share successes, failures etc Please spread the word and join if you like. #ME /CFS #Pots
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 years
I have exciting news! Next week @actionforme will be doing a cover reveal for my book - 25 Birds, One Year One Garden
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
29 days
Almost a year since I took this picture - the blossom is again looking amazing, but no sign of any starlings (or sunshine!)
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
1 year
GP prescriptions that pay energy bills for people with lung conditions, are one of the most depressing things I've ever heard.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
5 years
Very excited that my first book chapter, Inclusive Education for Students with Chronic Illness—Technological Challenges and Opportunities has been published in 'Artificial Intelligence and Inclusive Education'. #MECFS , #MyalgicE , #millionsmissing
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
The margins of error are so small in this illness. Somehow I over did it yesterday, was it a few minutes too long watching TV, lying outside in the sun or concentrating on knitting, or a combinations? Today my brain is a foggy mush.
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
3 years
When you see the perfect job advertised - 50% full-time, flexible, from home, exactly matches qualifications and interest and you are still not well enough to do it. #MECFS
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
4 months
Great spotted woodpecker in the tree opposite a few days ago
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
5 years
Interesting item on outcome switching. @bengoldacre finds it's wide spread in major medical journals Researchers and patients have been raising this issue about #PACEtrial (Not that anyone cares about #pwME ) @TomKindlon @wilshica @johnthejack
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@Annakwood
Anna Wood
2 years
It's worth remember that research criteria are necessarily much stricter than diagnostic criteria. I'd you didn't make it to the spit stage of @DecodeMEstudy that doesn't mean you don't have ME We'd be cross if they used criteria that were too broad.
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