But months later, she was still no better and went to the doctors for help. Jean is now diagnosed as having ME.

MARK PAYNE found out more.

IT took two years of tests before mother-of-two Jean Brown found out what was wrong.

But the realisation that she had ME, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, has meant dramatic lifestyle changes for the Hartlepool woman.
Jean was 42 when she was diagnosed in 1993.

She had a busy home life with husband, Chris, and two teenage daughters and was working full time in the family business, a successful construction company.

At the time, doctors didn't know much about the condition and prescribed multi vitamins and plenty of rest.

But over the last 15 years, she has had to dramatically change the way she lives to cope with the condition for which there is no known cure.
And it meant a change of roles within the home, which her daughters Jenny and Nancy found hard to begin with.

The condition affects each sufferer differently but common symptoms include chronic tiredness, memory problems and muscle pains.

Jean, now 56, said: "When I was first diagnosed my daughters were 16 and 14. I was the type of mother that did everything for them, the housework, cooking and cleaning.

"When I was diagnosed with ME I was told to rest as much as possible and not to do anything unless it was absolutely necessary, so the roles were reversed and the girls had to do most of the housework and my husband started to do most of the cooking."

She added: "Even after 15 years they are still struggling to come to terms with the fact I have got ME because it is still a very misunderstood illness."

Home is still a hectic place for Jean, who now lives with Chris, 55, daughter Jenny, 28, and her six-year-old granddaughter Sophie.

As well as the chronic fatigue, she developed fibromyalgia, an inflamation of the skeletal muscles which affects Jean's thighs making it painful to walk.

She said the hardest thing for her is not always having enough energy to play with granddaughters Sophie and four-year-old Nicole.

"The thing that saddens me most is I don't have enough energy to look after my granddaughters or play with them and take them out as much as I would like to," she said.

"They have boundless energy but because my main symptom is chronic fatigue, energy is a precious commodity."

Jean, of Queensberry Avenue, Hartlepool, works as treasurer and book keeper for the family-owned business Eastland Construction.

But since contracting ME she now works from home as travelling to the office would be too strenuous.

She added: "I used to walk an awful lot, all over the town and I can't do that as much now. I also love gardening but now I just do the planting and my husband does all the maintenance."

But Jean is not bitter about her illness. She chooses to stay positive.
Over the years she has learned how to pace herself to do the things she wants to such as taking lots of rest in advance.

It includes getting on a long-haul flight to visit her brother and sister, Michael Scott and Sheila Hunter, who both live in Brisbane, Australia and to see her other sister, Trish Meadley, in Dubai.

Jean's family are also ardent Middlesbrough football fans and regularly cheer on their team at the weekend.

"I've always been a positive person," said Jean. "So if I want to do something I find ways of doing it."

She also uses a range of complimentary therapies that help her including doing yoga, deep relaxation breathing exercises and massage.
Jean said: "You have to live in hope. At least I was 40 when I got it and I had already done quite a lot with my life. I feel sorry for the kids because as well as having to cope with the illness children get accused of school phobia."

She helps to run a Hartlepool support group for ME sufferers and their families set up five years ago with the help of regional charity ME North East in Chester le Street.

The group, which has around 20 members, meet on the first Tuesday of the month at St Joseph's Court, in St Paul's Road, Hartlepool, between 1.30pm and 4pm.

Jean also mans a helpline from home for anyone who wants support and information at any time of the day.

"ME can be a very isolating illness and the support group has been invaluable for help and support," she said.

For more information about local ME support contact Jean on (01429) 869546 or ME North East on (0191) 3892222.

ME FACTFILE

FACTS ABOUT ME
l There are 10,000 ME sufferers in North East England.
l Two thousand of them are aged under 25.
l The region is hosting a series of events to mark ME Awareness Week. It runs all this week until Sunday.
l A DVD explaining about the condition is being prepared by organisers at ME North East. It will be used in schools to create more understanding about the condition.
l Part of this year's awareness programme includes an abseil and bungee jump off the Transporter Bridge, in Middlesbrough, on Sunday. Volunteers must be over 11 to join in the abseil and over 14 to take part in the bungee jump.
l Anyone wanting more details on how to get involved should contact (0191) 3892222.

THE SYMPTOMS

• Severe and persistent fatigue.


• Chronic pain and possible joint or muscle pain, as well as headaches which can often be like migraines.


• Flu-like symptoms.


• Problems with memory and concentration.


• Disturbed sleep.


• A recurrent sore throat.


• Feeling worse a day or two after any activity or exercise.


• Palpitations.

Further information is available by visiting www.menortheast.org