A DUMBARTON mum has told the Reporter of the devastating effects ME has had on her son’s life – and her frustration to get specialist treatment.

Laura McHard says it has taken almost four years for her teenage son Sam Boyd to be diagnosed with ME (Myalgic Encephalopathy), which is also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

The 19-year-old son was a pupil at Dumbarton Academy when he first fell ill.

Ms McHard said: “Sam went to school one day and felt sick and then he suddenly vomited. He started to feel better later that day but the same thing happened for five days in a row and we went to see the doctor who at first thought it was a virus.

“He was quite a bright student but has missed out on a crucial part of his education. He did still manage to get some standard grades through his work in third year. He tried to continue attending school but I would have to go and get him and he would be on the verge of collapse at times.” According to Laura, guidelines for treatment in Scotland aren’t as stringent as they are in England and Wales.

She is calling for the same approach to treatment to be implemented north of the border, and for more to be done to support young people whose lives can be devastated by the illness.

She said: “I’ve spoken to support groups and a lot of people are referred to the most suitable departments to deal with the symptoms they are displaying.

“It starts in the gut with a lot of people. Sam’s symptoms were all gastro problems but we realised early on there was a pattern developing.

“His entire digestive system was slowing down and it was taking up to 24 hours for his stomach to empty.” It is estimated around a quarter of a million people in the UK suffer from the illness. It is not known exactly what causes ME but one theory is that it could be triggered by a viral or bacterial infection. Children are usually between the ages of 13 and 15 when affected, while adults are usually in their early 20s to mid-40s when it develops.

Ms McHard added: “People need a lot of support for this chronic condition.

“The first few years Sam was in bed because he was so ill and now he can’t go anywhere unless I drive him. He is young and can’t even have a night out with pals.” A Scottish government spokesman said: “There are no mandatory guidelines for treatment of ME-CFS across the UK. The NICE guidelines are used, in England and Wales, to develop recommendations to guide decisions on treatment of ME-CFS.

“In 2010 we published a Good Practice Statement to assist health care practitioners in providing better ME-CFS care, as part of the process of ensuring that people receive better and more consistent standards of care, including quicker and more reliable diagnosis. The statement also provides clear guidance for GPs about how ME-CFS care should be progressed.” More information on how the illness affects young people is available at www.ayme.co.uk.