PEOPLE who complain they are tired, have no energy, and spend hours in bed, might be told, even by well meaning relatives to "pull themselves together."

But if you're one of the 7,000 people in Lancashire and 150,000 in Britain suffering those symptoms as a result of ME, it is not possible for you to pull yourself together.

Mike Hodgson, 43, from The Coppice, Blackburn, consulted a doctor with what turned out to be ME after a long period of tiredness and lethargy. The final straw came when he couldn't raise the energy to get out of bed to go on holiday.

"I just didn't want to move, or get out of bed," he said. "I did go, but it was a sign something was really wrong.

"I was initially treated for depression, as many people with ME are but, fortunately, my GP was very supportive and he recognised that it was not that straightforward.

"Once I was diagnosed, I did think 'what am I going to do now?' I didn't want to get up every morning feeling ill. My mind was foggy all the time and it was a very distressing state."

A regular gym member, Mike had lived an active life and yet was finding it a struggle to even get up in the morning. His employers reacted badly to the news and, when his diagnosis came through, he retired due to ill health. This left him with one of the biggest dilemmas.

"After the diagnosis, with no idea of a recovery period - if any - I was retired aged 40, having just reached the high point of my career. I wondered whether I would ever work again and with no known causes or cure things looked bleak."

But he decided to fight back, went to exercise classes, sought counselling and learned new relaxation techniques.

The result was a semi-recovery, which meant he could take up a part-time job at Blackburn College, and eventually took full-time work with Greater Manchester Waste.

He said: "I am one of the lucky ones. Most people with ME haven't been able to get a job."

Despite having a supportive GP there were few, if any, facilities for ME sufferers. Mike believes the recognition now given to ME means local services will be set up.

"This news that ME is recognised means people can't say it is all in your mind now. It makes a huge difference to employment, insurances and benefits. Now things will have to change. "

Although now around 90 per cent recovered, he has become a member of the East Lancs ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) support group, and devotes plenty of time to learning more about the disease.

Professor Donaldson's report recommended that patients should be given better access to treatment, and that more research should be carried out. He also recommended more local health service provision, training for health staff and, for those who are left housebound, care at home.

Action for ME's chief executive Chris Clark said: "The failure to take ME seriously has blighted the lives of thousands of desperately ill people -- as Professor Donaldson's report says 'inaction due to ignorance or disbelief in the condition is not excusable.' We urge the Government to act on the report's recommendations, channelling resources into the NHS that have been scandalously lacking."

To contact the East Lancs support group call 01254 884513 or 01254 884250.