The UK Department of Health is now pushing for better care of ME/CFS patients. It will get NHS doctors to stop dismissing patients. If you’re in the UK, you might want to get a ME/CFS diagnosis. Article below:
https://archive.li/2023.08.09-064549/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/me-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-nhs-funding-research-disorder-uk-2023-smr6qbbl7
It’ll take a while for this to be implemented because they are seeking public input until October 4. There’s nothing stopping you from getting a ME/CFS diagnosis now (other than untrained doctors and bad attitudes that the Department of Health will try to fix).
Do you qualify for a ME/CFS diagnosis?
Here’s a simplified diagnostic algorithm put out by the IOM (see the CDC website → diagnostic algorithm). It’s the easiest one to follow. Clicking on the image below should make it larger.
You need profound fatigue for at least six months. If you just developed long haul then you may need to wait a bit before you can officially qualify for a ME/CFS diagnosis, though you can talk to your doctor if you will probably qualify once you hit 6 months and your symptoms are still there.
There are other diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS and they are generally more stringent. However, in practice, I suspect that the NHS will adopt the looser diagnostic criteria out there.
I hope this helps.