From a legionella infection to hope: the path of Görlitzer Nejkow

From a legionella infection to hope: the path of Görlitzer Nejkow

Julian Nejkow, 36 years old and living in Görlitz, has published a moving story with his book "Sunny years" that combines two life stories: a true and a fictional. The true story is characterized by its personal experience with ME/CFS, a chronic multi-system disease that severely affected it after a legionella infection in Sofia. This disease leads to constant exhaustion and pain and is a stressful reality in Germany for an estimated 250,000 people. This number could have doubled by the Corona pandemic, set and the Mecfs-Community Fest.

Nejkow not only emerged as an author, but also actively committed himself in self -help groups and uses social media to draw attention to the problem of Me/CFS. Despite the challenges associated with his illness, he remains active: he works as a political scientist, has podcasts on offer and leads courses to inspire young people for politics. Divying his experiences via WhatsApp with a friend, the idea for his further book "Hell Years", which documents his experiences with the illness.

The symptoms of me/cfs

me/CFS is accompanied by various symptoms, including the post-exerting Malaise (PEM), which is considered the leading symptom. This refers to the deterioration in symptoms after physical or mental exertion. Some affected people report that going to the toilet or supposedly everyday activities such as shopping can deteriorate their symptoms. The typical symptoms of PEM include:

• flippal feeling
• light fever
• swollen lymph nodes
• muscle pain
• difficulties of concentration
• "brain fog"
• headache
• racing heart
• dizziness
• leading exhaustion

those affected often describe PEM as "crash", ie a physical breakdown that can occur even after cognitive or pleasant activities such as reading or discussions.

a hopeful despite adverseities

Julian Nejkow sees himself as a hopeful wearer despite his own impressive circumstances. Even if he has often given up hope, he wants to encourage others to deal with their illness. His diverse activities as a speaker, be it at weddings or burials, underline his tireless efforts to inspire others and give them the opportunity to think about important topics. He remains an example of resilience and commitment in the face of adversity.