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Michiel

@murtoz.bsky.social

880 followers 2.4K following 2.3K posts

Dutchman in Scotland. Lounge based Landscape Photographer. Medically Retired Hardware Engineer. Tired Tinkerer. FOSS Fan. Ally. PwME/LC. Volunteer with #MEAction Scotland. He/Him. #BIPOCLivesMatter #EndGenocide #CovidIsAirborne #YallMaskin #CleanTheAir

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Michiel @murtoz.bsky.social · Dec 5

I did an interview last week about living with ME. This article is the result.
Pleased with it overall, no glaring errors, and most of my key messages are in the article even if she didn't put some of the more 'difficult' points in there verbatim.

#mecfs #pwME

www.scotsman.com/health/me-ch...

'My daughter has ME, she went into appointments walking and came out in a wheelchair'

There are an estimated 1.3 million people in the UK with ME 🏥

www.scotsman.com

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Michiel @murtoz.bsky.social · 29m

Thank you Naomi, you're awesome!

Reposted by Michiel

Eleanor Fielding @meownersclub.bsky.social · 2h

Useful chart for explaining to your loved ones when yet another doctor is COMPLETELY MISINFORMED AND WRONG about PEM

youtu.be/UkS6L3Klc00?...

Chart showing short term and long term symptoms of PEM

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Reposted by Michiel

Cat Vincent, (he/him, Useless Eater) @catvincent.bsky.social · 2h

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjhS...

The Onion Investigates: Jeffrey Epstein

YouTube video by The Onion

www.youtube.com

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Michiel @murtoz.bsky.social · 2h

It might be apt that your handle is dutch for 'tomorrow' (but also for 'morning' because we just like to confuse people.)

I hope you have a better day today!

Reposted by Michiel

Mark Ungrin @mark-ungrin.bsky.social · 13h

Turns out institutional medicine's Dunning-Kruger + ego + power to kill people + zero accountability model wasn't such a great idea after all.

Who knew?

🤷

Well yeah, ok, Semmelweis, obviously.

It was probably a clue that they're still crowing about the one thing they learned since 1846.

🤔

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Michiel @murtoz.bsky.social · 2h

It's David's birthday today, so I've donated to his crowdfunder. Please try to join me if you can!

Happy Birthday, @davetuller1.bsky.social, and thank you for still fighting for us!

David Tuller @davetuller1.bsky.social · 1d

Berkeley's crowdfunder has reached 5% of the goal after its first day, with 49 donors! This pace won't keep up, but it's a decent start. Thanks to all past, current and future supporters!
crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/47768

David Tuller's Trial by Error Fall 2025

Help UC Berkeley raise $68,000 for the project: David Tuller's Trial by Error Fall 2025. Your gift will make a difference!

crowdfund.berkeley.edu

Michiel @murtoz.bsky.social · 7h

The pubs could be open 24/7 but if people don't have money to spend it won't make a blind bit of difference.

Fix the economy by uplifting people out of poverty (>30% of us!) and addressing cost of greed.

TAX THE FUCKING FILTHY RICH!

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 8h

Pubs could stay open longer under Starmer plan to revive British night out

Who will provide extra police, staff, public services?

Nights out restricted due to cost of living crisis

Govt can help hospitality industry by cutting energy/water bills, rents, improving public transport.

Pubs could stay open longer under Starmer plan to revive British night out

PM’s initiative, which could lead to ‘bonfire’ of old licensing rules, aims to ‘bring the buzz back’ to high streets

www.independent.co.uk

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Reposted by Michiel

Dan O'Hara @skeuomorphology.bsky.social · 20h

The PCR positivity map is out, and UKHSA have finally deigned to describe covid activity as "medium".

UKHSA national positivity is 13.23%.

Adjusted for non-reporting we make it 15.27%.

jamestindall.info/skeuomorphol...

1/

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Reposted by Michiel

EveryDoctor @everydoctor.org.uk · 22h

Private healthcare executives were invited onto Wes Streeting’s working groups to help draft Labour’s 10-Year Health Plan.

This is outrageous. A plan for the NHS should reflect the needs of patients and the public, not private sector interests.

Learn more 👉 everydoctor.org.uk/talking-poin...

Text reads “The NHS 10-Year Plan should have been guided by those who know it best — frontline staff and patients. But private healthcare executives got a seat at the table.” Below are logos of InHealth, Spire (SV), United Healthcare, and Independent Healthcare Providers Network.

A person in business attire grips a rope in a tug-of-war pose with text reading “Profit vs Patients. The plan includes partnerships with private firms, digital systems led by tech giants, and focus on cost-cutting, not care.” A quote from Dr Julia Patterson reads, “Why should the corporations which seek to profit from the NHS be allowed a seat at the table?”

A background of the door to Number 10 Downing Street with text reading “Why It Matters. This could accelerate NHS privatisation with decisions being made behind closed doors.” A QR code and a red button labeled “Read more” appear below.

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Michiel @murtoz.bsky.social · 21h

you think he actually believes this himself? no way, he knows full well he is spouting propaganda so he can enrich himself even further.

Reposted by Michiel

The Canary @thecanaryuk.bsky.social · 1d

Dear Eric Bogosian, AMC: what happened to our open letter over long Covid?

Disabled, Long COVID theater makers request transparency ahead of New York Comic Con 'Interview with the Vampire' event
www.thecanary.co/global/world...

Dear Eric Bogosian, AMC: what happened to our open letter over long Covid?

Disabled, Long COVID theater makers request transparency ahead of New York Comic Con 'Interview with the Vampire' event

www.thecanary.co

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Reposted by Michiel

thetranscendedman @atranscendedman.bsky.social · 1d

Looking for real stories about GLP-1 use in Long COVID.

From microdoses to full doses.

If you've tried it (good or bad), slide into my DMs or drop a comment here.

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Reposted by Michiel

Kay Orchison @kayorchison.bsky.social · 1d

All the dozens of trans teens and young adults who have said to me "I wish you were my dad, my dad [some horror story]" beg to fucken differ

As do I

So very few are accepted and to claim otherwise is a straight up lie

We are talking about the SURVIVAL OF CHILDREN here, this is not a fucken debate

Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 1d

One of the most perverse ideas on the anti-trans side is that trans people are instantly affirmed and celebrated by everyone when they come out and that acceptance is driving a social contagion.

It's the ultimate form of gaslighting against our community.

www.erininthemorning.com/p/pew-survey...

Pew Survey: Only 31% Of Trans People Report Being Accepted By Their Parents

The survey comes as transgender people experience a legal assault from the far-right in the United States.

www.erininthemorning.com

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Reposted by Michiel

Jess O'Thomson @jessothomson.co.uk · 1d

It cannot be made clearer.

If you continue to support the Harry Potter franchise in any way, you are directly funding the removal of trans people's human rights in the UK.

JK Rowling pledges to keep up fight against SNP trans policies

Author vows to bankroll campaigners after Scottish government fails to pay group's legal fees in Supreme Court equality case

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Reposted by Michiel

Peter Barlow, he/him #DavosSafe 313.7ppm @lulachthesimple.bsky.social · 1d

Hmmn.
JCVI are only allowed to answer the very limited range and scope of questions put to them by politicians.
60-100k vaccinations per one saved hospitalisation is based on "otherwise healthy people".
Most people have ongoing or prior conditions, so that's a weirdly idealised scenario.
.../

Steve Senior @stevensenior.bsky.social · 1d

Bit nerdy, but it's worth having a skim over the number needed to vaccinate figures here. E.g. to avoid one hospitalisation in otherwise healthy people JCVI estimated 60-100k would need to be vaccinated (based on Autumn 2024 data).

www.gov.uk/government/p...

Appendix A: estimating the number needed to vaccinate to prevent a COVID-19 hospitalisation in autumn 2024 in England

www.gov.uk

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Reposted by Michiel

Richard Vallée @richardvallee.bsky.social · 1d

The appearance of saving money, anyway.

It would have actually saved money to solve the problem. The costs incurred would have been turned into income years ago. In addition to the misery toll.

Quacks like Wessely save governments money the same way Musk's DOGE does: not at all.

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Michiel @murtoz.bsky.social · 2d

Capitalism.

Reposted by Michiel

Chris Ponting @cgatist.bsky.social · 2d

The research used to claim reliability of a ME/CFS blood test has important limitations, shown here.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Three possible confounders in a study proposing an ME/CFS blood test : sex/age, batch and inactivity/severity. Better designed studies by independent researchers are necessary.

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Reposted by Michiel

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 2d

ME/CFS is a devastating condition that has long been denied, dismissed, psychologised and underdiagnosed. Research is at last starting to catch up with it, with glimmers of hope for those who have been left untreated for so long.
There's a huge BUT coming ...🧵
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Scientists develop first ‘accurate blood test’ to detect chronic fatigue syndrome

Research could offer hope for ME patients – but some experts urge caution and say more studies needed

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Michiel

David Tuller @davetuller1.bsky.social · 2d

Berkeley's fall crowdfunder for Trial By Error is now up!
crowdfund.berkeley.edu/project/47768

David Tuller's Trial by Error Fall 2025

Help UC Berkeley raise $68,000 for the project: David Tuller's Trial by Error Fall 2025. Your gift will make a difference!

crowdfund.berkeley.edu

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Reposted by Michiel

C.H. Romatowski @chromatowski.bsky.social · 2d

I helped road test this and am so excited for it!

Join the waitlist to be alerted when enrollment starts: longcovid.scripps.edu

Julia MV @julialmv.bsky.social · 2d

We are excited to open enrollment for the Long COVID Treatment Trial (LoCITT) soon!

We designed the first trial to be accessible & inclusive as possible. People across the US can participate from bed!

To sign up for the waitlist and/or watch our webinar recording, visit: longcovid.scripps.edu

Overcoming trial design challenges

Table with parallel challenges & solutions:
Challenge: Heterogeneous presentation
Solution: Match eligibility criteria to intervention & Power trial to detect subgroup effects

Challenge: Don’t understand cause & effect
Solution: Conduct mechanistic trials that can help disentangle

Challenge: Lack of biomarker
Solution: Utilize sensitive survey outcomes & wearable data

Challenge: Many are housebound/bedbound
Solution: Bring trials to participants

First trial size and metrics
Randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trial in 1,000 participants

Table of outcome types and metrics:
Primary: Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)
Secondary: FUNCAP27, DSQ-PEM, EQ-5D-5L
Exploratory: Wearable data (step count, heart rate, variability, resting heart rate, max heart rate), demographics, medication compliance
Biosample (50 participants): 3 clinical labs, proteomics

Ways LoCITT centers on participants

You can complete study activities from wherever you are
We work to minimize participant burden
Secondary outcomes were selected for validation for future trials
Our first user testers were 2 people with very severe symptoms
Thank you to Catherine Romatowski and a second anonymous tester!
Participants choose how they communicate with the study team
24/7 phone line for time-sensitive matters, video calls, emails, etc.
We share a letter to help coordinate with your health care provider(s)
We welcome caregivers to support you in completing study tasks

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Reposted by Michiel

Trans Safety Network @transsafety.network · 7d

We have previously reported on Wessely's harms to the disabled community transsafety.network/posts/simon-...

We stand in solidarity with disabled people and psychiatric survivors. Trans liberation cannot be won without disabled people's liberation.

Controversial professor to investigate overdiagnosis of mental health and neurodivergence for Labour

Get the benefits you're entitled to: help with personal independence payment (PIP), universal credit (UC), employment and support allowance (ESA),disability living allowance (DLA). Claims, assessments...

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk

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Reposted by Michiel

Trans Safety Network @transsafety.network · 7d

Trans Safety Network are very concerned to see that the review into supposed over diagnosis of mental ill heath and neurodivegence ordered by Wes Streeting is to be chaired by Peter Fonagy with Simon Wessely as Vice chair.
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/controv...

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Michiel @murtoz.bsky.social · 2d

if only there was something more we could do than give the vaccine to the 17 people who still qualify or encourage everybody to wash their hands for an airborne virus.

Eugenics in action.

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Michiel @murtoz.bsky.social · 3d

And if you do provide facts, I'm 99% sure she will just argue with them.

Don't waste your energy on this Sally. This is not a good faith engagement.