FORMER St Joseph's Catholic College teacher Simon Sly has released a book about his experiences after being diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME) and later multiple sclerosis.

The 36-year-old, who now works as a maths tutor with Head Start Tuition in Old Town, first started showing symptoms of ME – or chronic fatigue syndrome – about seven years ago.

The condition, which is characterised by headaches, persistent fatigue, and joint and muscle pains reported by many of its sufferers, has no quick cure but instead treatment involves cognitive behavioural therapy treatments and other methods intended to help patients manage the symptoms.

Earlier this autumn, Simon, of Stratton, published the self-improvement ebook Superhuman You with a view to sharing his own experiences and how he overcame them with a view to helping others in the same situation.

He said: “It’s a self-improvement book and it’s an account of what I went through when I was diagnosed with ME and what I did to overcome it.

“So far there have been a few sales and the reviews have been really positive, and I just hope people will read it and enjoy it.

“It took six months to write and it took a lot of effort because I was still tutoring and I was ill all the time I was writing it, but for it to be published is just great. I just hope that it helps people.

“I wanted to make sure something positive came out of the negative things that I have had to go through.”

Simon started showing symptoms long before he went to the doctor and received an official diagnosis, and as the condition worsened it eventually meant he had to give up working at St Joseph’s in 2008.

He said: “I first started realising something was wrong when I was working as a teacher and during one particular Christmas period I was really tired and I didn’t feel like doing anything at all.

“But because I am quite stubborn I didn’t do anything about it or go to see anyone about it for some time after that.

“But the symptoms just got worse and worse and eventually in 2008 I had to stop working.

“Fortunately I managed to get work at Head Start Tuition, which meant that I could still do what I love doing.

“I went to the doctor and since then I have been trying to manage my symptoms.”