M.E - my elusive illness

SO MANY PEOPLE SEEM INFLICTED BY THE VAST RANGE OF SYMPTONS ASSOCIATED WITH CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME (M.E) AND YET THE MEDICAL PROFESSION CAN NOT AGREE TO WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS.

I HOPE THAT MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF THIS ILLNESS AND THE WAYS I AM DEALINGH WITH IT, WILL ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO NOT GIVE UP HOPE ON GAINING A BETTER SENSE OF WELLBEING!

WHAT CAUSES M.E/ C.F.S?....

Like the illness itself, the causes of M.E are not fully understood. Alot of the symptoms appear after having a virus such as flu, or glandular fever and that is why is also known as 'Post viral fatigue syndrome'.

I thought i had a simple throat infection, and at first just had mild symptoms of a cold; slight fever, tired, sore throat - just generally run down. Within weeks things seemed to get worse, my sore throat would go for a day and then reappear more inflamed, with added swollen glands. I was struggling at uni, not managing a full week.

AND THEN MORE SYMPTONS......

It was very frightening. I would be ok then suddenly feel very dizzy and faint, shaky and nauseous. These "funny turns" were becoming more frequent and intense, and i was becoming very unsteady walking and standing. It was then that i decided to go the doctors.

I had to have various blood tests. Everything came back normal, but I had a high count of antibodies to Glandular fever which made my doctor presume that i had contracted the virus and was now left feeling " fatigued".

THE MISCONCEPTIONS........

The label 'chronic fatigue' can be misleading and 'M.E' is often too vague and unknown. The fatigue experienced with this condition is not general tiredness. It can be severe physical exhaustion where the body feels totally battered. There can be drowsiness affecting the ability to think, and speak. There can also be very strong muscle pain and heaviness in the limbs.

Before the condition became recognised as a real illness by the big medical bodies, there was the insulting term "yuppie flu". Although this is no longer heard in the main media there is still alot of controversy and stigma associated M.E/CFS. Due to the vast and varied symptoms and effects of the illness, and the broad range of ideas to the justifiable causes and treatments, it could be said that M.E/CFS are umbrella terms for a number unknown and unrecognised illnesses.

BUT DON'T BE DISHEARTENED.......

Living with M.E/CFS is frustrating and takes it toll on your mental, emotional and physical health. It is a chronic and fluctuating condition that can make the smallest daily tasks an enormous challenge. But people do and have recovered.

i do not claim to be an expert and can only really give a subjective view from my own journey with this illness, but all i can say is be open minded.i wouldn't suggest trying anything to wacky and extreme, but there are alot of complementary therapies that people have found a big help.

i have found that with support from a great osteopath, and a GP referral to 'reverse therapy' practitioner (who suffered herself with M.E for 20 years) i am slowly but surely finding my way to better health.

AND DON'T SUFFER ALONE ..........

I was stubborn at first to get support, to contact others. I was scared of all the doom and gloom, i wanted to deny it all. i then found out the worst aspect was the isolation i began to feel. There is support and great advice out there, whether it is through charities, local support groups or online social networks. Get out there and make new friends, help each other get through the tough times and share those good times too!

WE MAY NOT FEEL CURED BUT WE CAN STILL FEEL HEALED........

Holistic practices generally use the term healing rather than curing. A cure eradicates illness on a physical level. The biology of the body is considered to be functioning normally and there are no more symptoms of disease. One can be cured but not feel healed. They feel damaged by their experiences.

Healing works on all aspects important to our wellbeing; the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. One may not be cured of their illness but they may feel healed because great changes have occurred on other levels of their being. They feel less attached and burdened by their physical suffering.

So please find ways to look after yourself, to unwind and to have moments of fun and laughter. I find that i am now at the stage where i can do some gentle exercise such as yoga and it is a great way to release tension, and self massage helps with some of the discomforts. i make sure that i also do things like speak with friends, listen to music and draw inorder to allow myself opportunities to forget about my M.E