My Recovery Journey over six months on...

I have decided it's time to resurrect this blog, under a slightly different theme. From now on my focus will be on blogging about how to focus on staying well after going into remission from ME/CFS, which is where I see myself now.

I have given the blog a new look, and made it easier to be viewed on phones for those of you who find it difficult to access a computer.

I have had a long time to reflect on how I want to share my knowledge and personal experience of having ME/CFS and have come up with a number of ways to do this, including making art and using Twitter as a platform for fellow spoonies to connect. You can even follow me if you want!

There will be two future posts, one telling a (very short) background story of how I came to be diagnosed with ME/CFS, and another about how I see it started. From then on I want to focus on the positives and the future, and share my tips and experiences to help others.

I hope to re-kindle some interest in this blog, more importantly, if I can help just one person that would be enough for me.

I hope to see you here again soon.

Please leave a comment if you would like to see me blog about a particular aspect of recovery and I will do my best to post something helpful :)

Runner vs. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

I take no credit whatsoever for this image. I found it on Pinterest

If you keep up with my recovery progress on Twitter, you will know I regularly log my fitness progress on the website Walk Jog Run. I have been power walking for a couple of months now, and by following the training plans on their website, I have been able to pace myself and can now walk 5k in under an hour! Then something really unexpected happened-the guys from Walk Jog Run wanted to feature me as Runner Of The Week! Click the link to see my interview with them entitled "Runner vs. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" where I talk about my CFS recovery and how getting out in the fresh air has really helped my progress.

CFS Progress Review: October 2012

I'm a bit late publishing this. I actually wasn't going to blog at all this month, simply becasue there's not actually that much new for me to tell you right now. I am keeping up with my daily practices of eating well, staying hydrated, working mindfully and exercising, plus a myriad of other things that I have mentioned previously in more detail. Nothing is perfect all the time, I don't eat right every day for example, but I know when my body needs something as it just tells me. I feel very "tuned in" now and that helps me to combat any "under the weather" feelings I might have. My body also tells me in no uncertain terms when it's had enough and it's time for me to rest-very important!

I am taking some time off work the next couple of weeks. I plan to use the time to be highly creative, and also focus on my self care. I am planning to spend a lot of the time in silence, or with peaceful music in the background, and live simply, leaving the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind, at least for a few days. I am hoping to be able to have a few 24 hour periods of digital sabbaticals too-that means no internet! I tried this last Monday and read an entire book-lovely!

As I am writing this in November, the end of this month and the beginning of December brings a lot of CFS related milestones along for me. I will be blogging about this in more detail next time, that post might just be a tad longer than this one!

Take care for now :) x

CFS Progress Review: July 2012

I have been thinking during the past couple of days, how I am going to approach writing this blog post. Taking my time and being mindful over things seems to be the new trend in my life right now. Previously I would just rush into doing things without considering the ramifications, and look where it got me!

While making notes for this post, I referred back to the long-term goals I'd set myself in June. The first one being to incorporate everything that helped my initial recovery into my daily life; a key part of this is meditation. I try to practise most days, and my body often lets me know when it's time to have a few quiet moments. But I also have no strict regime, as I feel this restricts my personal lifestyle.

I am slowly getting back into some sort of fitness routine. I try and go for a walk daily, around one mile. Being out in the fresh air is lovely, and can help clear mild headaches and brain fog, especially if I find I have been sat in front of the laptop for a little too long! The best time I find is early morning, before the world has woken up-although this doesn't happen every day, sometimes I am more than happy to have a lie in-more differences from my previous lifestyle!

I would like to empahsise that while I am working again, it is NOT full time, it's precisely eight hours a week split in to two four hour shifts. I still have symptoms of M.E/C.F.S, although they are mild now. There are some days where I don't feel any symptoms at all, but I do still get post-exertional malaise. Things aren't perfect, I still have to pace and rest regularly. It also helps that I have returned to many staff and management changes at work, and a more positive working atmosphere. It's like walking into a brand new job!

Another key aspect of my symptom management comes from diet. After talking to my friend Jules Dolly, and reading her blog, especially her posts about juicing, I decided that constantly turning to junk food for a quick sugar rush was not the way forward. By doing this I found I was slipping back into aspects of my old lifestyle that I wasn't happy about. I haven't made radical changes like Julia did, but I have started to incorporate homemade fruit and vegetable juices into my daily diet. After only three days I can already start to feel changes for the better in my body.

I booked myself a long overdue massage. My therapist told me she found no major problems with my joints or muscles (HOORAY!) but that the entire right sideof my body seemed more tense than the left side; we mulled over a few things as to what it could be, but in the end she concluded that it might just be where the tension seems to gather in my body-in some people it collects in shoulders and neck, for example. She recommended I bathe in Epsom Salts (available cheaply from good hardware stores). They contain magnesium sulphate, and two tablespoons added to a very warm bath can help relax muscles, draw toxins from the body and sedate the central nervous system. So a perfect combination along with the homemade bath melts I had bought from Folksy; and let me tell you it's DEEPLY relaxing! Best bath ever-you can keep your Radox -from now on, this is the way forward!

I am currently working on some brainstorming/vision boards to help me decide what I want to do/achieve with the next six months of my life. Of course I will keep you updated on here; I really hope this blog is an inspiration and encouragement to those who may read it.

CFS Progress Review: May 2012

As you know, I take most of the content for these posts from my diary entries. These have been getting more and more scarce as I have got better. Having said that, here is a short list of things I have learned about my progress over the last month:

• As I am progressing in my recovery, I am finding it easier to focus on the broader aspects of my life, and as a result of this experience, I have found that my priorities in life have shifted. I am also beginning to grow in confidence each day now.
• I find that my cognitive ability has improved to the point where I can methodically work through a problem, come up with a solution and then act on it (for example my personal finances).
• Beginning a course of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (referred by my GP) is helping me to deal with stress and confidence in a constructive and positive way.
• As my ME/CFS symptoms begin to go into remission, I am starting to focus on the future, and what changes I would like to make to my lifestyle to ensure I never have to suffer this condition at it's worst ever again.

Well, I told you it was short and sweet, but hopefully reading these entries gives you a glance into how I have managed to progress so far over the past few months. I hope I can inspire others to do the same.

Enjoy the long bank holiday everyone!

CFS Progress Review: January 2012

A couple of nights ago I read through all my diary entries for January, and made some notes about the helpful things I have found out about managing my CFS symptoms. Since starting my course of homeopathic anti-depressants I have found that I can think about things in a much more constructive and positive way. I still have low moods and bad days, but I am learning to cope with them better now. Below is a list of statements and words which sums up January for me recovering from CFS:

 

• drink plenty of water

• eat less bread and wheat-based products

• consume small meals, little and often or whenever hungry

• eat a high protein diet

• mindfully participate in daily enjoyable/fulfilling activities that are JUST FOR ME

• apply the Four Noble Truths as practised in Buddhism

• realise that I have been going through a process of grief and mourning

• learning to listen to my body's subtle messages

• practising mindful and guided mediations daily

• cherry-picking advice from self-help books and finding what works for me personally

• remembering that the onset of flu-like aches and pains means it's time to STOP whatever I am doing IMMEDIATELY and REST COMPLETELY

• not spending too long sitting slouched in front of my laptop

• having courage

• taking things ONE DAY AT A TIME, one thing at a time, sometimes even one minute at a time...

 

This is what I have found has benefited me personally. I am not suggesting that this approach is a cure all, some, many or few of these practises or approaches may or may not work for you. CFS/ME can be brought on by a myriad of events/illnesses etc. so who is to say there is going to be one satisfactory remedy for us all? We are all individuals and will have our own individual way of dealing with and treating our symptoms effectively to suit us.

Once thing I can say with much certainty is that I definitely now see myself as a recoverer, NOT a sufferer.