The FastDay Forum

Several people on here,including myself,nursebean and MountainMyst suffer from this horrible illness. It is life limiting and drastically life changing in many cases. I lost my career,my income,my home,many friends - and myself..i am a completely different person since i first became ill in 1996...and not for the better.
The causes of ME unclear,there may be a genetic element ( both myself and MountainMyst have daughters who have it too) or it maybe due to a virus or retrovirus. The symptoms are very similar to MS and fibromyalgia.There is no medication or cure..we have to try to help ourselves as best we can. I respond well to reflexology ( but can't afford to have it regularly) to cardiovascular exercise (tho have to be careful whats enough rather than too much which makes the symptoms worse). Symptoms include extreme fatigue even after a good nights sleep,sore muscles, joint pain,noise sensitivity,dizziness, insomnia,poor co ordination.
Lives are wrecked by this cruel illness..even the lucky ones like me,who see some improvement..tho i waited six years before any improvement at all. ..i still cannot go out and stay out for very long..and i can't mix socially as i get drained by being in a group of more than two or three, so i get very isolated,which is why i ' m online here a lot,helps with the loneliness. I have a great boyfriend and three friends who have stuck by me,altho i can't spend a lot of time with them,and a wonderful daughter. I would happily put up with this illness for the rest of my days if she could get get well again .

Hi Candy! Didn't realise we had an awareness day. I do wish people would be more aware. I get fed up with trying to make people understand. Basically, you can't live life without energy. You literally can't do ANYTHING without energy (even think...our brain is a muscle) so everything is such an effort. Gets so exhausting doesn't it. Sorry, but feeling low today, especially as I keep thinking of Penny and her poor dog. Life is so horrible at times isn't it.

Anyway, won't end on such a miserable note. I'm not fasting today, so thats good I suppose. Looking forward to stew for lunch. Haven't weighed myself today for the first time in ages. Don't want to look at the moment.

They reckon the lack of energy,the feeling that yr battery is flat..is coz each cell has a mitochondria, and for us, none of the mitochondria are sparking, so we are " running on empty"
Me too Bean,re thinking about Penny x
Just seen a neighbour with her dog,he was full of life and energy,being a youngster,rushing here and there sniffing ,tail wagging like mad..and i was watching him and wishing i could siphon off some of his health and give it to Penny's dog x AND some of it for us too! X

Sending a special great big hug to you both

I know someone with ME - a delightful lady who is totally trapped by her wrongly-functioning body. It is shameful that there isn't enough spent on researching this debilitating condition.

Have either of you heard of the Lightning technique/Lightning therapy? I have heard whispers that it has helped people with ME, but I don't know much about it.

Hoping you have a good week xxx

Hi @hazelnut20 thanks for replying and for the hugs! X
Have heard of lightning but from what i've heard, its a treatment for depression rather than for a physical illness. None of the people i know with ME are depressed,tho very often we can get down at times due to being so ill and all the repercussions of that on day to day life.
I was told it entailed a three day course,which is a bit of an unrealistic timeframe for many ME sufferers.
What has worked for me as regards courses is a pacing course i went on..which entailed working at home on improving heart and lungs thru using a stationary bike, and very slowly working up to two 15 mins sessions a day..plus following a very gentle exercise dvd. Both me and my DD benefitted from this but it took about two years.Would recommend this to anyone with ME who's already got some degree of good health back..i imagine it would be drastic for anyone in very early stages.
Hope yr friend makes some improvements! Am hoping fasting will help, tho sad to say, eight months in, it doesnt seem to have had any noticeable effects on my ME symptoms ..or DDs..she's doing 16:8 x

Thanks @Hazlenut20 for your kind words and hugs.

It's funny but the other day my sister asked me what I'd like to do when better, any resolutions I might have set. I realised that it's impossible to think of yourself doing much. I know I need to get my life started again...but I don't have the energy to even imagine, say, travelling. We're just trapped in our tired shells. I guess I'm lucky because some people with this are stuck at home, unable to get out of bed. At least lately I'm starting to think about starting a business from home (the only way I think I will be able to work now) but it's SO frustrating not being able to do as much in a day as I'd like

Anyway, enough of my moaning. I'm sending out my thoughts and good vibes to all those with ME and hope that one day, not too far off, there'll be a cure.

Bean xx

Amen to that beanobobz @nursebean
Imagine if we could pop a pill or two every day and have our " normal " lives back..i think i wd nearly die of happiness! X roll on that groovy day!

Hi @CandiceMarie and co. I don't have ME, but I do have bipolar and adhd, and I can relate to some of the things you say. I understand the frustration and loneliness of having debilitating conditions which are complex. I too have children, and it is painful not being able, through disability, to provide for them in so many ways. There so does need to be more awareness - people think they know, but have no idea usually unless their lives have been touched by these kinds of problems. But, I find I get on the best with people who's lives have been touched by such problems - they can often be the most warm, compassionate, able to think outside the box, amazing people with special strengths xxx

Thanks for your support @Fern and i' m sorry to hear that you have health problems.
I was in very good health til midforties,was always grateful for that, but no,i didnt understand how people with chronic health problems really felt.You have to walk a mile in those shoes before you know what its like!
Good luck with yr fasting and wishing you healthier times in future xx

I think it's the chronic aspect people in particular don't get - the fact that you are not 'all better' after a few months. I used to get so tired of people saying...'I hope you get better soon' or ''are you better now?'. It doesn't work like that, and the fact the condition is chronic alone has it's own consequences. I am fortunate as I have a strong faith. I don't know how I would have managed without God.

My heart goes out to all of you. My dear DIL has had "co-morbidities" including ME, fibromyalgia, chronic migraine, and frequent nausea on and off (mostly on, I think) since her early 20's, she's now mid forties. She, too, has lost her career after holding down a demanding job for many years--don't know how she managed it--and is at home most of the time. No children,as she DS married only a few years ago and did not, I think, plan on children at their age and with her health. I say, I think, because we don't ask--discuss it only if they bring it up. I think they prefer not to have to talk about it all the time.

Their devotion to each other and her courage are an inspiration to us. Likewise, the spirit you show on this forum inspires me and many others, I believe.

Think thats a very good point @Fern hadnt thought of it that way
I suppose people must get fed up with us coz it just goes on and on! They get impatient and maybe get sympathy fatigue ..
I too have spiritual beliefs which help - most of the time anyway! xx
Thanks @Marybeth xx sorry to hear about yr DIL..must be hellish to have migraine on top of everything else ..glad she has a good hubz in shape of yr DS x and understanding kind inlaws x