The FastDay Forum

ThanksTracy..appreciate your words...people can be very undiplomatic in what they say,like Nursebeans friend
One " friend" said to me ( after i had lost my career due to illness which led to losing good income,which led to losing my home too) that she " wished she had the luxury of giving up work"
After comments like that,any kind words are always very welcome x

Oh thanks Tracy22 that's really kind of you. If only I had a friend like you
I was just after some advice really. Yesterday I experienced what was one of my worst days. The day before I had my second day of my course. As you know, 2 hours just sitting upright in a chair is really difficult, let alone discussing this illness, so I don't know if my bad day was a result of this. Anyway, I just wanted to share a bit of my course in case it's useful.

I'm still writing down my activities and then working out which ones use high, medium or low energy. Then I have to work out my baseline of activity (say, 10 minute walk a day) and build on that. Well, yesterday I started to create my calendar on my computer and set the timer for 30 mins. Straight after that I had one of my half hour rests (laying on my bed listening to classical music). I then thought I'd be able to try another 30 mins or do something else...but just couldn't
do anything for the rest of the day. I had just had no energy left.

As a result of feeling bad lately I still haven't been able to start my first fast of the year. I'm hoping that tomorrow will be the day. D'you think this is a good idea or should I wait? Maybe it's because I haven't fasted over Christmas that I'm worse. I just don't know

[carorees]

Sorry to hear this nursebean. I can't tell you what would be best, but I can take a guess.

Seeing as feasting and fasting may improve your mitochondrial health and it's the mitochondria that provide energy, plus ketones produced when fasting can give you a sense of energy, I'd suggest not putting off your fast even if it means not being able to do much on your fast days.

It would be worth keeping a diary of how you feel on fast days and feast days for some weeks to see if there is any relationship.

Hope you feel better soon.

Hi @nursebean When didyou became ill Bean? If its early days pls be encouraged that big improvements are possible but takes time..i didnt get much change til a few years in,but then the improvement was very noticeable. X X
you have your course right now,which is a very big deal for two reasons..
one coz it holds the enormous potential to help improve your health,and two,coz you'll find it very tiring doing it.
and then,the uncertainty is very draining...wanting it to work so much,but wondering if it will.
I remember so well when me and my daughter did the exercise prog, the most exhausting part was how much hope we invested in it. The outcome was fortunate for us,we benefitted big time..hope you will too from yr CBT course.
If the course proves too much,thats not your fault,maybe it will be more helpful at a later date..Doctors always stress you have to have reached a certain stage of recovery before youre well enough to take part in any courses.
If you feel you can cope with the course,brill,but keep life as unpressured as poss for yourself.

Xmas leaves even the healthiest of people a little depleted and we're not that healthy at the moment..
I was totally drained when i came home from my london christmas but ive fasted twice since and feel sure it hasnt made things any worse..like caro says the fasts should improve our mitochondria in the long run,and seeing as there is mitochondria in every cell of our bodies.this will be a mighty big improve should it be true!
If you can,fast..if you feel its not good for you right now,just try to eat well and be kind to yourself x x

Thanks @Carorees and @CandiceMarie. I think you may well be right. I'll try fasting again tomorrow and see if it helps. Yes, I think keeping a diary is useful too.

On the 21st I've got my first assessment to check whether I can continue claiming benefits. This will involve a half hour journey there and back...plus I'm dreading the whole thing. I'm sure it will feel like an interrogation

Anyway, I am truly grateful for your friendly advice...many thanks

Oh God those medicals..i had to endure several..was so glad when i turned sixty and therefore didnt have them any more
Only advice is,try not to think about it til it happens..will only deplete you even more .. maybe take someone in with you,specially someone who knows how this illness is affecting you x

Hi everyone, a bit of a heavy crash at the moment, brain not working. hope to be able to post better tomorrow. just wanted to say I'm thinking of you. Phyllis

Im glad i found this thread, just joined today as starting today but have ME and early menopause and depression so a little cautious.
I guess its trial and error but i will hopefully be ok x x

Hi Lee! Welcome to the CFS/ ME group!
Ive been 5:2 ing for about 3 Months or so now
Have not felt any worsening of ME symptoms,but have found my balance has improved quite a bit..which is really helpful,makes me feel more confident
I have had nights where ive had problems sleeping coz have been a little hungry but i have had sleep probs for years anyway
I think all you can do is give it a go..for me, i am about 70% recovered,a lot of the time anyway,so i feel its safe to do this.
If youre still in early days of being ill maybe you need to be more cautious tho,as ive been told that fasting can be quite stressful for the body x

Hi Lee! Welcome to the CFS/ ME group!
Ive been 5:2 ing for about 3 Months or so now
Have not felt any worsening of ME symptoms,but have found my balance has improved quite a bit..which is really helpful,makes me feel more confident
I have had nights where ive had problems sleeping coz have been a little hungry but i have had sleep probs for years anyway
I think all you can do is give it a go..for me, i am about 70% recovered,a lot of the time anyway,so i feel its safe to do this.
If youre still in early days of being ill maybe you need to be more cautious tho,as ive been told that fasting can be quite stressful for the body x

Hi thanks for message, ive had it for 15 years now, some days i can manage others im in bed, i guess its trial and error but im please there are others trying who have ME as was a bit concerned x x

Hi @Lee22 and welcome to the forum. I'm sorry to hear that you have ME too. How severely does it affect you? Personally I have been unable to work for approx a year and a half now (my employers let me go after about 8 months I suppose). Anyway, I started the 5:2 fast in October last year. I don't think it's helped with my actual symptoms but it has certainly kept my weight under control (I put on about 2 stone once I succumbed to this wretched illness). Having said that I did notice that my symptoms seemed to worsen over the Christmas period when I wasn't fasting. Indeed, I am going through a bad patch at the moment, but I do wonder if I am better when I am fasting (for one thing eating is pretty tiring too!). Caroline (Carorees) has mentioned before that fasting works on the mitochondria (the energy cells) so should in fact help. I certainly don't think it hurts!

Anyway, sorry about that waffle. Basically what I am trying to say in a rather long-winded manner, is give fasting a go. You never know it may help your symptoms, but it'll definitely help with weight loss. Us fellow sufferers are here to help anyway. Good luck!

Bean

hi nursebean, well its 15 years now and have not worked for ten!! somedays i can cope with day to day things if i pace myself but other days i can be so poorly i cant wash my hair! I do everything possible i can to help myself and just go day to day.
Im so interested in this diet you never no i may feel great sorry to hear you can not work either, it is so sad when you cant do things or make plans ect you end up losing contact with friends ect.
xx

10 years? Oh no. How have you coped?

Talking of friends, I think that's one of the worst things about it. My best friend was too busy to see me over the Christmas period (she has 2 girls) and I haven't heard from her. When I was sacked from work, not one person even so much as sent me a text to say sorry or how was I etc. very hurtful indeed.

I hope this WOE helps you.

Ive done a couple of beauty courses and do plan one day to do nails but at the moment i would not be able too.
I had a couple of friends who were like that when i stopped drinking 7 years ago,it is hurtful but its them i feel sorry for to be like that.
Do you have any children xx

Oh that is so sad@nursebean
a year or so after becoming unwell,i'd lost touch with all my colleagues.
i just don't think people can cope very well longterm with someone who is ill and unlike their " old selves"
But for yr colleagues not to at least offer some words of comfort and consolation when you first left work is very upsetting...theyre obviously not the most compassionate of people thats for sure
We have to treasure those who stick by us..in my case,apart from family,that boils down to probably just three female friends and my gentleman friend/ boyfriend/ whatever we should call boyfriends when theyre in their sixties.. And just have to try to rise above it when some people are quite callous...otherwise we just get bitter and that doesnt help our health improve x