Trip to the Hospital today

So, i went to see the POTS specialist this morning for my 3 month review and this involved setting my alarm for seven am… i have to take my midodrine then wait half an hour before rising so i lay there until half past trying to convince my body to rouse itself… it was hard. I had a little breakfast then my partner drove us to town. As it happened the rush hour was lighter than usual and we got there quite quickly, but happily i was seen a bit early too.

I was told last time that she may give me another drug to try on top of Midodrine when i go this time, but had not told me what it may be. I had a bit of a nightmare thought a few days ago that it may be SSRI anti-depressants as i have read they can help with POTS, and also i know that beta-blockers are used too (they have side effects which don’t seem good for a pwME). I started remembering all the side effects and experiences of being on anti-depressants and started to worry about what to do if this was her next plan for me. One the one hand, if it would help the POTS is it worth trying again, despite my negative experiences and associations? I was not sure.

But thankfully all she suggested was upping my current dose again and taking more of it earlier and not bothering with any at tea time. I am happy with this as although i have not felt great the last three months and the first two months after upping the dose last time i really didn’t think it had made a lot of difference, the last few weeks i have felt stronger in myself and think at last it could be midodrine having a positive effect. Month two was plagued by wedding recovery and virus, so that could have delayed any awareness of it working being apparent.

I did ask her what the other drugs may be that we may try in the future. She reassured me it would not be an SSRI, but a new drug to slow the heart, or Florinef, which i have heard of. So i am happy to hear that.

The meeting was over pretty quickly and i came away feeling like i had not said something. I often feel like this though, especially when i have been building up to a meeting for ages then it is over so quick and i don’t trust my brain so much these days to remember everything either.

I did not mention the urine test i took, but more importantly i did not mention the muscular pains and tensions, headaches and skin tenderness that continue to plague me. They are more ME related than POTS related but who should i talk to about them (if anyone)? I am no longer seeing the ME specialist as he said i didn’t need to see them both and the POTS specialist deals with ME patients/diagnosis etc. but when i see her she doesn’t ask about those things. My GP would probably not have the specialist knowledge about ME and I have never got much useful out of them about specific symptoms before. I no longer see a particular GP, i just take lucky dip when i go as i have given up on the one i used to choose and have not settled on a new “favourite” yet. I only really go for sick notes anyway as my employer still wants them(!). I think i will see if these symptoms improve over the next three months and if not i will make a mental (and paper!) note to mention them next time i go. Life would be much more pleasant and productive if these symptoms were not so often present… I think the POTS specialist thinks that all my symptoms will improve as the POTS is treated and improves – this has largely been the case, but has affected a few dramatically and some not so much.

We shall see, as always…

APPG inquiry into NHS services for pwME

I have filled in the patient questionnaire and sent it off for the All Party Parlimentary Group (APPG), filled with my experiences of the services i have received for my ME/CFS…

find details on the ME Agenda blog: http://meagenda.wordpress.com/

Apparently there are criticisms of the way it is being carried out and not all ME charities are supporting the enquiry, but i felt it was important to get my voice heard anyway. The more people that read about our experience, the better, and it is a public record.

Even if you have not received any “services” as such, or do not have access to any of the CFS centres they set up, it may be worth telling them that and of your experience of the NHS? There is still time – deadline 20 July: here is a link explaining what they need: http://meagenda.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/rime-nhs-services-inquiry-notice-6-26-june-2009/

and here is a link to the actual questionnaire: http://meagenda.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/appg-on-me-inquiry-into-nhs-services-patient-questionnaire/

Letter to Gordon Brown from Invest in ME

I was so pleased to read this letter in response to the goverment’s paltry and misleading/inaccurate response to an e-petition that i signed, asking that someone appropriate from the government attend the Invest in ME conference and, er, maybe learn something:

http://meagenda.wordpress.com/2009/07/06/invest-in-me-statement-and-letter-to-prime-minister-e-petition/

well put!

(but when will they start to listen…)

Urine Test (The Neurotoxic Metabolite Test)

my result...

Well after three minutes or so it looked like this – not actually a colour on the chart! it had changed colour a lot from yellow/orange to more like a pale version of the very dark positive colour (which, after a few more minutes, it turned into but they are very clear that only the result at 3 minutes counts!) so i think it is a “moderate positive”.

This is what is says on the leaflet:

The Neurotoxic Metabolite Test aims at detecting the presence of abnormal metabolites in the urine. These metabolites are related to the production of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Although H2S is naturally present in the body, and plays some normal physiological functions, an excess production can be very detrimental. Overproduction of H2S may result from metabolic dysfunctions, but also from the overgrowth of certain bacteria in the gut (alteration of the normal intestinal flora = gut dysbiosis). Our preliminary results indicate that a strong proportion of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) patients present such dysbiosis, and test positive with the NMT test; but positivity may be associated with other conditions, related to intestinal dysfunction.

So it is not really a test for ME as the papers and hype suggested then, is it? BUT, if it leads to treatment of some aspect of our ill-health, it can only be a good thing and may improve quality of life… if it turns out it is the complete answer for some people, all the better.

Here is the article: new urine test for ME in the Telegraph  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/5407749/ME-Proof-that-it-isnt-all-in-the-mind.html 

here is what the ME Association say about it: http://www.meassociation.org.uk/content/view/875/161/ 

I wonder if my diet and probiotics/Kefir regime have been helping my gut problems and perhaps have affected the result. I did stop taking the Kefir and probiotics a couple of weeks ago, although i continued to eat soya yogurts that have “yogurt cultures” in them as i thought they probably are not that potent and also i didn’t know how long it would take for the test to come and there are some things i can’t live without for long on my limited diet! My digestive “issues” have been so much improved over the last few weeks/months since i changed my diet – i wonder what the result would have been a few months ago!

All in all i am pleased that i do not seem to have a  “strong positive” result as no-one wants their body to be toxic do they!? I am going to keep up with the probiotics and hope that that can help. I don’t really see the point in going to my doctor about it – i know they won’t be able to do anything as the research is not even tested/published/recognised yet. I think i might have if it was a very positive result, just to see what they said. I may mention it to the POTS specialist when i see her next week – if i remember – as she is at least interested in ME issues and listens…

I am also going to look up “metabolic dysfunctions” which the test company also say can lead to a positive test result… i don’t know exactly what this means!

Just Four Quid!

After going to my sister’s wedding and then having the “virus from hell” just over three weeks ago, i have been really struggling… (not that i wasn’t before you understand!) BUT i finally feel a bit better the last few days – back to a level that i can live with longer term – anything less than this is just not do-able. It may only last a few days but it is nice to feel that each day is a bit easier, not that i am actually doing much, but being is easier. It makes me realise how hard things have been when this feels so good! Just a few days ago i was feeling very different, and everything felt like a real struggle but i am enjoying the upturn while i can. So, despite continuing muscular pain and headaches, i am feeling quite positive.

Due to being otherwise engaged i was a bit late starting on my Just Four Quidactivities, but last week i managed to get my JustGiving pages set up and then email everyone i know to tell them about it. I optimistically set my target for the year as £250 for each of the two charities (as you have to set a target) but i did not think that i would make it in a month of Sundays…

Amazingly i have already exceeded my target for the Ramsay Research Fund and my ME Research UK page is starting to look at bit better after my Dad thought it needed cheering up and made a second donation! So far I have raised £450 in total and I am so chuffed and so grateful to everyone and their generosity. I really thought that a few people would give a tenner (which would have been great), but i have had some HUGE amounts given. I really means a lot and has cheered me up hugely to think that something so great can happen from a relatively small action on my part – all i did was ask! True, i cannot run a marathon so should not be expected to “do” anything like that and also i would not be comfortable asking again and again for money; but i am so surprised and encouraged that my small actions have created some money and potential positive change for the future for people with ME.

I would encourage anyone who has some family/social contacts but who doesn’t think that there is any point, to give it a go, you may be surprised who donates, as i have been. If they don’t, well it doesn’t matter – you gave it a go! I think it maybe makes some people feel good that they can do something useful/practical to demonstrate support for me and my situation when there is nothing much left to say, although maybe i am reading too much into it.

If it is energy issues preventing you, then feel free to base your justgiving pages on mine (see the links to them on the left of my blog) and i will send you a copy of the email i sent round to people too if that helps (just ask). Thinking what to say can be the most time and energy consuming part.

So anyway, it is nice to have good news!

More good news is that i have booked a few nights in Scarborough again to the same place i have been before. Last week i was thinking there was no point as i wouldn’t be able to leave the hotel, the travel would be a trauma etc etc but this week i feel that it is do-able and that i won’t have a good time if i don’t give it a chance. SO let’s hope this better feeling last until i go in a month’s time!

Last time i went i only left the hotel once for a cuppa on the harbour front, but i was only just starting to take Midodrine then and my POTS symptoms were a lot worse. Although i still feel bad when i stand for any length of time, i am not living in fear of imminent collapse as much these days and can stand and walk for longer (as long as i am generally feeling ok – some days or times of day there is just no point trying is there?). Also that was December and this will be July so i hope to be able to sit in the park, on the sea front etc and be outside a bit more in a gentle and relaxed manner without freezing myself half to death! So i am looking forward to a summer holiday. It may not seem exotic to others but it is as far as i can possibly venture these days, and it is MINE!

Other news is that i have ordered the urine test “for ME” (see previous post) and am stopping taking Kefir from now until it arrives as probiotics can apparently affect the results… so we shall see if i have ME ha ha ha.

Kefir!

I bought some Kefir “grains” a while ago (see them pictured above). With them you can make a kind of cultured milk which is full of healthy bacteria (like probiotics) and is meant to be very good for you. As i have been having a lot of trouble with my digestive system i thought i would give it a go when someone else with ME told me about it…

I would say it has been a bit of a bumpy ride, but that i am gradually finding a good relationship with my Kefir (well it is a living thing!).

The first problem is that it was quite cold weather when i first got my Kefir grains, and they were small. They need a warm place in the house to be able to “grow” in the milk (it takes a lot longer at cooler temps). An airing cupboard is recommended – we don’t have one. I think the Kefir was not fully active when it first arrived and that with the cool temps meant that nothing much seemed to happen.

Secondly i don’t actually like milk. Not the cow variety anyway. Kefir lives in dairy milk but i don’t like the taste and have long consumed soya milk instead. I eat cheese and used to eat yogurts (have not reintroduced them yet since my strict IBS diet as soya yogurts are so nice!) but hate warm yogurty smells. Milk Kefir is slightly soured/cultured milk and so not to my taste. I have been using soya milk to make it but it does involve keeping it fed in dairy milk every other batch to allow the grains to grow/stay alive as they cannot thrive in soya milk and would eventually die if only used with it. So i have been throwing a lot of cultured cow’s milk away which i don’t really like to do but even when holding my nose i cannot force it down! (I did try).

Good news is that with all that cow’s milk the grains have grown in size and are now happily producing me soya milk kefir on a regular basis. This tastes fine usually (not a lot different to soya milk but it goes thicker a bit like a soya yogurt or pudding – a bit like slime but it slides down!). I do have to be careful not to leave it too long as it can go fizzy which makes it less palatable, although from what i have read it is still fine to consume. The time this takes depends on the temperature, the size of the grain and the amount of milk so it is hard to judge.

I don’t know if it is having any positive effects on me; my IBS symptoms have certainly improved with my dietary changes and i have also been taking other probiotics so who knows. If what i have read online is to be believed Kefir is very good for us so i will carry on for a while and see what happens.

It is a bit of a hassle and i do end up throwing a lot away (both the cow’s milk and any that gets too fizzy etc) but i am also consuming quite a lot with no obvious negative effects. It does create some washing up too but i don’t usually have to do my own so that’s ok!

I am not sure i would recommend Kefir yet, as i feel i have a bit more experimentation to do to get reliably nice Kefir – i feel i must be missing something as i only like the flavour if it is not too fermented – as soon as it starts to separate (the soya milk – i have not let the dairy kefir get that far!) it tastes horrible to me… but i am carrying on for a while longer to see.

When i read about the new urine test for ME in the article in the Telegraph  and saw it partly seems to be related to gut bacteria & probiotics http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/5407749/ME-Proof-that-it-isnt-all-in-the-mind.html i thought well at least that backs up that Kefir is worth a try. I do not know if this is the “key” to ME as they are claiming, but it may be a factor – we shall see what further research and trials bring… here is what the ME Association say about it: http://www.meassociation.org.uk/content/view/875/161/ 

I have emailed the company to ask for a test, but have not heard back from them (expect they have run out by now!). I thought it may be interesting to know if those processes/problems were part of my illness and to “test the test” and see if it mirrors the severity of illness i think i have, with the result. Will let you know if i ever get my hands on one.

Kefir Info:

This website has A LOT of Kefir info: http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefir-faq.html#soymilk and is a little eccentric too! (kefir in space?)

http://crystalcultures.co.uk/live_cultures.htm describes Kefir:

Milk Kefir

Kefir is such a balanced and nourishing food that Regular use of Kefir can help relieve Most intestinal disorders, Easily digested and It cleanses the intestines Reduce flatulence and create a healthier digestive system it Provides beneficial bacteria and yeast Vitamins and minerals and complete proteins It contributes to a healthy immune system.
Kefir can also help eliminate unhealthy food cravings by making the body more nourished and balanced. Its excellent nutritional content offers healing and health-maintenance benefits to people in every type of condition.

Lactobacillus Caucasus, Leuconostoc, Acetobacter Streptococcus species.
Beneficial yeasts :
Saccharomyces Kefir Torula Kefir
These eliminate destructive pathogenic yeasts in the body by forming a Controlling Agent That Toughens the intestines. The body Then becomes Better at resisting such pathogens as E. coli Salmonella and intestinal parasites. Kefir’s active yeast and bacteria provide more nutritive value than yogurt by digesting some the foods that you eat and by keeping the colon environment clean and healthy. Its cleansing effect on the whole body helps to establish a balanced inner ecosystem for optimum health and longevity. Because the curd size of Kefir is smaller than yogurt, it is also easier to digest, which makes it a particularly excellent, nutritious food for babies, invalids and the elderly, as well as a remedy for digestive disorders.

Wedding Weekend… (not mine!)

This last weekend I went to my sister’s wedding. My partner drove me and the dog the five hours each way to Wales and we stayed with my mum, which was really good, except for our room being on the third floor!!

 

I was quite worried about going as my levels of energy and stamina have been so low recently and the thought of the travel, talking to so many people, getting through the wedding day itself, potential payback and just everything about it was very daunting.

BUT it went quite well. We came back on Tuesday and although i don’t feel too good, ache all over quite seriously, and seem to be getting a cold, and can feel there are still days of recovery to go; I can say i have survived!

There were some very dodgy moments: on the wedding day i felt pretty bad in the church. I already had “permission” from the vicar not to stand for hymns etc (which on the one hand seems silly as if you can’t you shouldn’t need to get permission, but as i was in the front row it did make me feel more comfortable with not getting up to know that most people knew why) but i had to not sing as i was so lightheaded as well. After the service we went to the reception and i could hardly hold my head up and keep my eyes open until lunch came at half past 3! I ate it then left for bed before the speeches. I could not really rest properly but had two, one hour rests with some food in between, then at 8pm went back to join in the evening do. I actually got a second wind and really enjoyed it: talking to people, meeting some of their friends i had heard about but never met, as well as some of his family and actually DANCED with my sister (for half a song – maybe 2 mins) but my spontaneous act made her cry, which set me off too and it was a good “moment”! She has ME as well, so it meant a lot to us to dance together!

My body seemed to find some energy or be running on adrenaline for several days, which was very convenient, if a little unwise. It was nice to feel it perform for the occasion, even if it goes against all the pacing rules. I could feel it waning by monday, as even though i rested well on sunday i still felt ok. The journey back was hard. It went fine and the traffic was fine, it was just my body and my brain that were not and i found it very hard to cope with. It was like being strapped to the front of a torpedo and rocketting forward out of control not knowing what i would hit, but feeling very much in danger. Not being the driver can feel scary, even when i do trust the driver as motorways can be scary places – but when my brain is not processing information properly i think it feels much more scary. I would have been happier on a horse and cart going about ten miles per hour – it would feel less violent. I also found i was pushing my feet into the floor of the car when we were braking as if to help us stop subconsciously. Even when i realised i was doing it late into the journey (leg pain was a giveaway) i found it hard to stop… just so exhausted and wound up.

So i think i have not perhaps even properly crashed yet… i am in pain and i am spending a lot of time in bed but i am ok. I hope this is it, but i fear i have a cold so this week may not be much fun. At least i can sit in the sun a bit if the forecast is right! I am so glad i was there and took my place at a family event.

It was lovely weather when we were there and the day after the wedding lots of hot air balloons flew by, which was a really nice surprise! I love the sound of them and have always wanted to go up in one. It was nice to have that random surprise event too!

Massages, Itching and Pain

On Thursday i had a full body massage and (possibly) learnt more about my body than i expected! Certainly i am asking more questions!

It was much needed as I had had a bad headache for 3-4 days and even when that improved i was left with so much tension in my head, neck and shoulders that it was still painful to touch many areas. I often/always have these tender points, in my upper back, shoulders, jaw, scalp etc. They are little knots of pain and i am unsure what i can do to ease them. Anything which helps seems very temporary and they always return to their previous level of tenderness within a short time. These symptoms were at their worst before i started to take Midodrine, which did seem to ease the almost nightly headaches (as more blood was flowing to my upper torso and head – which is kind of useful to have!), but every now and again they do resurface and there is always that underlying muscle pain and tension. I am wondering if the higher dose of Midodrine i am on is causing this clenching up of my muscles, (i did have worse upper back pain the last time i tried to up the dose) but of course it could be a myriad of other causes…

So that was my motivation for going, as well as the fact that i have a busy weekend away coming up (my sister’s wedding!) the prospect of which is causing me some anxiety, as travel and social situations always do, due to how difficult they can be to take part in and the impact they can have on my health for weeks afterwards – there have been moments where i have doubted i am well enough to go at all, but i am feeling more positive now, and looking forward to actually attending a family event for once!

I have not been for a massage for a long time and it was so good. As always when i go, i realise how much it was needed, discover areas of pain and tension i was not immediately aware of, and think how much it would help me to have a massage much more regularly. I do not know if that would create any long term improvement, or prevent my muscles getting into such a state or if the relief is just temporary… I think it would take a lot of massages and more than i can afford anyway!

When the massage started she did my face and front of shoulders and upper arms, and immediately on touching my upper arms, said there were a row of knots down the front (it was very sore there with even a light touch, which i have been aware of for months). She asked me if i do weight training! Apparently they are “Weight-Lifters Knots”!! I did laugh at that. I explained to her that i struggle to lift even small things, like the kettle, and that my muscles do not behave like normal muscles, as they quickly lose power and energy and over-react with pain and tension for a long time if “over worked”…. She was very surprised and said that she would have thought i was a weight lifter if i had not told her… She asked again to clarify: “so you couldn’t go to the gym and lift a few weights?” “Er, no, really, most days i cannot get as far as the corner shop, i rarely leave the house… i could not get to the gym, never mind do anything when i got there” or words to that effect… As keen as i am to educate people about ME and spread awareness it is quite a pain to have to use time when i am supposed to be relaxing (and I am paying) to explain this stuff but i answered a few more questions (no, i don’t just fall asleep all the time, i am not just tired, i am ill… etc etc blah blah blah).

Anyway, it is reassuring that my muscles appear normal in size etc after 3 years of pretty severe ME and ten years in total of being unable to do any kind of “exercise” as the term is generally understood, though i was more active for several years than i am able to be now. It is something which has baffled doctors and led to people being disbelieved and denied benefits (still are, if you read the guidelines for decisionmakers for DLA on ME/CFS which suggest there should be muscle wasting in evidence to qualify as severe… will find link if anyone interested, but can’t be bothered now!)  as doctors would expect more muscle wasting considering the lifestyle we claim to lead. There have been different theories about why it only happens in people who are very severely affected but it is not fully understood how our muscles maintain their tone.

It seems that my muscles are reacting as if they are overworked. In a way they are (yes i am a closet weight-lifter!): As i say, they struggle with everyday tasks like lifting a kettle, moving a chair, lifting a watering can. What is even harder and has a more long term effect is anything repetitive, like rubbing to clean the bath before i get in, chopping something, rubbing my scalp when washing my hair, and i generally avoid this kind of activity when i can as it leads to muscle pain, long term aches and cramping, as well as adding to a feeling of general weakness and exhaustion afterwards. Some days are better than others, depending on my general state and if i am already in recovery from something or struggling in general.

So far, so much i already knew. What i found intriguing was that, as well as my upper arms, my lower legs at the sides (from ankle bone up, on outsides of legs) were also incredibly sore to the touch and knotty under the skin. I have been having really sensitive skin in these areas (upper arms and legs) as well as itching. My legs in that area are so sensitive that if something touches them unexpectedly (like in bed) it is like a bolt of electricity running through my whole body. I have a real problem of certain areas of skin being so easily irritated and therefore often itchy that it affects my sleep as well as what clothes i can wear. I have to “sweep” out the bed before i get in to get rid of any tiny bits of dirt or dead skin or whatever that has been carried in from the floor, as any of this stuff (which i call “Gravel” as it is so sharp to me, though tiny) can cause a major episode of itching.  I find if there is dead skin on those areas it triggers itching and if i moisturise after a bath and the dead skin rubs off (gross i know, but it does) the itching stops, despite me having rubbed it, which is usually something i avoid as it can trigger the itching. I was starting to think that my nerves were over sensitive and that i had a problem with my skin and pain, though i had no idea what to do about it. This may be partly true but the massage therapist seemed to think that the knots and tension in those areas may be partly causing this extreme discomfort i am having in the skin of these areas. I suppose it makes sense as that underlying tension must affect the skin and could make it more tender and sensitive in the whole area surrounding the problem.

I have heard varoius people asking about skin itching and if it is a symptom of ME. There was a letter in a recent ME Association magazine, and one on a message board i saw recently too. They caught my eye as i have had these problems for a long time. The consensus seems to be that, no, itchiness is not a symptom, but it seems to me in bodies that are riddled with problems that there can be knock-on implications causing almost anything!! (what a cheery thought). My sister has ME and also has problems with itching and sensitive skin.

I have another problem of itching which may or may not be related where if i have a shower my lower legs in particular always react very severely and start to itch. It can last for several hours and all i can do is sit in bed and stroke the skin gently which seems to confuse the nerve signals a little. It can be so painful that i am in tears and is obviously exhausting and distressing. It is like nerve pain, i think the word itching does not do it justice! I never shower now, and the rare occasion that i have (when no bath available) it still happens.

It also sometimes happens after a bath, particularly if the water is not hot enough. I think there is something to do with temperature, as it seems to happen when i get out of the bath and the cold air hits my legs. It first happened when i was 13 years old, so i wonder if there is a hormonal influence. The stimulation of the shower may trigger the itching sometimes, or it could be a problem of being upright, as in the shower and when i get out of the bath. These days i have a very strict ritual around my bath, the temperature, shaving (stubble and hair seem to aggravate the problem so i have to shave every 2-3 days, which is a big comittment when ill), standing for as little time as possible and exposing my legs to as little cool air as possible on energing from the bath. I get straight into bed and moisturise with my tried and tested “safe” moisturiser, then lie there allowing any itching to subside and i cool down slowly and in a controlled manner. I have also noticed it can be worse in Autumn and wonder again if the dead skin as my (usually meagre) tan fades is irritating my skin… so many questions.

Of course i have told a few doctors about this over the years and they have no idea! There is no rash and that is where the discussion ends…

Anyway, i had another massage today (trying for a compound effect) which was great again. I asked her what her advice would be to weight lifters who have “weight-lifter’s knots” and she said that stretching can really help. I already do stretch tense areas, but kind of randomly. When my POTS was at it’s worst i couldn’t even stretch up in a chair without serious dizziness but that is better now… Maybe i should make more effort to do it several times a day and see if it helps… so many things to fit into my day though!

Blogging for ME Awareness Day 2009!

Well, It is International ME Awareness Day 2009 on May 12th,

AND also the first anniversary of my blog!

It has been quite a year for me, health-wise, but you can read about that in previous posts…

Many people are making it into ME Awareness Week and even ME Awareness MONTH, so i thought, why not do a few blog posts throughout the month on various aspects of this illness, to do my bit to spread some very important information and awareness about ME.

I know, i know, there are hundreds of illness out there and no-one can know all about them all, so what is the point? Well, if you read the blue ribbon badges running through this post, you may get a few reasons. ME has been getting a raw deal: it is misrepresented by the media, and (deliberately in some cases it seems) misunderstood by the medical profession, and given next to no funding by the government into its cause or into treatments - despite the large number of people it affects and how severely. We are offered nothing except coping and “management” techniques – most of them really make little difference to our experience at all.

Just by reading this and understanding that it is not “all in the head” and not just about “liking to lie in bed all day” and that so much more could be done and needs to be done to give people with ME (pwME) an equivalent level of care and credibility to other equivalently serious diseases; you are helping to change general opinion about ME.

The more people that know what it is like, and can challenge people who laugh about pwME in the pub (they do – i have heard them) and who call it “Yuppie Flu” (as if we would get up and work if we needed money badly enough); the less the powers that be will be able to plead ignorance and ignore the facts – we need to turn the tide… AND, next time you meet someone with ME, or someone you know becomes ill with it, you will know enough to make them feel less isolated and that there is no support or understanding out there for them.

I will post links to my individual posts here so they are kind of organised ( i will update this as i add new posts)…

1. The first one is my exploration of all my Symptoms, to try to show that ME is not just about feeling tired, there is a LOT more to it than that.
2. I then did a second post to follow this up, about the Impact of those symptoms. on my ability to function/live life, and also the Things that people say to me about my illness
3. Then there is: You look well!
4. (maybe more to come!)

If you want to read what other pwME are writing about, and to find lots of information about ME, go to http://meaware.wordpress.com where RachelCreative has been working hard, creating these badges and the site as a hub for all of us who are “Blogging for ME Awareness!”

We have all put in a lot of effort and appreciate you coming to take a look

 

So, feel free to have a read, and if you have learnt anything, or were surprised by anything i have written, let me know! I am really interested to know what people who do not have ME know about it, what messages about it they have picked up along the way, and if i, or any other blogger for ME Awareness has changed/challenged any of that, or if you already had a pretty good idea already…

Also see this great & imaginative campaign to raise One Million Pounds for ME research this year: http://justfourquid.com/ Let’s do it!

ME Awareness Day 2009 – What are my symptoms?

(This is one of several posts i have written for ME Awareness Day – click here to see my main page and link to the other things i have written, and click here to see what everyone else is blogging about!)

I have been mulling over what to write about for ME Awareness Day 2009 for the last few weeks… there are so many issues that i could talk about, personal, political, medical – but in the end i thought i would keep it simple (that was before i started to actually list my symptoms!) and share with people all the symptoms i have experienced in the last few years (I have been ill for over ten years but will focus on the last three years since i left my part-time job when things got worse again. Apart from the initial period of illness, the past three years have been the most consistently severe).

I want to convey the very important message that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (my official diagnosis) IS NOT JUST FATIGUE!!

(I should mention here that i also have another (additional) diagnosis of “POTS” (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) which is a collection of symptoms relating to my Autonomic Nervous System not working properly. Apart from the tachycardia and nearly passing out, I cannot really separate the two illnesses or sets of symptoms as they are interrelated and i have no idea which causes what much of the time, never mind if they are actually part of the same condition/illness. Quite a lot of people with CFS/ME also have POTS and most others will have symptoms of autonomic dysfunction to some extent; particularly those who are moderately to severely affected. These can include: Dizziness and lightheadedness, digestive problems, problems with standing and being upright (feeling much better lying down), lack of temperature control, circulation problems and blood pooling in lower limbs, and many more). 

I do not like the name Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS); i think it does minimise the complexity of the illness and lead to many people claiming to have it, or being diagnosed with CFS, who actually do not have it. People can be tired out and run down for many reasons and this can drag on and affect their lives very negatively, and i have every sympathy for them, but it does not mean they have the same illness that i have. Maybe we can all get appropriate treatment once this is sorted out. I won’t get into all the ins and outs of this issue here (the variety of diagnostic criteria used to diagnose and the implications this has on credible research into the condition/or conditions) but i feel it is really worth emphasising the full range of symptoms and bodily systems affected by CFS/ME, many of which perhaps do not get mentioned.

It particularly frustrates me when doctors and other medical professionals (who should know better) say to me, when i am feeling particularly bad at an appointment, and have lost the ability to speak clearly and express myself:

“Yes, I know, you are feeling very tired today”

I suppose they are attempting empathy and trying to make me feel understood, but i just scream inside that they know nothing if they still think of CFS/ME in this way. I do NOT feel tired: i feel physically and severely ILL. I feel that essential bodily functions/systems are shutting down one by one and it is truly frightening to experience my body in this state of crisis.

I often feel i am moaning on too long for people to tolerate if i talk about my symptoms in detail, in fact i often do not focus in on them myself unless they are severe as it is just easier to get through the day by distracting myself from them/ignoring them as much as possible… but here they are in all their glory…

 
(List of symptoms included at end of post in case you cannot read the image)(To see the image larger, click on it, which will link to Flickr)

 This is just a personal picture,of course, and other people will have a different set of symptoms and will experience my more minor symptoms as major and vice versa. I have found that the symptoms seem to evolve and change over time, some improve, but often others move in and take their place, so it feels that quality of life does not change much overall.

The implications of these symptoms obviously affect every single minute of my life, and everything i (attempt to) do. Everything i do manage to do comes at a high “price” in terms of having chosen it over other things (this often means choosing between things that others would deem as all “essential” tasks to do in a day) as well as in terms of what is officially called “post exertional malaise” or otherwise known as “payback” (if i do something that uses too much energy/exertion i will then have a period of hours/days/weeks where i am operating at a much lower level of functioning and experience many more symptoms, and more severely, than usual) so every little thing needs to be considered as to it’s importance in relation to how strong i am feeling at the time, a wearying decision-making process in itself, and always a gamble…

I have made two more pictures like this, about other aspects of ME: the impact of these symptoms on my ability to function, and the things that people (mostly medical professionals) have said to me about my illness. Click here to read that post too!

Please do not use my image/artwork without asking!

This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.

******

Symptoms: Vertigo, noise sensitivity, tightness of scalp, sensitivity to light, lack of stamina, nosebleeds, dizziness when standing, sitting, moving, speaking or concentrating, tinnitus, TMJ (Jaw joint) dysfunction, breathlessness, light-headedness, eye muscles slow to react to light/focus, tension headaches, clicking of back, neck and other joints, facial paralysis, dry eyes, constant thirst, aching eyes, blurred vision, mental fatigue, tri-geminal neuralgia, neck, shoulder and upper back pain and tension, painful points on scalp and upper back, hormonal issues, reactive depression, swollen and painful lymph nodes, shivering/goose bumps/spasms when not cold, sensitivity to movement in visual field, tachycardia (POTS), memory and concentration problems, difficulty speaking, pallor, weak bladder, almost fainting, pins and needles/severe itching of legs, shaking, muscular weakness and fatigue, ticks/twitches in muscles, lacking in energy, paralysis on waling, defecation syncopy, IBS, freezing cold feet when body hot, lack of stress tolerance, movements slowed, need to be horizontal and have bed-rest in day, weight gain/loss, post-exertional malaise/payback, disturbed/prolonged sleep, generalised weakness, lack of body temperature regulation, excessive sweating, hot flushes, trembling leg muscles, walking difficulties, sensitive skin – easily irritated and painful to touch, heavy aching thighs.