Chronic Illness, Ponderings, Writing

Recovery from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: It’s Complicated

Degenerative, progressive, fatal. These illness-related words can inspire feelings of doom in a person learning about their new diagnosis. But what about the word “chronic”? When I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (also called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, or collectively ME/CFS) seven years ago at age 30, my doctor was vague about the timeline of the illness. Do… Continue reading Recovery from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: It’s Complicated

Chronic Illness, Ponderings, Uncategorized

My ME/CFS Recovery, Part III: What’s Working?

Note: I began experiencing ME/CFS symptoms shortly after a bout of mono more than 10 years ago. I was finally diagnosed with ME/CFS roughly 7 years ago, and over the past 2 years I have experienced marked improvement (see Parts I and II). I’d say I’m about 90% recovered, or in a partial remission. Recovery is relatively uncommon… Continue reading My ME/CFS Recovery, Part III: What’s Working?

Chronic Illness, Ponderings, Uncategorized, Writing

My ME/CFS Recovery, Part II: GET, CBT, and “Brain Retraining”

Before you read: I began experiencing ME/CFS symptoms shortly after a bout of mono more than 10 years ago. I was finally diagnosed with ME/CFS roughly 7 years ago, had “moderate” ME/CFS for about 5 years, and over the past 2 years I have experienced marked improvement. I’d say I’m about 90% recovered, or in… Continue reading My ME/CFS Recovery, Part II: GET, CBT, and “Brain Retraining”

Chronic Illness, Ponderings

My ME/CFS Recovery, Part 1: Everything that Didn’t Work

I’ve had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (also called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, or collectively ME/CFS) in varying levels of severity for almost 10 years now. For the past two or three years, I have experienced gradual and nonlinear improvement in my health. I can never be sure if my improvement is permanent, but what I’ve experienced along my ME/CFS journey… Continue reading My ME/CFS Recovery, Part 1: Everything that Didn’t Work

Chronic Illness, Nature and Science, Simple Living

How to Fight Climate Change When You’re Tired All the Time

[Note: This article was originally published on Medium, but I've begun migrating all of my content to this blog.] When I developed Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (also called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, or collectively ME/CFS) over eight years ago, I assumed it would be a brief detour in my life, and I’d soon be back to saving the world with… Continue reading How to Fight Climate Change When You’re Tired All the Time

Chronic Illness, Ponderings, Uncategorized

Here’s what my CFS feels like

I am sometimes asked what having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) is like. It's a question I appreciate, because the illness sounds like what the name says it is: "chronic fatigue." It's actually a complex illness affecting the immune system and neurological system that has many, many symptoms. If all you have is "chronic… Continue reading Here’s what my CFS feels like

Chronic Illness, Writing

Lesson 10: Treat yourself like a child

Before I started getting really sick, I was lucky enough to serve as a teaching assistant and student teacher in an elementary/middle school for two years. That period of my life sometimes feels like a strange detour from what I started doing after college and what I've done off and on for the past four… Continue reading Lesson 10: Treat yourself like a child

Chronic Illness, Writing

Lesson 9: Whatever it Takes

When I fully recover from what ails me, I will credit at least 10% of my recovery to Japanese pop music. J-pop is the aggressively upbeat artificial sweetener of the music world. I was in college the first time I heard it, and there was something about it that stuck with me. You know, like candy.… Continue reading Lesson 9: Whatever it Takes

Chronic Illness, Writing

Lesson 7: Be with People

I don't know whether I'm an introvert, an extrovert, an introverted extrovert, or an extroverted introvert. I've taken those online quizzes before. They haven't helped. I do know this: being around people is necessary for me. Sometimes it's difficult, sometimes it's wonderful, and sometimes it's both of those things. Before I started getting sick, all… Continue reading Lesson 7: Be with People

Chronic Illness, Writing

Lesson 6: Celebrate Small Victories

Remember when you were little, and learning how to tie your shoes was a big deal? Or writing your name? Or riding a bike? Or drinking from a grown-up cup? Maybe you've had children and you remember the small achievements that seemed so big to them—and to you. I have a habit of glossing over… Continue reading Lesson 6: Celebrate Small Victories