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
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?
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”
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
[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
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
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
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
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
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
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