Beginning to get there.... There's hope

[Emma]

Hi everyone

I haven't posted for a while as I am really beginning to make progress and just wanted to post up that you can get better from this dreaded syndrome and there is light at the end of the tunnel... However frustrating and unweilding it seems.

I was struck down last June with cfs and spent the whole summer bed/house bound ... By the autumn after seeing a homeopathic Dr the treatment seemed to be working and by christmas all the random symptoms had disappeared and I was just managing fatigue.
Early march , after eight months off work , I began my 12 week phased return at work and it seems to be going ok...
I am still managing fatigue but am at a level ones/twos most days which is great as I am beginning to get my life back . Work have been very supportive and put me in a different role for the first few weeks literaly doing filing ( I wasn't sure at first but this was the best option) after nine weeks I am now back in my role of media officer and starting on specialist projects. Having worked up from two hrs a day I am currently around 5 1/2 -6 hrs with a break inbetween. Work would like me to get to full hrs by week 12 but I might have to extend it a further month just to help with the last hurdle.
It's taken acceptance and patience to recover from this and everyone has their own story ... But mine us that ifeel I might just be coming out the other side.

At the moment my main focus is work and apart from maybe one activity at the weekend i rest up and listen to my body. That means nothing on a school night and bed by nine!
I had some dizzy spells last week but that was after a few days a way where I even managed being a bridesmaid and lasted until 11.30 at the wedding! The biggest test by far and three months ago I no way thought I'd cope as well as I did.

For those who are at the early stages - it seems like a black hole but I want to say how you will get through it and you're not alone. This forum was a god send in the early days, it still is now, but you will learn to luce with this condition and find things which help.
The key things for me are:
- listening to my body and putting myself first
- strict bed routine and getting early nights (melatonin has really helped regulate my sleep pattern, it's also v cheap online)
- st johns wort- this I think has helped with not getting depressed, something I couldn't cope with as well.
- acupuncture... At the early stages I had this once / twice a week and am now at eveyones three: four weeks... This helps bring my body in balance and regulate my energy flow
- remedies of multiple vitamins, fish oil , mitochondria rescusitate, coriolus MRL, st johns wort , all combined helped to improve my energy DNA functions
- audiobooks specifically harry potter.... Hours of hp got me through the early days when even tv tired me out
- now I have invested in a portable DVD player - as I am now able to do more things I take this everywhere I go and when I need a rest (ie at a family doo etc) I can take myself away and watch a box set ... I can forget I'm missing out on the party this way!
- yoga and meditation... I try and do this daily to help with anxiety and again regulating my energy flow
- organic fruit and veg... Get as much natural juice as possible and eat regularly so you don't get light headed.

The above are the key things which have helped me through the last few months and I hope may well be useful for any of you to try...

Life throws us good bad and ugly times but they all make us who we are and however wretched it feels this illness will only make you stronger as a person in time.

I lived life at 100 mph pre cfs and never took time to the enjoy now. I hated feeling Ill as it was so horrid but this illness for me has helped me re evaluate the important things in life, helped me say No to things when all I'd ever want to do is please people and I know for most it might seem far from any of these things, in time you may just be thankful for the quieter pace of life.

I hope some of this post will provide some help and advice and I wish you every ounce of luck with your recovery as you fight this tough journey.

All the best
Emma x

[Emma]

Ps
sorry I didn't mean to write so much and for it to be so long!
Emma

[SmellsLikeSquirrel]

awsome post! Keep us posted as i think im on the same timeline as you are, beginning work after a long period of down time


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The Rules are different for sasquatch.

[SmellsLikeSquirrel]

hey how are things giong?

i staredt work about a month ago now, instinctively cut my days to 3 days a week (to make sure i wasnt boomin n bustin).
have to say the early early starts are refreshing, i can make it through the 7 hour day as im sat on my butt doing office work.for me, being on my feet is what killed me, i seem to be ok if im sat down.

i just have to be sensible and behave on the social aspects (xmas parties,last nights are a no no)

recently got a stomach bug last week and my energy was zapped(so on here to lick my wounds)! work seems cool enough to let me hav days off. even tho my whole team is F/T!..

hows things at your end?
-Shane .


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The Rules are different for sasquatch.