Dealing with the grief and challenges of a disabling health condition can be an arduous journey. I lean on my husband and children for support, but I also look to my two 7 year old beagles (Poppy and Kiwi). But, we had yearned for a third dog for a while, but delayed it due to my illness, and also the barmy high prices during lockdown. On my birthday I had a quick look for puppies like I had many times prior, but this time I spotted one that caught my attention.

What a ME/CFS Crash Feels Like

Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) was first mentioned to me when I was at the spinal clinic at my local hospital. I got angry because I didn’t want a diagnosis of ME/CFS, I felt I was being dismissed with an untreatable illness that has a huge stigma to it; an illness that has a long-term history of being dismissed and ignored, not only by the public but by many in the health profession.

Transitioning from a fast-paced, demanding job to a slower-paced life due to chronic illness can be a significant change. The shift in responsibilities, daily routines, and priorities can be challenging to adapt to, especially when lifestyle changes are necessitated by conditions like chronic fatigue and chronic pain.

The past couple of years have involved GP / consultant appointment, after GP / consultant appointment, test, after test as well as results and referrals. It’s all so very exhausting.

"Appointment fatigue" is a phrase used colloquially to describe the exhaustion or weariness that can arise from having numerous healthcare appointments, particularly when managing a chronic illness. It can be physically and emotionally draining over time.

A diagnosis of a debilitating health condition is like receiving a double-edged sword; it provides the much-needed answers, yet heralds an era of gruelling challenges. It's an overwhelming experience, one that left me feeling defeated, not by some unseen enemy but by my own body.