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Who am I?

Hey there, welcome to my blog. My name is Sian, I’m 28, I live in Scotland and I have a chronic illness called M.E.  What is M.E.? M.E stands for myalgic encephalomyelitis. It is also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).  How long have I had ME?  I developed M.E 2 years ago at the start of September. I was about to start college to study beauty therapy and the day before I had a headache. Ok, no big deal, everyone has headaches. By the evening it had developed into a migraine (you know, when you can’t stand the light, or sounds, and you feel like you’re going to throw up). I didn’t think too much of it and hoped it would be gone by the morning. Well, it didn’t go. In fact, I had that same migraine constantly for 6 months straight.  What did you do?  I got on with it. I started college the next day, and I attended every day I was supposed to until I couldn’t handle it anymore, which was Christmas 2016.  What ...
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The joys of PEM

What is PEM?

PEM stands for post exertional malaise. 

This is a definitive characteristic of ME/CFS. So what is it? Well, it’s different for everyone, but it is usually a period of worsening of symptoms, and what I call “payback” for doing something. That something could be a physical thing, such as going for a walk, going to the gym, having a shower or even just climbing the stairs. It can also be a mental thing, like stress, or from socialising where you have to be ‘on’ for a period of time. Like what I’ve just had with having a visitor staying for a few days; I didn’t do anything physical, but I am completely worn out mentally, and this has caused me to have PEM. It also ‘typically’ (not for everyone) comes on 24-48 hours after doing said ‘thing’. 

Today I woke up with a pretty intense headache, along with the feeling of nausea, my body feels weak, and I have been on the verge of sensory overload all day. This is because I had to engage in conversations pretty much nonstop for four days, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but I also had lunch with a bunch of people on Saturday. I like to socialise, if I’m alone for too long it can have an impact on my mental health, it will make me feel sad. But it’s very hard finding the balance that won’t cause PEM. 

Over the last few days, I have had to disappear to the bedroom for an hour before dinner because I’m drained and on the cusp of overload, which I try to avoid at all costs. I like having our space back again, I can relax and manage myself better. 

 Thanks for reading. 
That ME Girl 

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