My first weekend away in a while...

I'm really doing a lot better these days.

I went away this weekend to A's farm for the first time in a long while. I was more active than I expected to be.

I went for a short horse ride, a few short walks, and drove the four-wheel motorbike around to feed the sheep and explore my favourite part of the farm. I expected to spend the whole time indoors; I surprised myself.

Now I feel like how most people who don't know anything about CFS expect me to feel - most of my symptoms have toned down; fatigue and tiring easily are my main symptoms now. I still ache more than a normal person should after even light exhertion, but I find it wears off quicker now (in a day, as opposed to in a week).

It's amazing how much my quality of life has improved, simply from being able to stand for longer periods of time, and walk greater distances.

ME description

Someone posted this description of ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) on an ME/CFS forum today. I think it's a pretty good description; it starts off with a lot of medical mumbo-jumbo, but the list of symptoms is pretty spot-on:

"Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a chronic, inflammatory, primarily neurological disease that affects the central nervous system, the immune system, the cardiovascular system, the endocrinological system and muscoskeletal system. It can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including changes in sensory tolerance, visual problems, exertional muscle weakness, difficulties with co-ordination and speech, severe fatigue, cognitive impairment, problems with balance, subnormal or poor body temperature control and pain."

The full article talks about ME sufferers turning to complementary and alternative medicine for relief. The article's author seems to advocate pharamaceuticals though - I don't think I like pharmaceuticals as much the article's author does; I'm off pharamaceuticals completely now, and I seem to be doing a lot better... Here's the link to the article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/120639.php

My fourth appointment with Dr S

I'm doing well.

I caught a cold or virus or something this week, so that's been a slight setback, but I think it's going away.

I've started the next phase of my treatment plan, which is treatment for parasites. I'm taking anti-candida medication as well still.

The clinic is closed for the month of September (they warned us a while ago that it would be closed), so my treatments and appointments will resume in October. I've been booked in for another MORA treatment, and three lympathic drainage therapies, and another appointment with the doctor in mid-October.

All in all, apart from the virus, it's still going well and I am improving, so that's good.

Apparently I'm one of the clinic's sicker patients; I never knew how "bad" I was until lately - even with so much improvement, there's still some way to go. But at least I'm moving along.