Post-Christmas update

So, I survived Christmas. My boyfriend’s mum turned out to be incredibly nice to me, which made my stay there so much more pleasant than it would have been otherwise. My stomach did get a little upset – I’m still not sure what caused it, but I suspect it was the water. I’ve been living off spring water and I forgot to bring some with me. Anyway, I’m back at home now (well, my second home, which is an empty farm house that belongs to my boyfriend’s uncle), and my stomach seems to have settled.

When I had a quiet moment at my boyfriend’s parents’ place, I asked my boyfriend’s dad why he got fired up about my diet. I asked (in a light-hearted way) if there was any reason why we weren’t getting along. I must have asked in a way that was too light-hearted, because he replied by saying “No, not at all! All’s good on our end of things”. I’d like to believe that’s true, but judging by the way he went off at my boyfriend about my diet, I’m not so sure. But I have little choice but to believe him.

Christmas woes

Christmas is supposed to be a happy time of year, I thought. Since I've had CFS, it's been anything but. Last year, my CFS was pretty severe: I was really fragile, and it was really difficult to move me anywhere, since I struggled with things as simple as walking. So I stayed in the city for Christmas. My boyfriend went home for Christmas and came back on Christmas night, so I did have company for some of Christmas Day, even though for the most part it was a lonely Christmas.

This year, I'll be following my boyfriend home. Given that his parents know what I've been going through, I thought they would be accommodating. Nope. Part of my treatment plan is a very restricted diet, and the plan for Christmas lunch is to have everybody has to bring an unusual food dish.

When my boyfriend rang home to get an idea of what food they have so far - just to see how much of my own food I'll have to bring - he got an earful from his dad about how I'm "not a 12-year-old" and I'm "on this diet by choice", therefore he doesn't have to be accommodating.

Sounds like it's going to be a thrilling Christmas.

Diaries

Keeping a diary is useful. I've been keeping one for the past month or so, and yesterday I read entries from the start of November. I seem to have improved heaps since then - I don't think I would have noticed as much if I hadn't kept a diary.

So I guess I'm saying it might be useful for people with CFS to keep one. Of course, I realise people who are worse-off than me wouldn't be able to, but perhaps when you are well enough it might be a useful progress gauge.

MORA lymphatic treatment

It's probably time for an update.

I'm doing well. I'm getting better every day, I think. And people have said the change is noticeable now, which is great. It means I'm not just imagining that I'm getting better!

I still find that I tire easily, and that if I'm not careful when I'm active, I can spend days recovering from my carelessness - but generally the effects are less severe than they have been in the past.

I think I'm at a stage where it mightn't even look like there's anything wrong with me. (Until you notice I go missing for a few days after a bout of activity!)

I've been visiting the nurse fornightly for MORA lymphatic treatments. I can't remember if I've explained this already, but I might as well explain it again anyway:

The body has two "transport" systems": blood and lymph. Blood has a pump to move it around the body (the heart), but lymph doesn't have a pump. Lymph relies on muscle movement to move it around the body. As you can imagine, most people with CFS have such low energy levels that they can't move around a lot, so the lymph gets clogged up.

The lymphatic system gets rid of all kinds of nasties, so when lymph isn't moving around, it can't be a good thing. MORA lymphatic treatments help unclog the lymph and sitmulate it to move along.

If nothing else, the treatments are very relaxing!