We all feel tired and worn out.
Chronic fatigue is an all consuming fatigue mimicking flu like symptoms, heavy limbs, feeling spaced out and exhausted. This can be constant with sufferers becoming bed bound or in waves and relapses following times of stress and illness.
The frustration can be found in windows of energy and ability rapidly descending into something so debilitating that taking a shower is enough of a challenge for the day.
Unfortunately the phrase chronic fatigue or ME still carries a stigma and many people still feel that it is psychological. The same can be said for the widespread body pain and joint aches and stiffness of Fibromyalgia. This leads to patients feeling misunderstood and not supported. Feeling so unwell can rapidly spiral into depression especially if you feel that you aren’t believed or supported.
Many natural therapists will also feel that if only the patient had a clean eating lifestyle with times spent outdoors, engaging in relaxation exercises and spiritual connections, dealing with past trauma, then this would be resolved. This is true but sometimes these relapses can still occur even with doing all this.
For Donna her life started with being adopted as a baby. There are many studies now into the trauma of early separation from the birth mother and how it profoundly affects the brain and nervous system. Many adult adoptees Donna has spoken to also suffer with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Donna’s blood tests have always been normal. She has eaten clean for years, exercised, has a very strong spiritual connection and a strong faith in God, sees the benefits in nature and natural treatments and yet still suffers with chronic fatigue syndrome and Fibromyalgia. She is grateful to have a Doctor and Nutritionist who understand and who reassured her that these things are real and do exist and aren’t in her imagination. Donna has always had a good imagination but not good enough to imagine all these symptoms!
Donna manages to work a few mornings a week but during a relapse has had to sleep for a few hours in the day plus up to 12 hours at night. Having to pace herself and cut out certain daily activities to manage doing the food shop for example.
The spaced out brain fog feeling and dizziness is the worst and makes everything and everyone around her seem to be in a daze and a dream, this makes it very difficult to find enjoyment in anything as she is just going through the motions, trying to put one foot in front of the other. When people talk to her she laughs and smiles and in those two minutes they would have no idea that she is going through this.
Donna remembers relapses throughout her life and before children woe betide she tell a mum that she was tired! That would be met with a loud snort and a “YOU’RE TIRED?! Try having three kids then tell me about tired!” Sadly we always compare. When someone talks about their illness we automatically compare it to ourselves, we know we are doing this is if we suddenly interject with “oh yeah I’ve had that” and then start talking about ourselves and our ailments for the rest of the conversation when they hadn’t even finished, a very bad habit. Or we do as that mum did and offer a comparison which means “well I have it worse than you” or “I have that and I cope much better than you”. Even if we don’t understand, even if we think it’s stuff and nonsense, even if we think they’re just being dramatic, just be a friend and be supportive even if you can’t be understanding. We can never ever understand someone else’s pain or journey, letting them feel heard and supported is what they need.
When Donna has energy she feels so elated and often does too much, so pleased that she is able to! When she has a relapse she is amazed that she was ever able to rush around and desperately hopes for a light at the end of this tunnel.
Donna’s journey is ongoing. She still has a lot to learn and more therapies to try, and is currently trying the perrin technique which includes exercises which allows more effective lymphatic drainage which is thought to help chronic fatigue.
Donna says “I definitely see the benefits of natural therapies although wouldn’t choose all of them. I like the Hippocrates quote “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”.
It is important to take one day at a time but hard to do when you’re in a valley and when there is always so much to do.
Donna’s hope is that people will be more understanding of those who suffer with ME and Fibromyalgia including other types of fatigue, and that those suffering will be reassured that this isn’t all in their imagination and to seek help.
Fresh Bread & Faith 