IT'S ME WEEK ALL WEEK

Not only is this ME week but is also in a way my week because it is the week in which my birthday falls and this year is a milestone so the family got together to take me out to lunch and shower me with love and cards and presents and we had a fantastic day at Mill House in Warmington. 

This week I add a new blog on 17th to preserve the New Year resolution to do four a month during 2024 at all costs and no cost at all.   To do that my wits have to work and I was sorely tried in that respect through most of 2023 and into 2024

ME as in Myalgic Encephalomyalitis, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is a condition unknown to British doctors or the medic system.  It crept up on me sometime in the early 80s and totally took charge of my life over the next few years such that by the end of that decade I had been retired out of my Irish Civil Service job. 

Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM)
 refers to a worsening of pre-experienced symptoms and/or the appearance of new symptoms after physical or cognitive exertion which was previously tolerated, frequently marked by a delay of 24-72 hours or more in the appearance of the symptoms. 

PEM is considered to be the hallmark symptom of ME/CFS.  It interferes with the ability to lead a "normal" life.  While in most fatiguing diseases patients experience symptom relief after exercise, the opposite is true for ME/CFS patients for whom even minimal exertion may cause severe PEM.  Recovery time from exertion may be prolonged, lasting maybe days and sometimes weeks to months.  Some ME/CFS patients refer to severe post-exertional episodes as "crashes".  

I have managed to avoid crashes for much of this century but the unmitigated stress of getting set up with the flat caused it all to come to a head.  Luckily with over thirty years experience at managing my condition I was able to avert a TOTAL crash this time.  Less experienced victims would have succumbed ...