If there's one thing that infuriates most PWME it is a statement that goes something like this: "The symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are perpetuated by deconditioning and avoidance of exercise". We know that is rubbish, but at the same time, we also know that deconditioning is an inevitable consequence of enforced inactivity. There is a difference between the loss of physical fitness and ill health—and you can't have fitness without some degree of health that allows at least some physical activity.Without a doubt my recent relapse has resulted in a state of physical deconditioning. It's not the same as ME symptoms but my lack of physical fitness and stamina is making recovery difficult. At the moment, the simplest of most everyday tasks absolutely floors me, not just ME symptoms but the lack of physical fitness and stamina. I really feel it and it doesn't seem to get much easier either.
"Make sure you do some enjoyable activities every day!" So goes the sing-song CBT advice to people with ME. "You won't notice how tired you feel!" Yes folks, we'll be enjoying ourselves so much that we wouldn't even know that we are ill. Except it doesn't work like that, does it? Nevertheless, today I tried to do something that I enjoyed. I took some photos with my iThingmy, and holding it up not too high, I felt like I was lifting a very heavy weight. Like I was working out. And I was exhausted. The fun factor could not gloss over the reality. As much as I *wanted* to do it. the physical resources were just not there.
I guess I still have the ghost of GET lurking in my psyche and those cliches about symptoms being perpetuated by deconditioning. You can't force it. I feel angered when I think of those myths and the silly phrases, although it wasn't GET that caused this relapse, I must add.
When I hear about all this talk of deconditioning, I always picture myself in Boots the Chemist standing in front of hair care shelves for some reason, hence the photo. And if there was a magic potion in a bottle that would 'recondition' me, preferable on a 3 for the price of 2 special offer, I'd be only too willing to to give it a go.
1 comment:
I'd buy a bottle of that 'reconditioning' potion too - special offer or no. My last attempt (swimming, a couple of years back) left me much worse, though I did it ever so carefully, GET-style.
Sometimes I wish I had an IThingmy - but I really only use a mob for phone and text and would have to pay much more than my current £15 a month tarrif. Tempting though.
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