Today marks the end of six months since I got the viral infection that changed my life. That gloriously sunny day in Italy on the first of April 2015. It all happened so quickly and unexpectedly, I was out cycling in the countryside one minute and in bed the next. My body reached a point of weakness and exhaustion that I'd never known before and nothing has been the same since. 

I attended my first appointment with the Chronic Fatigue Clinic today. I finally have an official diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis). At last!

I was referred to the CFS clinic by my doctor about 5 months ago, but the waiting lists are long. I've been searching for help online in the meantime and just doing what I can to manage alone.

The clinic is about 45 minutes away and requires a couple of changeovers by bus, so a dear friend travelled across the city to accompany me. 

​It's been a very weak and shaky few days. Trying to live within my very low energy limits is not easy. I seem to be crashing constantly. It makes managing everyday tasks like cooking and cleaning quite difficult.

This week I'd say my main issue has been pain. I'd wake up in pain, in the night, and in the morning. I'll have aches all day, toothache, headaches, migraines, stabbing pain, hip pains, light sensitivity pain... All sorts. I'd still have a bunch of other symptoms too, but overall I'd say it's been a relatively good week anyway.