Before and after photo of Char, On the left she is overweight, on the right she is slim.

My Weight Loss Journey: Managing My Weight And M.E. With Diet

People with chronic illness often find it hard to lose weight, whether it’s due to medication or their ill health, but many wrongly believe that it’s useless changing their diet because they cannot exercise. Most of my weight loss journey was without exercise, in fact I was mostly bedridden, but still consuming decent meals daily. At one point even three cooked meals daily! It’s a slow process that requires commitment and consistency and I haven’t only lost weight with diet…

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a woman sitting alone on a windowsill, looking lonely. Title reads Isolation, why people drift away when you're chronically ill and why this might be a good thing

Isolation: Why Do People Drift Away?

Sometimes it’s hard to accept that when you’re living with a chronic illness, people fall away, but it is something that commonly happens after a period of time, and it might even be beneficial. Initially, once people are made aware of your struggles, you might have an outpouring of support and practical help from many around you, but over time, when you don’t improve, most people will inevitably drift away as they are unable to make taking care of you…

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Four plates of low histamine keto meals

Low Histamine Keto Meal Ideas, Part 1

This is the first of what I hope will become a regular series on my blog: low histamine ketogenic meal ideas! I had initially thought of doing weekly meal plans in advance and sharing them here with you, but my health doesn’t allow for consistency like that and I’ve only ever managed the first post. So I have decided to rather post a round-up of past meals which you and I can scroll through for inspiration whenever we’re short on…

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White flowers in a bouquet. Title reads: Does chronic illness make you feel useless? Don't compare yourself to others, you are enough.

Does Chronic Illness Make You Feel Useless?

Does chronic illness make you feel useless? I know that many ​Christians with chronic illness feel like they are no longer useful to God or others, that they have lost all purpose and can no longer contribute to society or ministry, but that is just not true! Don’t compare your resources ​and abilities to anybody else’s, they are yours and they are enough. God ​Can Use ​Us Despite Ourselves We may have good reasons why we can no longer be…

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Char is pointing to her shirt which shows an empty battery with the words "low spoon warning" on it. Title reads: Histamine issues have caused the M.E. to flare up. personal update.

My Histamine Issues Have Caused An ME/CFS Flare

​It’s been a while since I wrote a personal update. I have recently been extremely drained and weak, so haven’t been very social or active online. My primary focus this month was on my itching. I wanted to try get it under control as it was really getting me down, much more than ​the M.E. does. I ​have been in tears and so very frustrated. The scratching ​has been utterly exhausting and to top it off, I caused myself a…

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Natural Health Worldwide's logo of a tree growing in the palm of hands

Natural Health Worldwide: Healthcare For The Housebound Patient

Natural Health Worldwide (NHW) is a new website that launched on 1 June, 2017. It is a portal which connects patients from all round the World with NHW health practitioners. These practitioners, also from all round the World, can be Medical Doctors, other qualified Health Professionals or Experienced Patients. Each practitioner has an individual webpage where they can describe their qualifications, their experience and what they specialise in. Patients can search the site by type of practitioner and or illness…

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A pill bottle and glass of water in the foreground, in the background a woman sleeping on a bed. Title reads: using MSM supplements to relieve chronic pain. Methylsulfonyl Methane, also called the miracle supplement

MSM for Chronic Pain Relief

​I’ve had quite a few people ask what I’m using for ​to reduce chronic pain. One of my favourite things since falling ill is MSM supplements. It is my one staple since I first heard about it and it’s potential to help the body heal from all sorts of things. It is even ​referred to as the “miracle supplement” and also the “beauty mineral” because it is so beneficial in so many areas. One of the reasons for this is…

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Char's legs covered in blankets. Title reads: How I'm tackling the MEcfs flares. Personal Update.

How I’m Tackling The ME/CFS Flares

I had been doing so well for so long that I had almost forgotten how bad these flares can get. It can be discouraging when you are reminded so unexpectedly of the horrible passenger you carry with you always. This ME/CFS might be managed or worked around for a time, but it does come back to show itself from time to time, makes sure you remember it’s still there and just how strong it is. ​This is especially evident when…

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Char's bare leg full of itchy bumps. Title reads: How I'm managing histamine intolerance. Eliminating the itching, rashes and hives.

Histamine Intolerance: Reducing The Itching, Rashes And Hives

Have you been experiencing itching, rashes or hives since changing your diet? Have you had no luck in identifying an allergen or trigger despite elimination diets and eating clean? If you have recently switched to a low carb diet, it is very possible that you are experiencing an allergic reaction, though you might not be allergic to individual items, it might be a little more complicated than that. Something I recently discovered, which surprised me, is that people can be…

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A collage of 4 meals, title reads: How carbs make my MEcfs symptoms worse. Personal update

How Carbs Make My ME/CFS Worse

Carbs really make my ME/CFS symptoms worse! I have spent so much time on the sofa and in my bed again this week. One would think I’d no longer be surprised by this, but I continue to shake my head every time it happens. It’s the carbohydrate effect. This current flare is most likely due to the fact that I’m out of ketosis again since trying to deal with my allergies/histamine disorder. I assume I’m no longer fat adapted because,…

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