A country scene with a muddy path in the hills with mountains in the background. Title reads, The long road to diagnosis, my first 6 months of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

The Long Road To Diagnosis: My First 6 Months of ME/CFS

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It all started in 2014. I would occasionally get random, migrating pains in my hips, thighs and arms. It was quite painful and alarming. Because it never hung around long, but just came and vanished quickly, I didn’t do anything about it. It wasn’t very frequent initially. By November 2014 I was in constant pain. At this point I went to see my doctors, but they couldn’t help me. They did loads of blood tests and couldn’t find anything wrong.…

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Char in her pyjamas, sitting in the sunshine in the middle of her room. Title reads: muscle wastage and personal grooming, a personal update

Muscle Wastage And Personal Grooming In ME/CFS

A couple of days ago we had some gorgeous autumn sunshine after a few dark and dreary days. I’d just got up and was getting dressed when I realised how warm the sun was and decided to sit right there and collect some sunshine D! The rest was welcome though, dressing is hard with a weakened body. I only managed about ten minutes in that chair, but it was lovely and warm. I love the sunshine so much, the warmth…

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A bird soaring in the sunset sky. Title reads: Reflections on faith through chronic illness after 18 months of chronic fatigue and pain.

Reflections On Faith Through Chronic Fatigue And Pain

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Today marks 18 months of this Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. At least 18 months in this severe housebound state, we imagine I might have had it milder for at least 6 months before this. As a Christian, I find myself reflecting on the role of my faith through chronic illness. I don’t believe God made me ill or that He is testing me. I don’t think God works like that. In my view, that would contradict His character of Love. Many…

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Char lying on the patio in the sunshine. She looks very happy.

Enjoying This Gorgeous London Sunshine

Spent the whole morning enjoying this gorgeous London sunshine out on the patio today. I had breakfast, drew a bit, then painted for a while, and just enjoyed the sunshine! I even hung a sheet over the washing lines to create a sort of tent for a bit of shade and lay out on a grass mat enjoying the warmth of the sun on my legs and the cool breeze. I don’t have any patio chairs or table out there,…

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Char standing outside under a tree, shes wearing a greet top and matching dangling earrings and smiling.

Grateful For Those Productive Days

Today has been quite productive! We just had our shower doors replaced this week, which meant waiting at least 24 hours for the silicone to dry before we could use the shower. It smells really bad, but Praise God we found a cheap little fan on Amazon and it’s been such a help with the ventilation in the room. We don’t get a draught or breeze through the flat, there is only one window which is really our patio door.…

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A polaroid of Char using a walker to go shopping. Title Reads: Using Mobility Aids In My Thirties

Mobility Aids, The Benefits Of Using A Walker For Shopping

As a thirty-something year old woman, who looks perfectly healthy, walking around a supermarket with a walking aid most commonly used by the elderly can bring up all kinds of feelings. When elderly people who are clearly struggling are walking around the same supermarket without any mobility aids, the looks you get can cause an odd mixture of gratitude, shame and even guilt. Today has been such a good day! After spending most of yesterday in bed, today I managed…

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Char enjoying the sunshine outside. She's wearing sunglasses and smiling.

Focus On The Blessings Of The Present Moment

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Today has been amazing! Its such a gorgeous day, extremely hot and sunny. I’ve only spent short bursts outside as my skin burns in the sun today – it’s that hot!  I started the day with a lovely reading session out on the patio, the sun had just come round the wall and was slowly flooding my patio with light and heat. I’ve been enjoying The Raggamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning lately, and today’s piece was quite fitting. It was…

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Char is out on her patio, laughing and holding some pens and markers

Celebrating The Ordinary: A Gratitude Log

My happy face, my happy place. What a gorgeous day today! So hot and sunny with a lovely cool breeze… I just love British summers! And today I celebrate with colour. I even mismatched my earrings on purpose, they match my mood though! Today I enjoyed a few hours at the desk with all my pens – lettering and colouring. I don’t usually sit at the desk, and I won’t usually sit there very long either, but it’s been a…

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Autumn leaves on a tree. Title reads: When simple errands become overwhelming. Personal Update.

Chronic Illness: Making Simple Errands Overwhelming

When unforeseen problems force me to go out despite severe ME/cfs, simple errands can become overwhelming very quickly. I had to go out today, needed to send off some paperwork, but my printer ran out of ink, again! I needed to print off a load of sheets, so I had to take a bus to get that done at one place, then off on another bus to find a post office to send it. By the time I got to…

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Yellow roses in polaroid, Title on the right reads: My first 6 months housebound with MEcfs.

My First 6 Months Of ME/CFS: The Best And Worst Months Of My Life

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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.  Today marks six months of being housebound with constantly…

Read MoreMy First 6 Months Of ME/CFS: The Best And Worst Months Of My Life