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 really brings a sense of wellbeing and eases the aches a bit. Not looking forward to a long winter, but it will make those sunny moments that much more amazing!

Grateful For My Small Flat

My flat is so tiny, here I’m sitting right in the middle, halfway to the bathroom which it in the top right of the picture, the kitchen right behind me, you can see the dish-drying rack behind my head, and my bed on the left side where photo is being taken from. You might be able to see my walker standing on the right side of me, right between the built in wardrobe and me. In front of me is the patio door. That’s it, my whole house! At least it doesn’t require much energy to move around it.

Personal Grooming On Hold

Hopefully you can’t tell how horribly hairy my legs are or how one has been partially epilated while the other remains fully furry! Just had to stop after three lines up my leg, take it in shifts.

I know it’s not necessary, like painting one’s nails, but it does make you feel better. Well, it makes me feel better anyway. When you don’t have energy to even shower everyday, that’s when other grooming practices drop lower on the priority list too. But sometimes it can do wonders for your emotional well-being if you treat yourself to some clean clothes, nail polish or make-up.

Muscle Wastage After Months In Bed

I hate seeing how my legs have deconditioned so much. No shape, no tone or muscle, just skin and bones which are now easily felt – it grosses me out that I can feel my own skeleton! But I know that one day I’ll be able to do a bit more activity and rebuild my muscles again. Till then it’s a matter of making sure I don’t lose them completely because then I’ll lose the ability to move myself at all.

So it’s important to maintain movement, however little it might be at the moment, to keep the joints and muscles as mobile and strong as I can. Without overdoing things and making my general well-being worse.

It’s a fine balancing act trying not to boom and bust. Too often I tend to do too much and crash constantly. It’s not easy slowing down so much.

I am very grateful for all the help I get at home though, my sister is amazing, and I’m grateful for the help I’m getting through the NHS too. My therapist is trying hard to understand and help me manage my very limited life now. Praise God!

Note: a version of this was first published on Instagram or Facebook, but I wanted to have all my posts in one place, so I have transferred it here and backdated it.