ME - and Chronic Fibromyalgia Syndrome
These are the things I would like you to understand about ME.
Please understand that being sick doesn’t mean I'm not a human being. I spend most of my day in considerable pain and exhaustion.
Please understand the difference between happy and healthy. If you're talking to me and I sound happy, it means I'm happy. It doesn't mean that I'm not in a lot of pain or extremely tired, or that I'm getting better, or any of those things.Please understand that Chronic Fibromyalgia Syndrome is variable. One day I am able to walk to the park and back, the next day I'll have trouble getting to the kitchen.
Please understand that "getting out and doing things" does not make me feel better, and can often make me feel seriously worse. Telling me that I need a treadmill, or that I just need to lose or gain weight, use an exercise machine, join the gym, go to exercise classes may frustrate me to tears and is not correct. If I was capable of doing these things, I WOULD.
Plese understand that I'm not depressed, though I suffer from depression (wouldn't you if you were hurting and exhausted for years on end?). Chronic Fibromyalgia is not created by depression.
Please understand that I do not need your sympathy. I just need your understanding and that your expectation of me will not be beyond my limitations.
Our thanx to Judith M. of Invercargill for sending this contribution for us to share. - Ed.
