Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) describes a sense of exhaustion and post-exertion malaise, even when you have gotten enough rest and sleep. The disease is characterized by six months of incapacitating fatigue experienced as profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina, and problems with concentration and short-term memory. The cause is unknown, but it is a...
Taking a little inspiration from RitchieD's post.
I've had a rough year, all the crappola with my husband, and then cancer has affected so many people in my life this year. 2 friends diagnosed, 1 friend died, and just last month my sister's husband diagnosed with esophogeal cancer. My sister and I are very close, she's one of my biggest supporters and does so much for me, she lives less than a mile away so I count on her so much. He can't have surgery because of how imbedded the cancer is in his throat, tonsils and other tissue. He just started chemo and having a rough time. This all happening at the same time we've welcomed a new grandchild into the world. The days have been so bittersweet......the joys of our sweet Lily, and the sadness of what Hector is going through.
I have oddly been absent from the group and can't even explain why. Survival I guess, I just couldn't face anyone elses pain, everywhere I turned there was sadness and loss.
I feel terrible because I've made some really special connections with some of you here, and I've let you down. I haven't been there for you and I haven't let you be there for me.
So my new......attitude?.....approach?.....resolve?.....not sure what to call it. Determination.......I am determined to do better this year, to be the support system I want to be, for my sister and Hector, for all of you.
To accept that this was a rough year and I blew people off but that was okay, I had to be a little selfish to survive. I know many of you will understand. But now it's a new year and a new start and a new strength is emerging.......I can't make food for other people, can't drive them anywhere, can't help clean their house, but I am a damn good listerner, and damn good at understanding, and that is what I will do, that is who I will be, the person people know they can count on for a shoulder to cry on, caring and understanding, a loving word.
I am looking forward to it. I am looking forward to reconnecting with many of you, and making new connections.
YOU ARE A GREAT BIG WONDERFUL BUNCH OF PEOPLE, I AM SO GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF THIS GROUP!
A peaceful and joyous New Year to all of you!
Genie
I
I've had a rough year, all the crappola with my husband, and then cancer has affected so many people in my life this year. 2 friends diagnosed, 1 friend died, and just last month my sister's husband diagnosed with esophogeal cancer. My sister and I are very close, she's one of my biggest supporters and does so much for me, she lives less than a mile away so I count on her so much. He can't have surgery because of how imbedded the cancer is in his throat, tonsils and other tissue. He just started chemo and having a rough time. This all happening at the same time we've welcomed a new grandchild into the world. The days have been so bittersweet......the joys of our sweet Lily, and the sadness of what Hector is going through.
I have oddly been absent from the group and can't even explain why. Survival I guess, I just couldn't face anyone elses pain, everywhere I turned there was sadness and loss.
I feel terrible because I've made some really special connections with some of you here, and I've let you down. I haven't been there for you and I haven't let you be there for me.
So my new......attitude?.....approach?.....resolve?.....not sure what to call it. Determination.......I am determined to do better this year, to be the support system I want to be, for my sister and Hector, for all of you.
To accept that this was a rough year and I blew people off but that was okay, I had to be a little selfish to survive. I know many of you will understand. But now it's a new year and a new start and a new strength is emerging.......I can't make food for other people, can't drive them anywhere, can't help clean their house, but I am a damn good listerner, and damn good at understanding, and that is what I will do, that is who I will be, the person people know they can count on for a shoulder to cry on, caring and understanding, a loving word.
I am looking forward to it. I am looking forward to reconnecting with many of you, and making new connections.
YOU ARE A GREAT BIG WONDERFUL BUNCH OF PEOPLE, I AM SO GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF THIS GROUP!
A peaceful and joyous New Year to all of you!
Genie
I
It's scary, I worry about cancer a lot now. I suppose if I didn't worry about getting it in circumstances like that, there would be something wrong with me. How can you not be upset by these things?
It's good to hear that even if you're down you're still fighting. Life is about getting back up and continuing to fight on after you've been knocked down. It sure isn't easy...no way is it easy. Some days I wonder why I even get out of bed.
But I was raised to be tough. You have to keep going.
I don't know why I keep going. I think some people just have this little part of them that can't give up. My dad actually said he had given up. He was unable to work, he was losing his house, he couldn't support my half sister and his wife was getting stressed. When he first started having health problems he said he wouldn't start martial arts again because he didn't want to be unable to do some things everyone else could. So he sat down in a recliner and never really got up again. A lot of psychiatric meds and some back surgeries later he just gave up on ever finding relief of any kind. Facing very similar (possibly same genetic health issues) when I could get up again I went back to martial arts. Limitations and all. It's the only way I am going to reduce those limitations. I guess it is better to be one of those that can't stop fighting but it sure is tiring.
I too keep worrying about cancer. It's pretty much the only thing that kills people young in my family. Everything else my relatives just keep pushing through into their 80s, 90s, nearly 100 for some. My grandma died of breast cancer and I started having lumps along the bottom of my breasts and in my armpits. Turned out to be puss filled cysts. We aren't sure why they appear in multiples and then disappear again. They still concern me some with no confirmed diagnoses and then my mom got skin cancer so I'm looking at moles and lumps wondering which ones I might want to have checked when. Some days I just want to know what it is that is finally going to kill me or at least destroy my health to the point of no life until I die. What of this myriad of diseases I could get/have is it going to be?! I want to know just so I can stop worrying about the potential other ones.
I just feel that we have to do what we can to take
care of ourselves. There's a book about 'The Spoon
Theory' which has to do with CFS. Coming on the
internet and interacting on this or any other site, to me,
takes time, energy and focus. I found the same to be
true of going to my support groups and just 'being social'
in general. So. I am pretty sporadic when it comes to
DS. I am always happy when I can be on here because
I feel the people are all so supportive and filled with good
and helpful information and I feel it's a place of
caring and acceptance like no other I've found.
I would also hope that people can understand too. I
IMO don't consider doing good self care, in whatever
form that takes, to be selfish. I think it's important
vital to our well being, and
contributes to our healing. Yes. There's a place to
be strong and fight, and just as importantly I believe in
finding a balance to pace myself and practice self care.
Happy New Year to all the 'fighters'
warriors and people who keep showing up.
Sending out a group hug here.