Don't do more than your body can take. Listen to your body. We all push ourselves at times and we pay for it later. It's just the way CFS works. I've had 15 years of this. In my experience, it gets worse.

Unfortunately sometimes we can't avoid doing things that might make us worse. But, it has helped me to realize that the after effects of overdoing it won't last forever. I'd go crazy fearing every possible thing that might trigger my symptoms.

Luna,

Don't beat yourself up about it since there are some things that are just out of our control. It's good that you recognized that the steep walk was really more then you should handle since recognizing our limits is almost half the battle.

Be gentle with yourself. It is what it is. Try to treat yourself extra well these next few days & only do what's easy.

Good luck for a speedy recovery!

It's true, the aftermath of over-exertion can be unpleasant, even scary...but the effect doesn't last long and I personally don't feel that it does lasting harm.

I've been pushing things to the edge for years by staying somewhat active, and it hasn't killed me yet. There are some people who have really bad crashes that last for weeks...or even longer...but I think for most people it's only a few days of feeling jet-lagged and burned out.

I know when I've over done things. Later on in the evening I get stinging pain in my arms shoulders stomach & thighs and my butt. It's awful. I also get burning dry eyes and mouth from Sjogren's syndrome. I have the RA also.

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!! I'm sure we often get in situations that we KNOW we're gonna pay for. Like what happened to you with the hill. Overextertion....bad.

But I can get just as bad a reaction from my CFIDly body if I have a few days of stressful phonecalls!!! It's odd, but our bodies just seem to need to put us to bed after we go beyond "moderation" in ANYTHING. Emotional, physical.....it still ends up as a crash. And sometimes there's simply nothing we can do about it. It's life.

Don't beat yourself up. You may not crash at all!! This illness is nutz ya know!!

Hang in, we all get it!!

I've found the same thing about crashes that Darla mentioned. It doesn't have to be physical exertion...emotional stress can be far worse for me than physical overexertion.

I've told this joke before, but people on the board liked it, so here it is again.

A crew is working on an underground septic tank, and they have the cover off it. One of the crew trips over something and falls in...but lands on his feet with the liquid up to his chin.

The rest of the crew go looking for a rope to pull him out, and one of the crew tells everyone to be quiet, the guy in the tank is trying to say something in a low voice, but he can't make it out.

After everyone quiets down, the guy leaning over the opening says..."Sounds like he's saying...don't make waves, don't make waves..."

RIchie, Thanks for the laugh!

HI if i over do things i end up with flu like simptoms headache , feel sick , blocked nose, feel like iv been battered cos my body hurts all over, takes me a good wk to recover, i find sleeping in the afternoon helps me recharge my batteries. x i also suffer with fibromyalgia x

I found a Marianne Williamson CD at the local library which has various meditations including one for health. I find that laying down and listening can be healing. I don't have CFS but can relate with health issues at times.

HI

Thans for all the posts, they really helped me to not worry too much, i was really bad for about a week but in a way it was a good thing as now i know i will be louder in saying no to what i cant do to other people, i appreciate the support

x