*My Story*
About 12 years ago, I went on holiday abroad and I've never felt completely well since then (it could have started with the vaccinations, the malaria tablets, the tick bite or the stomach infection I had over there - I'm not certain what's caused my ME). The onset of my ME has been gradual and started off very mild, but I still felt that something was wrong so I went to my GP and had some blood tests done but I was just told that I had anaemia and I knew that anaemia made people tired all the time.
In those days the ME was mild so I was still able to otherwise lead a pretty full life, although even then, I knew full well that I could never take on a permanent full time job the way other people could. People were always dismissive when I said that because I was young and seemed otherwise okay. I began to get painful stomach upsets which were exacerbated by the iron tablets, so I had to often choose between whether to make my anaemia worse, or my stomach upsets worse but my GP never took this seriously and shrugged it off as one of those side effects I should learn to live with.
About 5 years ago, I tried to keep up with the world by doing full time work - big mistake! That brought on tinnitus and after some research, I realised I had IBS as well. I left the full time job and was unemployed on benefits for a while, and then 3 years ago took on a part time job which I still work at now. I also started studying part time as well. My boss suspected something was wrong as I had trouble keeping up with work, so my GP referred me to a specialist who said I had ME.
I didn't want to accept it and carried on regardless, but things became too much last year when I started to have trouble walking, became slightly sound and light sensitive and developed more food intolerances causing digestion problems. The worsening symptoms forced me to accept that I have this and must learn to live with it. I strongly suspect my worsening health during the past 12 months and particularly the walking trouble I attribute to the colonics treatments I took to clear out my stomach last year.
I've since stopped the colonics treatments and radically altered my diet (excluding wheat among other things) and after reading accounts of other people with ME on various forums, I forced myself to listen to my body and pace myself more appropriately. It's difficult, boring (to rest when I'd rather be out and about), but I've learned the hard way that is what's better for me and life is more manageable these days. I'm very lucky to live with parents who help me and over time have learned to accept my limitations. It's taught me a lot about myself and although I'd rather not be putting up with ME, but I'm happier now than I was before I was ill.
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