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Quality of life while having M.E.

Posted on Facebook on 29 April - I am now copying it to my blog.

Part 3 written by Retha Viviers from The ME CFS Foundation South Africa. Living with ME/CFS, Cancer, chronic pain, under the sword of potentially contracting Covid-19 all while countries are under lockdown!


Dear All, thank you for the positive feedback on the first 2 parts I wrote, I really appreciate it and if it can help just one person coping better, I will be very grateful.

Having ME is in itself very challenging. There are many possible causes which make your body behave in a certain way and the end result is ME (also ME/CFS at this stage). It can be trauma - e.g. an accident, an operation, an infection, a virus etc. It is extremely important to REST after an illness, without being negative, it is very possible that Covid-19 could lead to many new ME/CFS patients, a life long illness. Hence, in the case of contracting Covid-19 - REST during and AFTER, until you feel like your old self again. DO NOT exercise or overdo things.


I owe the CANCER community an explanation. ME/CFS, Fibro, Chronic Pain, Lupus, Lyme, etc are debilitating and devastating illnesses, life as you know it, has stopped and you are basically in your own lockdown, with little chance of coming out of it in the majority of the cases. Doctors and scientists often say that these patients' quality of life is less than that of cancer patients, except during chemotherapy and obviously towards the end of the cancer journey.


Having ME, Chronic Pain and now cancer (I have undergone chemo nr 4 on 21 April) I can confirm it is true. Undergoing chemotherapy and enduring its side effects take discomfort, pain, weakness, nausea to a level well known to the more severe chronically ill person. My intention is NOT TO COMPARE illnesses in terms of severity, suffering, pain, quality of life, etc. but to advocate for CANCER and chronic illnesses well known in the ME


community (often referred to as co-morbid illnesses). We all suffer tremendously. We are all forced into our own lockdowns, without knowing if and when we will improve.


With my best intentions I am hoping that once Covid-19 is under control, irrespective how and when and LOCKDOWNS are something of the past that: ** Those who will be fortunate enough to be healthy

** Those who will be able to come and go as they please ** Those who can make plans and stick to it ** Those who can exercise again without becoming worse ** Those who can return to a life as normal as possible ** Those who will have the health to work again and earn an income


Love Retha Viviers

 
 
 

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