| The day I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue | | | | are going through |
| Syndrome (CFS) in 2002, my whole world was | | | | I got so sick of people saying to me "I must |
| turned upside down in an instant. I had a high | | | | have CFS, I am so tired", or "just get a good |
| paying corporate job. I had just purchased my | | | | night's sleep, you'll be fine". Just remember that |
| first home, which I was renovating. I was | | | | unless someone is suffering with CFS themself, |
| incredibly fit and healthy, and made the most out | | | | they are not going to understand what you are |
| of each and every day. I lost all that in the blink | | | | going through. Even my family still to this day |
| of an eye. I still suffer from CFS today, some six | | | | don't understand, and they've been around it for |
| years later. The difference now is that I have | | | | 6 years. |
| learned how to manage it through much trial and | | | | You need to re-evaluate |
| error. If some of the things I have learned during | | | | The cruelty of CFS forces you to address what |
| my battle can help just one other person, then | | | | is really important and achievable here and now. |
| that is a great thing. | | | | Some of the things that were a priority in your |
| Don't give up no matter how bad you feel | | | | life prior to your illness may need to be |
| You need to fight your CFS with everything | | | | re-assessed. In addition to this, don't beat yourself |
| you've got. If things are getting you down just | | | | up over things that you can't do. Just accept that |
| remember: "No matter how bad you think you | | | | you can't do them right now. It doesn't mean you |
| are, there is always someone worse off". If you | | | | will never be able to do them again. I was |
| give up on yourself and your will to beat CFS, it | | | | incredibly fit and healthy prior to my diagnosis, and |
| will beat you. | | | | I worked tirelessly to maintain what I had worked |
| Be determined to try and do something every | | | | so hard to achieve. After my diagnosis, I watched |
| day | | | | that fitness level disappear rapidly. I also watched |
| Do something every day and feel good about the | | | | my weight ballooning out before my very eyes. I |
| achievements you have made, no matter how | | | | spent ages beating myself up over it, which in |
| small they seem. For me, during my worst, I | | | | hindsight was just adding fuel to the fire. I learnt |
| literally could not summon the energy to get out | | | | over time that I just couldn't have my desired |
| of bed. Every single day I made myself get up | | | | level of fitness right now, and learned to live with |
| and shower, even if it meant sleeping for the | | | | it. |
| next 3 hours to recuperate. At least I was up | | | | Tailor your lifestyle around your CFS |
| doing something. | | | | You need to have flexibility in your life when it |
| Make sure you have support from loved ones | | | | comes to CFS because of the inconsistency of |
| Make sure you have people around you that are | | | | the illness. Try and tailor studies or work activities |
| willing to help you in a variety of ways. You are | | | | around what you can do consistently, without |
| going to need help and support from friends and | | | | overdoing it. For me, I could not hold down any |
| family no matter how proud you are. This is | | | | sort of traditional job. I now have my own home |
| something I struggled with initially. Don't feel bad | | | | based business, which is perfect in that it gives |
| about asking for help. Instead, be grateful that | | | | me the flexibility to be able to work when my |
| you are able to get help. | | | | illness allows. |
| Be aware that people won't understand what you | | | | |