In the mood

How are you today? Ok? Happy? Sad? Depressed?

For CFSers depression is an added insult, likely brought on as a result of our battles for recognition for our illness, for medical help, for employment rights, for financial assistance and for self-respect.

It's not surprising that because of all we go through, that we become vulnerable to and victims of depressive illness. In my case I suffered because I could not see a way forward. I felt like I was going to be seriously ill for ever. Rollo May puts it well...

Houmous / Hummus/ Hummous

One of my favourite foods is houmous.  I have no idea how to spell it, but that's largely irrelevant as I'm really only concerned with eating the glorious stuff!

Day 7 of quitting smoking, updates and learning to say no.

Morning friends

People with CFS have a hard lesson to learn, saying ‘No.’ Most of us want to please and want to be of use to people especially those we love.

A 'No' uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a 'Yes' merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble.
Mohandas Gandhi

CFS - like climbing Everest in heels.

I'd like to think I'd been smart enough to think up that title on my own, but I think that I must have stolen it from somewhere else, rarely am I that original!

In a rare switch from my optimistic nature, today I am going to tell you some of my less cheery thoughts on CFS. As the title says, having CFS can be like climbing Everest in heels.

Three years of CFS.

This was sent to me by Ian and I thought it would be great to share his experience of his life with CFS/M.E. If you want to read more about pacing visit our forum

Gluten-free fried chicken

These are very much an occasional treat as they are deep fried and covered in soya flour. I think you would be able to use regular flour if you were not intolerant to gluten, but keep an eye on them in the oil they burn easily. It is nicer than bought fried chicken and contains no nasties such as MSG and if you can afford it you can get good quality chicken that you know has had a reasonably good life.

Day 6 of quitting smoking and updates

Hiya Friends

I am doing well so far and even forgot to put a nicotine patch on this morning for about an hour and a half, so have now got one of those on and am fine. It is not easy, I am getting cravings, but they pass soon enough if I stick with it. I am still just taking each moment as it comes.

CFS funnies

Don't get me wrong, CFS sucks, but it really does have it's funny moments, especially thanks to brainfog.

Brainfog is an almost constant companion for some of us, so what is brainfog? Imagine that it feels like your head is full to bursting with cotton wool and then when trying to speak imagine that only nonsense comes out of your mouth. That's brainfog. It makes it impossible to think, speak or sometimes even understand.