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For and against recovery whats your experience

Posted , 16 users are following.

Retriever
Retriever

Can we as a group try to collate those things which has helped recovery and those which didn't. My experience is exercise definately didn't.

3 likes, 92 replies

92 Replies

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  • jeanp
    jeanp Retriever

    Posted

    What works: relaxation; realising I can’t do everything; a six week mindfulness course which my GP referred me to. Eating little and often, as healthily as possible. Reducing my hours at work so that I have a rest day midweek.

    What I am trying: using a heart rate monitor to see when I am overdoing it; it has an alarm when my heart rate goes over a certain point, and reminds me to stop for a moment until it goes down again.

    Reducing alcohol. Avoiding wheat and carbohydrates generally. Getting outside when the sun is shining. Finding out as much as I can about CFS/ME.

    Taking supplements of Vit D3, Folate, B12 (I am B12 deficient)

    What hasn’t worked: trying harder, ignoring it and hoping it will go away, getting despondent and thinking things will never change, getting angry.

    Only diagnosed September 2015, though I’ve had the symptoms for about three years, maybe longer, with a slow onset.

    • Retriever
      Retriever jeanp

      Posted

      Interesting Jean my heart runs riot at times but I seem to able to control it  by breathing, I think What Hasn't Worked is spot on. I think I am strong but I think if you can control all this you leave me standing.

      Good Luck

    • jeanp
      jeanp Retriever

      Posted

      Yes, breathing steadily and deeply brings my heart rate down quite quickly. So the heart rate monitor is a usuful tool for me.

      What's been interesting is how much that heart rate shoots up when I am in in situations at work which are making me a bit anxious, even though I am sitting down and not doing much. And knowing that, I can reduce it again by breathing, relaxing. It correlates with fatigue at the end of the day - anxious days mean I am on the bed for the evening! I think I have got into the habit of low level anxiety, and now I am aware of it, I am trying to  reduce it.

    • jeanp
      jeanp

      Posted

      And in no way can I control this nasty little thing called CFS/ME! I am just trying to look at all angles and maybe even little improvements will add up to some relief in the long run. That's why this was a really good post, so we can share our attempts; what doesn't work for one person, may for another.

       

    • Retriever
      Retriever jeanp

      Posted

      Hi Jean, One thing we have to be careful of is saying it,s only since I have had this do I have these feelings. In my working life I quite often found myself in stressful situations. My breathing went through the roof and I got very hot. Most of these situations were one chance to get what you wanted  there was no second chance. I must admit recovery was much quicker than now, but then I probably have more time to think about it now I have retired
    • Retriever
      Retriever

      Posted

      I havn't had a racing heart for some days now so somethings are getting better
  • Retriever
    Retriever

    Posted

    I still think I my be improving. I had some very nasty spots in my head they seem to have cleared up. Can't be a bad sign can it.
  • syracuse
    syracuse Retriever

    Posted

    I've suffered from ME for at least 11 years. I find some light exercise associated with gardening helps huegly. I can't overdo it but being among growing things is very uplifting
  • isabelle17
    isabelle17 Retriever

    Posted

    Hi all just wanted to add my two cents in!

    Been suffering from cfs for almost two years now following a nasty bought of pneumonia followed by glandular fever. Been a rocky road but am managing to work in London full time and manage my symptoms (ish!)

    Things that helped me:

    yoga (highly recommend - I started out doing restoration yoga which is a lot of lying around and zoning out, moved to yin and can now manage power yoga)

    Acupuncture - also provides relief when the going gets really tough

    Breathing exercising - generally calming

    Vitamin D - I understand deficiency is very common in cfs sufferers. Despite having just been on holiday mine was alarmingly low - I was prescribed booster tablets which really helped.

    I hope that these can help someone else - stay positive folks xxx

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