Struggling to cope with this illness at only 24 years old
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi everyone. I was diagnosed with m.e and fibromyalgia at the age of 22, Iv now had the illness 2 years and has gotten worse over this period, in 2 years I had to give my career up, give my flat up, sell my beloved horse, give up my social life and independence and spend my days alone resting in pain and discomfort feeling totally isolated and shut off from the world. I now live with my boyfriend but he works long hours and I can go 10hours without seeing anyone or speaking to anyone until he returns home from work. Is there anyone on here that is struggling to cope with the fact they have this evil debilitating illness at such a young age? I feel like my life is over before it even really began. How do I live with this?? 
1 like, 4 replies
Fidd amy00832
Posted
lisa23585 amy00832
Posted
I'm the same. I'm 20 years old. I feel like I should be out and about and seeing people but I spend my time in my room in my bed or in the couch. I'm off work at the moment from a job I love and I 100% understand how crap it is to have it so young. You just need to make sure you have support around you.
Sometimes in the morning I set myself one thing to do regardless of how tired I am. Like put a washing on or make myself one meal. Then I feel a little better cause I get a tiny sense of achievement.
Hope you feel brighter soon.
amy00832 lisa23585
Posted
working in a care home but when I fell ill there was no way I could of carried on doing care work so my boss offered me a
job in the laundry room which I now do part time but I've been off sick for 9 weeks so far with a very Bad relapse So I sympathise
With you on not being able to do the job you love.
Thanks again
tina58520 amy00832
Posted
The positive thing you have on your side is that you are relatively young and may well get over (long periods of remission) of this illness. When I was diagnosed in 2008 I went until 2013 until I had a major relapse which has left me without a career, partially housebound and yes very isolated at times. I get the bit about waiting for the boyfriend to come home. I wait for my husband to come home, and my daughter left last year for Uni.
What I have been doing is looking a volunteering, you can do this whilst housebound bedbound. If you google volunteering for housebound you should come to the site that I looked at many months ago. There are all sorts of things you can get into as and when you feel like it and are up to it. If not google things to do for housebound individuals. There is a site whereby you can do puzzles etc. I know at present it probably sounds that this is not your cup of tea as you were active, but it is very important to take your mind of the illness (thought changes) as much as possible so you don't go into depression.
What I do on good days is set myself little challenges around the house, mundane but it keeps me being independent and gives me a sense of purpose.
If you look a charities, sometimes they welcome volunteers who can telephone lonely housebound individuals (elderly), this is something you may feel like doing. I know of one gentleman who I use to visit when I was working who is totally housebound, and I phone him regularly since leaving my job, we now enjoy conversations.
I do hope that things improve for you, and I am sure they will. Remember tomorrow is another day. Keep your chin up you are really not alone. Stay in touch with the site.
Best wishes.
Txx