2005-08-11

back from my trip & feeling worse for wear

Oh my goodness. I'm absolutely shattered.

I returned from a wonderful stay in France yesterday. The journey is probably going to play havoc with my symptoms. Already I feel worse for wear, extremely exhausted and have that horrid 'glandular and stuffy' feeling you often get with Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome, ME/CFS.

Still I figure the worst is to come, since it always hits me most on the third day after physical exertion.

We shall see.

I am hoping that I won't be too bad. Maybe if I drink enough echinacea tea, and rest enough?

The trip went smoothly. The only problem is that, although we specifically asked that someone meet us in London with a wheelchair, no-one was there to meet us. It made me realise how I really wouldn't be able to travel on my own even if I wanted to, because no-one was about, to ask if they could get me a wheelchair. The relative I was with ended up having to walk 15 carraiges to the end of the Eurostar train until she found someone who could help.

Anyway - wheelchairs definitely helped. I had one to take me to the train (our coach was right at the other end and there was no way I would manage to walk that far). And the tiny bits of walking inbetween, I managed slowly with my walking stick. I was shaky and dizzy, and felt like my legs were going to give in at any time, but I managed, and that was the main thing. And with the wheelchairs, it meant that when I had to get up and walk, it would only be a few steps to get a taxi for example, or to climb the on to the train.

Obviously wheelchairs and walking sticks can't help with the sensory overload and the horrid feeling I get when I'm near eletricity (the scanning machines at customs make me feel so weak!) - but they were invaluable - without them I couldn't have made the trip.

My stay in France was wonderful. While I was there I rewrote a lot of the CFS section on sleepydust. I have learned so much more in comparison to when I first wrote that section. And since I find it relaxing to write about something I know about, it was a pleasure to do. I did have to do little bits at a time though as my concentration is terrible and I do get tired very easily. Still it was worth it because I'm quite proud of the new stuff I've written.

Not yet finished though, so it won't be online yet.

I returned to lots of mail and over 550 emails. The motivation to get through them all is non-existent but I'll try and tackle them a little at a time once I feel better and have recovered from my trip.

On a more positive note, I came back to a wonderful welcome at the Sleepydust Forum, which rose my spirits! The ME/CFS and FM community at the forum is flourishing. It's a wonderful thing to see such friendship and support.

What else? Urmmm....

In all honesty there's probably something else I wanted to say but my head is pounding so hard I think I need to go take some more meds and lie down for a bit.

But needless to say, I had a wonderful time, and can't wait to go again. For now though, it's rest time I think.

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