The Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Fibromyalgia Society of Alberta

By Danielle

This may sound simple to those that are healthy, it just becomes a part of the minutes that make up for a very busy day. For those of us that suffer from ME/FM when getting out of bed can be the biggest accomplishment in a week, the simple stuff matters. At the age of 32, I was forced to quit my Marketing job and cancel my dream trip of going to Australia with my husband. The simplest tasks became the most daunting and I was now bedridden and becoming completely isolated from friends and family. The severity of the exhaustion was so intense that speaking on the phone for a couple of minutes to my family was too much. The “flu” like symptoms with muscle pain, chills and nightsweats would not let me rest.

After 2 years of a downward spiral and seeing endless doctors and specialists who would say, that there was nothing that they could do for me, that there was no hope. That is the message the medical community on a large scale tell you. How do you live without hope? Well you don’t. I decided the alternative was not one that I was ready for and so it was one small moment that has allowed me to keep going. Now I’m sure you’re thinking that what I’m about to say is thought provoking but it’s not…it sounds so simple yet is the toughest thing to do when you’re ill. Somehow you must keep moving forward.

My goal became to get out of the house by 11:00 am every day. There was not an option of showering, I barely had the energy to dress. Brushing my hair and teeth were the only musts. Putting on make-up, no way! The quest though was to have some human interaction and feel like a part of the living. So, I started going to the closest Starbucks everyday. Most days I was so weak and ill, I was on auto-pilot. It still feels like an out-of –body experience some days. But I was greeted by a “barrista” and saw people going about their routines and somehow this made me feel “normal”. I didn’t need to talk about my disease or how much I missed my previous life. That little bit of interaction and trip wiped me out for the rest of the day, but made me feel like I had accomplished something. So began my daily quest. The “barristas” became my link to the outside world and I am now a fixture at the local Starbucks.

This daily routine has now made me realize that I do have better days then others. I am doing better then I was 7 years ago. I can now go and get some food or do some banking, I can even go for a walk in the nice weather. We can now socialize with friends again and my favorite thing to do is go for an early movie on Friday with my husband. I may not be living the type “A” personality lifestyle that is so common these days, but I’ve set my own pace and truly appreciate the simple things! I also have a “Team” that I trust and respect that help me manage this disease. They are my :friends and family, Naturopath, Chiropractor and massage therapist. So, find your own “Starbucks” and “Team” and we will all keep moving forward with the knowledge that we will start each day with hope!