Hello. My name is Grace - Grace Lavender. I have been thinking about writing a blog for a long time and have finally plucked up the courage to do it! My blog is called 'The Complicated Patient' and anyone who has had a similar time to me will fully understand why.
Let me explain. I have been diagnosed with M.E. and Fibromyalgia for a few years now, and like many people getting those diagnoses was a long and complicated process. Through my blog I will hopefully explain to the un-initiated what these conditions are & how they control/affect your life. I also hope I will get to talk to others in the same boat and share helpful tips on coping with the every day through to extreme situations. One major problem with both of these conditions is that the patient often becomes isolated from friends (and sometimes family) and loneliness is a big problem. It is for me - so why not use the power of the internet to reach out and find people to talk to and share stories?
Many people get diagnosed with one or the other, but I believe there is a great deal of common ground between M.E. & Fibromyalgia. I'm sure that many who have been diagnosed with one, probably suffer from both. I was asked by a fellow M.E. sufferer once what the difference is? The simplest way of describing it is to say that M.E. is a lot of fatigue with some pain and Fibromyalgia is a lot of pain with some fatigue. If like me you have a lot of both then you may suffer from both. As I say that's a VERY simplistic view and both illnesses have many 'sub-conditions' as it were.
Surviving these illnesses (or surfing the wave as I often call it) can be very hard, but in my experience trying to keep your sense of humour is vital .... or you'll end up in a straight jacket!! I hope that writing about my experiences will also let my humour stretch it's legs and have a bit of a workout. Pacing - as any M.E. patient who has seen a psychologist will know - is the key to survival. I am very aware of this as I sit typing with 1001 thoughts buzzing around my addled brain all screaming for attention .... so, it's almost time for a break.
I am going to attempt to get myself signed up to Facebook & Twitter to try and attract some fellow patients and bloggers, so we can help each other out on our journey to 'physical & mental stability' - blimey that sounds VERY serious doesn't it? So for now I shall sign off, but in my next post I shall try and tell you a bit more about my story. 'Til the next time ...
