"I'm Tired"

"I'm tired." These words have a very different meaning for those who suffer with ME/CFS as I do; it has been said that the "fatigue" in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is to normal fatigue what an atom bomb is to a match. I'm so thankful that I am no longer bedbound and homebound as I was for four years (from Nov. 2006 until July 2010). I just returned from a fun-filled visit with my family in Alabama, and I was even able to attempt slip 'n slide with my sweet nephew, Kyle. It is a testimony to the huge improvement in my health that I have not had post-exertional fatigue (another dubiously named part of ME/CFS. Post exertional fatigue actually means that exertion (depending on the severity of ones illness, this could mean even standing up for too long or rolling over in bed) makes one extremely ill for days or weeks following the over-exertion. So, "I'm tired" and it's more than a normal person's tired, but not so bad because I didn't have a "crash" as we with this disease refer to when we have to go to bed for days to recover and sometimes, not even talk or think too much to get our strength back. I'm going to rest a few days, and then I'll probably be back to swimming laps in the pool. Every day is a miracle now that God has graciously improved my health after so many years of suffering; when I swim, I feel an overwhelming feeling of euphoria almost because it is truly a miracle that I'm able to not only walk outside again, but even SWIM! One of the things God used was our move to Houston and leading me to a wonderful doctor who has helped me so much; so, that's a story for another day because, today, I'm tired and I'm going to rest:)