← Return to Managing Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM): What can help?

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
@winniemercedes

Thank you for this plan to track symptoms and actually get things done. I used to be go go go, but my fibromyalgia put a stop to that about 15 years ago. Once I removed the stress (now ex husband) I was able to function better, but I still had a very stressful job. In December '24 I had a bad fall at home and ended up in the hospital for 2 weeks. Halfway through, I got COVID for the first time. I got all the vaccines as soon as they were available, so I definitely tried to protect myself. I had a relatively mild case, high fever and a lot of pain for one day, but the recovery from the accident took a while and I attributed lack of stamina to that. I ended up retiring two months sooner than I had planned, and was looking forward to doing things. HA. Two days in a row I did gardening and have been wiped out ever since with gastrointestinal symptoms and body aches all over. I am grappling with the possibility that I may have to really limit myself and boy, do I hate that. Glad to join a community that understands the struggle.

Jump to this post


Replies to "Thank you for this plan to track symptoms and actually get things done. I used to..."

I HATE that crash/overwhelming, incapacitating, leaden exhaustion more than anything! It has reduced my life to ~1/4 of what I used to be. It took 4 years to figure out what physical/emotional/cognitive things I can and can't tolerate and how much of each in a day or week. Tracking my activities and outcomes was the first step to understanding my current norm, then applying limitations and fine tuning my limits. And after that, well-life just happens and there are events that can't be controlled and all that goes out the window. Sometimes only my nose is just above water nd I can't catch up with life. Emotional therapy has helped coping with the feelings of loss, isolation, being misunderstood, and trying to stay on this side of hopelessness and being overwhelmed. Best to you as you navigate this!