The long road to recovery?

When I was first diagnosed with M.E./CFS I read some information that suggested people can be sick anywhere from six months to life (sounds like a prison sentence doesn't it?) Being an overachiever type I assumed, of course, that I would be one of the people to make a speedy recovery. I was in good physical condition, young, and I believed myself to be tough.

Seven years later I view things a bit differently, to say the least. One lesson I've learned is that some things in life we can't control. I can do everything "right" and I may still remain sick. So what are my chances for recovery? I don't know....there's still so much unknown about this illness. If it really pans out to be a retro virus, while it might be treatable, my understanding is that I'll have the retrovirus for life.

But full recovery aside, I have, and may continue to improve. I have more stamina and strength now than I did the first few years. This may be because I've truly improved, or it may be because I no longer try to push myself to live a "normal" or active life. Basically, I live in a box. For the most part, I know the limits of my box. But if I try to live outside the box, I crash....and then the box shrinks (meaning I spend a lot of time in bed). I think that my box has grown over time. This is something.

But the improvement has been very slight and over such an extended period (years not months) that sometimes it's hard for me to measure....to get real perspective on.

Well I'm done teaching my class for the fall. I just have marking to do. The class I'm taking has three weeks left (including writing another 10page paper) so I won't suffer from lack of things to do.

(If you have M.E./CFS and read this blog, vote on the pole to the right about your work/school status and/or ability.)