I haven't written a post in forever. While I won't remove the blog, I do think I may stop posting. Thanks to all who followed me and supported me over the years.
We are coming up to December which is a tough tough month for me. I lost my mom in Dec. 2015 and my dad just two years ago in December 2019, right before covid. Years ago my sister died in December.
ME/CFS and POTS wise my health has improved over the last 5-10 years in tiny increments. I now work part time on and off during the year teaching online. I still have to be careful not to over-do, I still crash fairly often. Some symptoms are worse than they used to be (shortness of breath) but most have improved overtime. I also now have a diagnosis of chronic neutropenia that the specialist I saw for a while thinks has to do with when I'm flared with post-viral stuff....yes even almost 20 years later.
I feel deeply for all those going through long-Covid. I've lived the the same thing. Being so sick from a virus and going weeks, then months, then years, now decades with little help or support. Having my illness dismissed by pretty much everyone. Suffering alone. My advice if you are new to this, is find others with the same or similar illness, and create friends and community. Without my close M.E. friends who actually 'get it', I doubt I'd still be here.
Anyways, perhaps I'll write here again someday, if not, I wish you all the best.
For those who've followed this blog over the years, you know how much I love being out on the land, in wilder places. I've managed this a handful of times, yes, even with M.E. Canoe tripping means I don't have to walk much, and am not upright when I'm travelling. If I'm travelling I just stop when I feel too tired/weak/sick. I also spend most my time out, at camp, sitting or laying down. That said, I know I am super lucky to be able to manage it.
This autumn I didn't work part time, so I was able to spend almost 4 weeks between the end of August and the end of October out on the land! Honestly, I want to be back out even though it's tough and 10x tougher when you do it while ill. Here are a couple photos.
Thanks for updating, Gail. I have enjoyed reading your blog over the years and connecting with you. You are right about finding others and creating community. I will miss you and your blog. Wishing you all the best my friend!
ReplyDeleteHi Gail !! What beautiful photos, wow that is an incredibly difficult month December and I am sorry I have been absent myself from the blogger world especially trying to figure out how to redo the notifications. Wonderful to see a photo of you and that you are teaching. I'm so sorry we lost touch I think of you often ..here is my email hkdreske@aol.com, I'm off of FB but on instagram DaisyMae.33 or think you can search HeatherDreske... my millennial helper set it up when I got Daisy ...I feel like I missed so much and the loss of your parents; I remember how much you did your best to care for your Dad. Sending much love, heather
ReplyDeleteI know this will sound crazy, but I searched for and found your blog again after almost ten years. I had CFS and am now recovered. But for the years that I had it, yours was always my favorite of the blogs I read. Your experience as a nature guide and the unbelievably beautiful photos you post with your dogs has always spoken to me personally. I had no problem remembering the name "upnorth" , even after 10 years. I really hope you are doing well, even if you don't blog anymore.
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