You & M.E. Grief that remains a forever process. Revolving door, repetitious. The body I once took for granted. The endless energy I once had. Nothing good comes from resentment. Evaluating the symptoms present. They come and go, multisystem involvement. I feel...
-Margo This was submitted as part of the Reflections of ME/CFS and FM and Long COVID Awareness Day Virtual Event on May 9th, 2023. #MillionsMissing #MillionsMore #Hope4MECFS #Hope4FM #Hope4LongCOVID #patiencevoice
Occupational and physical therapists have traditionally been trained from a rehabilitation perspective to treat a wide or diverse range of medical conditions. Many principles of rehabilitation can be applied to various spectrums of chronic health conditions....
Watching the World I open the door from my room I watch the world People in school for degrees People on sunny sandy beaches People winning awards People on trips with friends I love watching everything I dream of joining in I wonder about being part I close...
Today's Crash (Day 1139): "Owed" to Long Covid ME/CFS Upon awaking-- body gently spinning, vibrating, Breathing shallow, heart racing, Limbs so heavy, thoughts so slow Another day gone before you know Calm acceptance, mixed with grief, Fighting offers no...
Medicated Faith “Holy orange bottles, each night, I pray to you" -Taylor Swift: Soon You'll Get Better A prayer to my orange bottles: I spent 4 months to get you Endless rounds of blood work- turning up nothing "Goodbye blood" Go off and finally...
Resilience You’re sick isn’t worthy. No ribbon, no run. Not dying, not living. Just a life come undone. Tests do not show, The battles you’ve fought. Some will believe you, Others will not. You’ve lost all your shine. You’re just not the same....
My Eyes Many sights once blessed my eyes: Candlelight flickering against cold walls, illuminating my song. Melismatic music fluttering across pages like butterflies made of notes. Steady silhouettes of an anticipating audience, eager for my next line. Elastic on my...
The Alone One Room, four walls, two windows, one door and one bed. The Alone Minimal Silent To survive in The Alone acceptance is mandatory No choice Letting go Floating, untethered Existing in a void rather than a place Dry and suffocating The...
Grief Allayed I lay here in my bed and grieve for what I may not have - for love of spouse and smile Of child and ties bound close to fellow man. These are good things, my heart cries out, and yet I am denied much of the happiness of earth. How can the great good God...
Melissa's World Each day my room's eternally A prison and infirmary It's not a choice that's up to me Relentlessly I miss my family, lost my friends The list of losses never ends My body breaks, my spirit bends Relentlessly I've tried it all, took every test I...
I Miss… “I’ll pick you up in 5.” “I’ll be outside.” … I miss spontaneity. Work was my oxygen. Managing, Teamwork, Sharing, Training … Gone Manager, Vice President, President … Invisible. Committees, Meetings, Flights … Absent. … I miss work. I miss...
Lucinda Bateman, MD, is a renowned clinician, researcher, and educator. Her Johns Hopkins University Medical School training instilled an approach to care that she has employed throughout her career - the patient comes first and the unknown or unexplained does not equate to a lack of proper and compassionate care. Since starting her own practice in 2000, she has served on six boards or committees, been the principal investigator for 45 studies, authored/coauthored 40 journal articles, served as adjunct instructor and adjunct assistant professor in the University of Utah Departments of Preventative Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Anesthesiology, and lectured around the world.