Humans of ME/CFS

I was diagnosed with CFIDS/Fibromyalgia at age 14. I went from dancing five days a week and cheerleading to being nearly bedridden for a couple months. I’m so fortunate to have found a few diamond doctors in the rough and I am so much better now, five years later. It’s definitely still a struggle some days, and I push myself probably harder than I should, but that’s just who I am.

I now attend a university and have been doing very well. My fatigue is minimal, and the worst things that act up are my trigger points, currently my hands and wrists. But I have come so far. Besides being a full-time student, I work in child care (which I absolutely love!), work for a princess company (one of the best jobs ever), and model (also awesome). I also dedicate as much time as possible to giving back to others: I run my own service events and volunteer when I can.

Of course with my busy life, I sometimes get very anxious or overexert myself and have to take a step back, but I accept (most of the time) that my body is not like other bodies. Other people might not see nor understand what I am going through, but that’s ok; they don’t have to. One of my biggest sources of pride is how strong I have stayed throughout this whole process.

I feel like my life changed over the course of a day when I first had a bout of CFS, leaving me nearly bedridden for months. My body has not been the same since. And it’s hard. I can’t do everything I want. But I do everything that I can. I have never let my illness get the better of me. I do my best to keep my head up and keep a positive attitude, reminding myself that my relapses will pass, and some days are just not as good as others.

I acknowledge my illness but do not allow myself to be sick; sickness is a mindset that I withstand from accepting. CFS/FM will always be a part of my life, and I constantly have to work around them, but they’re not stopping me.