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Hi, I’m Alisha Whittam, and I live with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, a chronic illness that has profoundly shaped my journey. Here, I want to share a little more about who I am beyond the challenges I face every day.

A Disney-style cartoon illustration of a dark-haired woman with blue eyes sitting on a bed, writing in a notebook. She is surrounded by a laptop, scattered notes, and a microphone. Two black Labradors, one with a red collar, sit beside her, while a camera records the scene.

YouTube

Click to view It took me a long time but I finally got up my first YouTube Video and wow, it wasn’t easy. This whole year has been tough as my Myalgic Encephalomyelitis has been the worst it has ever been and the energy levels have been at their absolute worst. I really wanted to […]

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Alfie tries Lilys Kitchen dog treats

Alfie tries Lilys Kitchen dog treats. Alfie tries Lilys Kitchen dog treats I’m sorry this is just too cute not to share. I hope that you love this as much as I do 🫶

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COVID-19 and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) mirror the same effects on the brain structure as discovered by Griffith University.

COVID-19 and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) mirror the same effects on the brain structure as discovered by Griffith University. Using the ultra hi field MRI (7 Tesla) in a worlds first researchers have been able to show that in both patient groups the brain stem is larger. Dr Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, Director of Griffith’s National […]

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A joyful black Labrador excitedly unwrapping a Christmas present in a cosy, festive living room. A beautifully decorated Christmas tree glows in the background, with twinkling fairy lights and stockings by the fireplace. The dog’s tail is wagging as it discovers its special holiday gift."

February Already? Where Did the Time Go?

Living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) comes with its challenges, but moments with family—especially my Labrador, Alfie—bring so much joy. From Christmas traditions to embracing the unexpected, here’s a glimpse into life with chronic illness and what’s next for 2024
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Absolutely Heartbroken

Please help me raise enough money to buy a wheelchair accessible vehicle
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Periods and Heavy Bleeding

Painful Periods with Heavy Flow and sharing a little too much
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Hot Water Bottle

This winter is going to be very hard for lots of us so here is my suggestion to help reduce the pain levels down for sufferers of chronic pain.
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The same four walls

Could you live a life in severe pain, pain so severe you can't think straight
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White square with red heart and a group of abled as well as disabled people celebrating Severe ME Day

Severe ME Day

Severe ME Day is held on the 8th of August. On this day severe sufferers of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis do all they can to raise awareness of the illness and share how it affects their lives. If you haven’t read one of my blogs in the past welcome, I am Alisha and I have Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. […]

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A woman with fair skin and dark hair pulled back, standing in a bathroom. Her face is visibly swollen, particularly her lips and cheeks, with redness on her skin. She has a concerned expression, and the text overlay reads, 'But they just kept getting bigger.
Black Labrador puppy looks inquisitively
A woman with light skin, dark hair pulled back, and a tired expression makes a slightly lopsided face, showing exhaustion. She is wearing a dark-colored top with a festive pattern. The background features a light-colored shower curtain with subtle animal illustrations. Overlaid text reads: 'Tonight I pushed myself by making a phone call.
Two black Labrador dogs wearing matching Christmas-themed pyjamas featuring festive golden retrievers and Santa hats, playfully moving around a cozy indoor setting
Two black Labradors sitting attentively on a bed, staring at a McDonald's meal with longing eyes. The image includes the text "We call this the Labrador TAX" along with a piggy bank graphic labeled "TAX.
A black and white close-up of a young black Labrador puppy named Archie, resting on a soft blanket while gently chewing a toy. The image features soft lighting and a cosy atmosphere. The text "Baby Archie" is elegantly written in a pastel purple cursive font in the top right corner.

What is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

According to the NHS Website, Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a long-term illness with a wide range of symptoms. The most common symptom is extreme tiredness

For more information please visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-cfs/

People with ME/CFS have fatigue that is very different from just being tired. The fatigue of ME/CFS:

  • Can be severe.
  • Is not a result of unusually difficult activity.
  • Is not relieved by sleep or rest.
  • Was not a problem before becoming ill (not life-long)

Worsening of ME/CFS symptoms after physical or mental activity that would not have caused a problem before illness. This is known as post-exertional malaise (PEM).

Sleep problems.

Many but not all people with ME/CFS have other symptoms.

Pain is very common in people with ME/CFS. The type of pain, where it occurs, and how bad it is varies a lot. The pain people with ME/CFS feel is not caused by an injury. The most common types of pain in ME/CFS are:

  • Muscle pain and aches
  • Joint pain without swelling or redness
  • Headaches, either new or worsening

Some people with ME/CFS may also have:

  • Tender lymph nodes in the neck or armpits
  • A sore throat that happens often
  • Digestive issues, like irritable bowel syndrome
  • Chills and night sweats
  • Allergies and sensitivities to foods, odors, chemicals, light, or noise
  • Muscle weakness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Irregular heartbeat
Information is taken from The CDC Website https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/symptoms-diagnosis/symptoms

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis does not have a cure.

Find a Dr or Consultant who listens to you is the first step

It is a manageable condition and depending on the severity of your symptoms the more difficult this can become.

I advise learning to listen to your body and what it is telling you. If you feel tired rest and if you feel pain find a solution to reduce that pain, this could be through pain medication prescribed by your Dr.

I am not saying that finding a Dr who listens or listening to your body is going to be easy as this illness is incredibly complex for some and manageable for others.

Having a Dr who listens to you or reads about the latest drug that sufferers are recommending can take a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety from the sufferer.

It would be best for me to point you to the above question What is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis? 

Most pages list the illness as ME/CFS or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or sometimes even Systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID).

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