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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.
Pink background with a cartoon skeleton in purple the text reads Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or ME or CFS or SEID or epidemic neuro myasthenia or benign myalgic encephalomyelitis or myalgia nervosa or chronic Epstein Barr virus syndrome affects the whole of ME

Understanding Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Deep Dive into Chronic Illness

ME/CFS is a complex, multifaceted disorder that affects various body systems, including neurological, immune, endocrine, and energy metabolism.
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Matthew Street Festival

The Matthew Street Festival is back for 2024 and will be held at the Famous Pier Head
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red background with yellow writing and attention symbols Liverpool Attention ME Sufferers

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Sufferers Liverpool

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Sufferers Liverpool I'm Alisha Whittam, a fellow ME/CFS sufferer, and I'm reaching out to connect with others in our community. I'm on a mission to gather crucial data and personal stories from ME sufferers in Liverpool and the surrounding areas.
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a classic Disney cartoon-style image of a woman with long dark brown hair and blue eyes lying in bed with a black Labrador puppy wearing a red collar

It’s not Tiredness

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Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ,Ear seeds and Dragons Den

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Ear Seeds, Dragons Den & Why we can’t let this happen again!

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Black Labrador wearing a brown bear like hoody with ears

Alfie the Black Labrador starts a YouTube channel

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Holly Jolly Christmas is not in my house this year- photo of a black floor which should have a floor covering

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

The worst Christmas of my life. I share my story in the hope that you manage this sort of situation better than I did. Not a Holly Jolly Christmas in my house this year.
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Vlogmas

Christmas with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is Hard

Christmas with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is hard so if you are suffering this Christmas I send you all my love. You are not alone, I just wanted to let you know that if you have Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and need a friend or just someone to talk to over the Christmas holidays, please feel free to message me. I'm not claiming to have all the answers or to be able to solve your problems, but I am a sufferer too.
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Vlogmas

A Cuddly Labrador, A Sneezy Labrador and a Funny Labrador

A Cuddly Labrador, A Sneezy Labrador and a Funny Labrador it must be Vlogmas Days 14 & 15. 📆 This video was published on or around 17th December 2023 Welcome to my enchanting world, where the holiday spirit dances in each frame, somedays🎅✨
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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.

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A Chaotic Christmas

We got a Puppy

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Surprise Bedroom Makeover

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The best rechargeable lint remover (and why you need one)

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My Dog loves apples - The uncut version

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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