Blog

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.
Digital illustration featuring a woman sitting alone on the floor with her knees drawn up, wearing a muted blue sweater and brown trousers. The image conveys sadness and isolation. Above her, the blog title reads: “The Invisible Struggle: Loneliness and Chronic Illness – Insights From A Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Sufferer.

The Invisible Struggle: Loneliness and Chronic Illness – Insights from a Myalgic Encephalomyelitis sufferer.

Living with a chronic health condition like Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) can be an isolating experience, often leaving individuals feeling unseen and unheard. The invisible nature of ME compounds the already challenging journey, leading to profound feelings of loneliness and isolation
read more

Why We Need More Disabled MPs in the UK

Disabled people make up over 16 million in the UK, yet only a handful are represented in Parliament. This post explores the barriers disabled candidates face—like inaccessible campaigning, ableism, and lack of funding—and why increasing disabled representation is urgent for real political change.
read more
Collage-style graphic featuring Taylor Swift at The Eras Tour in Anfield, Liverpool on Friday 14th June 2024. Includes a large black-and-white portrait of Taylor, colourful stage visuals, and photos of Taylor performing in a red sequinned outfit and a blue flowing gown.

Taylor Swift The Eras Tour at Anfield

The sight of the bustling crowds heading towards that beautiful fortress of a football stadium fills me with immense pride as a Scouser. The Scouse girls, as always, looked absolutely stunning, but their allure seemed to reach ethereal levels for the Taylor Swift concert.
read more
A mother and daughter smiling together at Anfield Stadium on the night of a Taylor Swift concert, capturing a joyful and unforgettable experience

Anfield from a Wheelchair: A Disabled Supporter’s Guide to Liverpool FC’s Accessibility

Anfield is one of the most iconic stadiums in the world, but how accessible is it for disabled supporters? As a lifelong LFC fan, I recently attended an event at Anfield in a wheelchair—here’s everything you need to know about their accessibility services, ticketing, and top tips for an inclusive experience! Read the full guide to make the most of your visit and ensure a smooth experience at this legendary stadium. ⚽💙 #AccessibleAnfield #YNWA #DisabilityInSport
read more
Collage image featuring assistive tools and gadgets including a shower stool, Philips Hue lights, jar opener, Stanley Cup, Ring doorbell, iPad, Biotène mouthwash, and Fullstar chopper, with text reading “My Amazon Favourites – ME/CFS Edition”.

My Chronic Illness Essentials: The Tools That Help Me Live Life with ME/CFS

Living with ME/CFS means every bit of energy counts. In this post, I’m sharing the Amazon finds that help me manage daily symptoms, conserve spoons, and stay as independent as possible—from smart tech to mobility aids and comfort tools that truly make life a little easier. Let me know if you’d like a more playful, SEO-rich, or community-style version too! 💛
read more
Illustration of a woman surrounded by bright light and energy lines, representing the pain and overwhelm of ME/CFS. Text overlay reads: "The Tools That Help Me Live My Life with ME/CFS."

What ME/CFS Really Feels Like – And What Gets Me Through It

This blog shares my lived experience with ME/CFS flares—from symptoms like pain and cognitive fog to tools, medications, and routines that help me cope.
read more
Illustration of a dentist and magical tooth character with the words “Domiciliary Dental Care” – representing domiciliary dental care in Liverpool.

Finding Dignity in Dental Care: My Experience with Domiciliary Dentistry in Liverpool

Struggling to access a dentist due to chronic illness or disability? Learn how domiciliary dental care changed everything for me in Liverpool.
read more
Illustration of a smiling man holding a large blue National Disability Card against a pink background with text promoting the card as a discreet and effective way to communicate disability.

National Disability Card UK: A Lifeline for People with Disabilities

The National Disability Card is more than just ID—it’s a powerful tool for people with visible and invisible disabilities to access support, travel more freely, and live with greater confidence. From emergency contact features to priority access at venues like Disneyland Paris, this card helps ensure you're seen, understood, and supported without needing to explain your condition time and time again.
read more
Illustrated digital graphic of a woman in a wheelchair holding a passport and boarding pass, with speech bubbles that say, “Let’s Talk About Travelling with a Wheelchair.” The background is pink with a border featuring travel-related icons like passports, airplanes, cameras, and tickets. At the bottom, the website https://alishawhittam.com is displayed.

Travelling Abroad with a Wheelchair: A Comprehensive Guide for Smooth and Safe Journeys

Travelling abroad with a wheelchair comes with unique challenges, but with the right preparation, you can explore the world smoothly and safely. From choosing the right airline to protecting your wheelchair from damage, this guide covers everything you need to know to make your journey stress-free. ✈️ Discover essential travel tips, learn your rights as a disabled passenger, and find out what to do if your wheelchair is damaged in transit. With the right strategies, accessible travel can be enjoyable
read more
Facebook
X
LinkedIn
Reddit
WhatsApp
Pinterest
Threads

Follow me on Instagram

Click here
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).

Get Updates In Your Inbox !

Sign up with email to receive news & updates.

Menu

Latest Blogs

Important