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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.
Illustration of a tired woman sitting in bed, holding her head in pain, with a sad cartoon brain above her. Surrounded by symptoms such as pain, brain fog, muscle weakness, sleep problems, dizziness, and post-exertional malaise. The background features stars, a moon, and the text "Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired".

The Government Has a Plan – But Is It Too Late for Us?

Feeling "sick and tired of being sick and tired"? Discover the real symptoms of life with ME/CFS and why awareness and support matter more than ever.
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Unboxing Comfort: Pyjama Haul You Need to Watch on YouTube

Being bedridden, I spend almost all day in Pyjamas, so when I needed a little retail therapy, I thought it would be silly not to film the unboxing and put the Pyjama Haul up on Youtube.
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Reclaiming my Independence

Help make a real difference to my life by donating to my Gofundme page, your donation will help me purchase a larger car, Progeo wheelchair and Mototronik
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Living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: The Battle No One Sees

From my toilet I share how life with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis really makes me feel and why it is so hard to win against ME
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A sky-themed tribute image with soft blue clouds. White angel wings and a halo are illustrated near the top, with the words “Remembering Katarina Pavelek” written in elegant serif font. A small dove icon is in the top-left corner, symbolising peace and remembrance.

Remembering Katarina Pavelek: A Life Lost to ME

Today, I’m remembering Katarina Pavelek — a fellow woman living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, whose light left this world far too soon. Katarina made the incredibly difficult decision to end her life through assisted suicide after experiencing overwhelming illness and suffering. I’m not here to judge that choice — only to honour her, her life, and the love her friends shared for her. Her story is heartbreaking, and it’s not the first time we’ve lost someone to this illness. ME is
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My Battle with Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) – A Wake-Up Call

I was diagnosed with Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), a silent liver disease. Here’s my journey, family history, and why I’m finally taking it seriously
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Close-up of a Black Labrador with a bright orange collar, set against a pink background with paw prints. The image features the title “Alfie Picks His Favourite Treat” and a sidebar showing different Whimzees treats, including an alligator, hedgehog, toothbrush, and twisted chew.

Spreading Joy with Alfie – A Video to Make You Smile Today

Alfie never fails to make me smile — and today, he’s choosing his favourite treat from his beloved Whimzees stash! Watch this short and sweet video for a dose of Labrador joy and see why he fills my days with love, laughter, and plenty of crunching sounds.
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Welcome to my life

I aim to create a community that embraces diversity, fosters understanding, and supports one another on our good and bad days on this beautiful journey we call life.
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I had a doctor’s appointment yesterday

Yesterday I had an appointment with my doctor to discuss the pain and loss of movement in my hands
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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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