This is my journey getting M.E. and my quest for recovery !! I am trying to have a new career as a writer and as I also have Spinal Stenosis and now disabled. But take a look life is not as bad as it was and I have written a story of what happened to me and my struggle for a diagnosis, I am attending creative writing classes and will be trying to get my book published after finishing my fundraising for the Dorset ME Support Group
Well a lots has happen to me since the last time I have blogged. I now have a publishing deal, with a signed contract and my book 'Down The Plughole' a collection of sixteen poems for children is coming out in Feb/March 2012.
I try to manage my M.E. as best as I can by pacing each day as it comes. I am now taking tablets to help with my numb hand but this is due to my spondylosis in my neck.
Some days I am so excited about the book I could burst. Dreams can come true. Please also check out my You Tube video which helped me to get my publishing deal.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpurx3fRGO8
I will be starting a new blog just for my writing. I have been on a great journey and it has been a rollercoaster of emotions. I am sure there will be many more to come. I have met some wonderful people through having M.E. and would not have been able to make my dream come true of being a published writer without being ill and getting this illness, but I hope it shows that good can prevail and life can just open new doors to go through.
I hope this clarifys to some people that do not believe in the illness that a such well known and well loved T.V. family favourite could not be making something like this up. They always say lazy people do not get M.E. and this is a typical example of how someone who pushed their body to the limit sucummed to the illness. I do hope he will join major charities to support funding into research. This is the way forward for the future to stop this illness becoming somewhat of an epidemic with the stressfull world we have in now.
I am glad to have emerged from my cold damp cave of a house into spring with warm air and sunny days. it definately makes me feel much better.
I am starting to write a song called 'Hiding from the Sun' which will be hopefully sung at my local Support Groups fundraising day on the 5th June. If anyone would like to help then please contact me with your ideas.
I now live in a household with a cat and a dog, this is inspiring my writing and I started a new picture book for children recently. It will be called 'I just want to be friends'. I also have created my own website for my writing, which is very exciting http://www.fiona-murphy.co.uk/ Take a look, even though I have many health problems I still want to achieve something, even though some days it's an immense struggle.
I have been kindly given a TENS machine to help me manage my pain. This is mainly for my back problem, but I was asked by a friend who has M.E. if it would work for him. It has reduced, taking painkillers by about 40% so that has got to be an impressive result. If you can afford to buy one yourself and you experience muscle pains, one nasty smptom of M.E. then go for it it definatley works.
Enough of talking about myself, back to the writing.
I have been sent some information about conflicting research done. I find it all a bit confusing, but then I do have M.E. I know for a fact that my own health has improved by pacing and resting. Learning more about the illness and avoiding situations that will make it worse. This is sometimes very hard to put into practice. I find it hard to explain to my friends and family that background noise and a lot of talking give me 'Brain Fog', its like my brain cannot cope and goes into foggy mode. It's very annoying and extremely hard for other people to comprehend.
I am continuing to write, all be it very slowly. Criticism is always hard to take as it is now one of the only things left I can achieve as a career. My best friend says I am too hard on myself and I should do it as a hobby and not put pressure on myself to get things published. I am determined though to not let life pass me by without achieving something worthwhile. When I meet new people now, I tell them straight away what my health problems are to get it out of the way. This make things much easier for me to deal with. The future is uncertain but each day brings a new challenge.
