I’ve decided to start a blog about my ME journey for several reasons. Firstly, as a form of therapy for myself. I’m hoping that getting my thoughts out there will help me when I feel too ill to get out of bed. But also, as a help for others suffering with the same condition. It’s not meant to provide any answers- I don’t really have any. It’s just going to be an account of my experiences, be they good or bad, in the hope of making others not feel alone.

So, what happened to me? At the start of 2015 I was in pretty good health. I had a joint condition called Hypermobility Syndrome (HMS) which caused me pain and fatigue, along with restricted movement, but I was managing it fairly well and led a relatively active life. I had run half marathons, went to the gym 5 times a week, socialised with friends, worked full-time and filled my evenings and weekends. I was living life to the full.

In spring of that year I was travelling to Uganda on a work trip. For this I required a variety of vaccines. After I received the vaccine for Yellow Fever (which is a live vaccine), I immediately became unwell and passed out in the doctor’s surgery. In the days that followed I developed the worst flu like symptoms I have ever experienced. My throat was so sore that I couldn’t eat or swallow and I had a terrible fever. This lasted for several days.

When these symptoms began to pass I felt really fatigued and just didn’t feel well again. After various trips to the doctor, suspected malaria, anemia, glandular fever, gluten intolerance and thyroid issues were all tested for and ruled out.

Fast-forward to November 2015 and things were no better. I still felt really unwell so I paid to see a private GP. Again, I had various blood tests and they all came back negative. They had no answers.  I remember talking to my mum saying: “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I just feel so unwell.”

I think I just muddled through for the next 18 months. I was still working full-time but that took all of my energy. Life ground to a halt. I had stopped going to the gym, cut down on seeing friends and went to bed after dinner most evenings.

In summer 2017, after speaking with a friend who has M.E., she recommended that I returned to my GP as my symptoms were very similar to hers. And that’s when my diagnosis came. I was then referred to a CFS specialist at my local hospital.

I am not necessarily saying that my M.E. was caused directly by the Yellow Fever vaccine. However, perhaps the illness that followed as a side effect was what triggered it. I don’t know. But that day in my life is the point at which things dramatically changed. I’ve never felt the same since.

Since my diagnosis I have felt better in the sense that I now know what’s wrong, rather than wondering what was happening to me.  This made it easier at work to explain if I couldn’t manage after work dinners or with friends if I cancelled at the last minute. But other than that, life is still difficult and I wouldn’t say I really feel any better than I did three years ago.

I have put into place all of the recommendations for managing M.E. and attempting recovery, but in practice some of this doesn’t go hand in hand with working full-time or just generally trying to live life. Whilst I’ve had periods where I have felt OK (I wouldn’t say well), I’ve then experienced relapses. My quest for recovery continues!

So, this is my story and how M.E. happened to me. I hope to help you in sharing my experiences. Now, go and put your feet up!