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    Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of and finding treatments for complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia (FM), long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.

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hellytheelephant

hellytheelephant
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This is a blog about how art is helping me deal with the pain and disability I have to live with as a result of ME. There are also some examples of artworks I have produced. Enjoy! http://www.chronicbabe.com/the-art-of-being-chronically-ill/
hellytheelephant
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Part Two of the Swiss-Army-knife that you will need to survive in the wilderness that is M.E 3: Poetry in Motion Yes, you and your bowels are about to become intimately acquainted. The casual relationship you may have had with your excretory system as a ‘wellsie’ is a thing of the past: you...
hellytheelephant
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Here is a list of six essential things ( no one tells you ), that you need, to get to sail the good ship YOU, safely through the choppy waters of day to day living. 1:Big Girl / Big Boy Pants: Yup, like a lot of superheros you are going to need to put on the gear. You are not ‘ a Hero’ in...
hellytheelephant
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. The Hellyphant is back (!)after 14 nights as an inpatient, and an epic journey back by car. I am resting my body but my mind is full of all the lovely people I met and talked with there. In short....Burrswood is a wonderful place. :)The setting is in a beautiful landscaped garden, and I had...
hellytheelephant
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The Spoons Don’t Work…. Over the last year, I have been reading as much as my tired and foggy little brain will let me, not only about the nuts and bolts of ME (I am all too familiar with that!), but about how to communicate the experience to the average chronic-illness-virgin. I am also a...
hellytheelephant
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So, we have finally made it to the end of the introductory course, and it finishes, like the predicted demise of our planet, with a whimper rather than a bang. Confession:my interest in the course has rather waned, as fewer people have made contributions each week. This reminds me of an...
hellytheelephant
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As the great philosopher, Dr Seuss once observed: ‘You’re in pretty good shape for the shape you’re in.’ Yep. You don’t feel great. You don’t look great either- except when you make a big effort and everyone thinks things are back to normal- good news- you’re well again! Except that you are...
hellytheelephant
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We are nearing the end of the third week and we are preparing for a week’s break next week. I’m not going to lie- the going has been very tough here at the Hellyphant enclosure. Its inhabitants, to wit, one cfs and chronic pain suffering elephant, and her pain- suffering bull elephant, have both...
hellytheelephant
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THE CFIDS SELFHELP.ONLINE INTRODUCTORY COURSE –Pt 2 Prior to the course beginning I have received the course book: ‘Managing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia – Feel Better. Take Charge, Regain Hope’ by Bruce Campell, Phd.' and in my opinion it is an excellent read, practical and...
hellytheelephant
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In January 2016 I will start the self-management course run by cfidsselfhelp.org. and I would like to Blog about my experiences of the course, and how useful I find it in managing CFS/ME. The introductory course is 7 weeks long and will link me with a group of others similarly affected by the...
hellytheelephant
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I should warn you that what follows in not in any way a searching discussion...of well, anything really, just random thoughts from a broad, getting progressively more broad...and remembering long ago when she was able to travel abroad. OK, ok...you can come out now, I'm done with the...

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hellytheelephant
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