from a reply to tee...
God help me, i guess im just too concerned about what people think who dont really know me when one of the first things they learn is that i have what im afraid they may think is chronic laziness!! myalgic encephalomyelitis sounds so much more like a real, scientific, though mysterious, illness...on this side of the pond, at least.
you know, as in a casual conversation such as:
why did you retire?
because of a prolonged flare-up of a chronic illness
im sorry. may i ask what illness?
ME or myalgic encephalomyelitis
oh. ive never heard of it. what is is?
a disease which causes a neurological and immune dysfunction.
"oh. i will be praying for you."
versus:
why did you retire?
because of a prolonged flare-up of a chronic illness.
im sorry. may i ask what illness?
chronic fatigue syndrome
oh. um...i think my cousin has that. have you tried _____? it worked for her!
OR ...oh. i get really tired too
OR... oh. um. so...um...oh. i didnt know that. well, i gotta go now.
though im very grateful that my close friends and family seek to understand...and maybe because they do...im always taken off guard by those casual encounters. as evident on this forum, those on the other side of the pond have the same problem with the term ME. sigh!
God help me, i guess im just too concerned about what people think who dont really know me when one of the first things they learn is that i have what im afraid they may think is chronic laziness!! myalgic encephalomyelitis sounds so much more like a real, scientific, though mysterious, illness...on this side of the pond, at least.
you know, as in a casual conversation such as:
why did you retire?
because of a prolonged flare-up of a chronic illness
im sorry. may i ask what illness?
ME or myalgic encephalomyelitis
oh. ive never heard of it. what is is?
a disease which causes a neurological and immune dysfunction.
"oh. i will be praying for you."
versus:
why did you retire?
because of a prolonged flare-up of a chronic illness.
im sorry. may i ask what illness?
chronic fatigue syndrome
oh. um...i think my cousin has that. have you tried _____? it worked for her!
OR ...oh. i get really tired too
OR... oh. um. so...um...oh. i didnt know that. well, i gotta go now.
though im very grateful that my close friends and family seek to understand...and maybe because they do...im always taken off guard by those casual encounters. as evident on this forum, those on the other side of the pond have the same problem with the term ME. sigh!