I've been slowly trying to educate my fiancé on the 'situation' when he hasn't seen me go through a bad crash yet. Given that there is a LOT we don't really know scientifically... and I technically don't have a diagnosis (regardless of the fact that I meet all criteria for ME, CFS, whatever name you want to apply, I haven't found a set of criteria that doesn't match).
I've tried to discussing things a little bit here and a little bit there. He absorbs better that way... and I try to give concrete examples.
I've explained how some people can over-exert themselves and take it easy for a day, MAYBE two and that they recover. This he can easily relate to - then... I've explained how it almost feels like I have the flue which can start within a day of over-exerting myself - but instead of a day or two of feeling run down and horrid, I can be like that for weeks or months.
Later I took some time to explain anaerobic vs aerobic exercise and how long-distance runners can find themselves in anaerobic space - they push through it and get lactic acid build up, etc. This he can easily relate to - then... I've explained how *some* studies have shown some links that show simply standing up and walking to the bathroom for people with this condition can push them into anaerobic exercise threshold - that somehow the aerobic energy isn't an option for us... and how sometimes, I can spend the entire bed trying to relax and still feel like I've ran a marathon that day.
Another time, I discussed the 2-day exercise test and how people with other conditions, including depression, do at least as well as they did on day 1, if not better... and how people with our condition have shown in *some* studies that we really do not do better, we degrade over time.
Then at a different time, I bring up how *some* studies show we have a build up of lactic acid after exercise...
Then at a different time, I bring up the promising leads for studies related to mitochondria dysfunction and that I was looking up what they do... and apparently part of their job is to transport oxygen to the muscles which *seems* to fit into the picture that aerobic energy production seems to not be working properly ... and that if we have an issue pushing oxygen to our muscles, then exertion would mean that we have to use anaerobic energy - which is what causes us longer-term health issues.
I've got some future topics for him, like when I feel 'flu-like' which is PEM - what it truly feels like... we'll get there.