I have posted before about trying to sell my house alone and move alone with ME/CFS. It's been a long difficult process and I am still not quite there. It's not something I would ever want to repeat. I believe my ME/CFS worsened after I had Covid in Dec 2020 so I run out of energy much more quickly than previously and though my symptoms are mild compared with some, if you are managing things alone, then I found the symptoms got worse because there is only me to do the essential stuff. I was doing a volunteer role for my mental health, but that was also worsening my symptoms.
I am in the UK and about 10 days ago I went ahead with selling my house to the buyer without moving direct to the retirement flat I am buying, as the legal process was slightly delayed on the flat, and I was afraid of losing my buyer who has bought the house with cash and at a high rate for the property (it's at the lower end re cost and my retirement flat though smaller than my house is expensive as near London). I had already lost one buyer, and could not risk this again.
In the event it happened very fast, with a kind relative offering to house me temporarily, but on the opposite side of the country in the town I was born in. So I have moved from West Cornwall to Sussex and my flat is in Greater London which is closer to where I am now. I had adrenaline kick in during the process but it kind of ran out during the last few days of when the removal men came in and I really struggled getting it all together as I was so exhausted. Thankfully a friend supported me on the last day when my things went into store, and she helped me do a basic clean on the house so it didn't look a tip for the new buyer. Then my youngest son arrived by train and helped me to Sussex by train with my luggage, after a night in a hotel - very few drivers in my family!!!
I was a bit shocked by the severity of the PEM issues but thankfully I have my own room here and bathroom and can really chill out. The worst of the PEM lasted a week with terrible fatigue, brain fog, and muscle pain. In retrospect I am grateful for the break as if I had gone straight to the flat I would have had no rest. I have little to do here, other than preparing my breakfast and lunch - my sister in law and brother in law cook us the main meal.
The flat sale should go through next week, but I am staying here while my son decorates it for me, and sorts out a new carpet and this could take weeks due to the wait for a fitter. Also I am 70 in mid June and months ago arranged a birthday meal in a completely different place, and will need to get to that by train alone, though I am staying in a nice hotel for 3 nights to enable me to relax and see some old friends.
I feel that the worst is over, but though my relatives are kind, I am aware that I am in their home, and will be glad when I can finally settle in to my flat. Given the horrendous housing situation for many in the UK, I feel grateful that I have enough money to do this at all.
Eventually I think life will be easier for me. Living in a house on top of a hill with a wonderful view had its pluses, but the prospect of managing the house and the garden alone with ME, and with no car as I am ageing was worrying me. I will have more support where I am going to, and it's on the flat so much easier for walking, and public transport easy and free. There is a shared garden, and my flat is on the ground floor with a door straight out to that, and there are public parks reasonably near that are beautiful to sit in. I may be able to get myself a rechargeable buggy to get to them more easily though not sure how good I would be with driving that!
I am in the UK and about 10 days ago I went ahead with selling my house to the buyer without moving direct to the retirement flat I am buying, as the legal process was slightly delayed on the flat, and I was afraid of losing my buyer who has bought the house with cash and at a high rate for the property (it's at the lower end re cost and my retirement flat though smaller than my house is expensive as near London). I had already lost one buyer, and could not risk this again.
In the event it happened very fast, with a kind relative offering to house me temporarily, but on the opposite side of the country in the town I was born in. So I have moved from West Cornwall to Sussex and my flat is in Greater London which is closer to where I am now. I had adrenaline kick in during the process but it kind of ran out during the last few days of when the removal men came in and I really struggled getting it all together as I was so exhausted. Thankfully a friend supported me on the last day when my things went into store, and she helped me do a basic clean on the house so it didn't look a tip for the new buyer. Then my youngest son arrived by train and helped me to Sussex by train with my luggage, after a night in a hotel - very few drivers in my family!!!
I was a bit shocked by the severity of the PEM issues but thankfully I have my own room here and bathroom and can really chill out. The worst of the PEM lasted a week with terrible fatigue, brain fog, and muscle pain. In retrospect I am grateful for the break as if I had gone straight to the flat I would have had no rest. I have little to do here, other than preparing my breakfast and lunch - my sister in law and brother in law cook us the main meal.
The flat sale should go through next week, but I am staying here while my son decorates it for me, and sorts out a new carpet and this could take weeks due to the wait for a fitter. Also I am 70 in mid June and months ago arranged a birthday meal in a completely different place, and will need to get to that by train alone, though I am staying in a nice hotel for 3 nights to enable me to relax and see some old friends.
I feel that the worst is over, but though my relatives are kind, I am aware that I am in their home, and will be glad when I can finally settle in to my flat. Given the horrendous housing situation for many in the UK, I feel grateful that I have enough money to do this at all.
Eventually I think life will be easier for me. Living in a house on top of a hill with a wonderful view had its pluses, but the prospect of managing the house and the garden alone with ME, and with no car as I am ageing was worrying me. I will have more support where I am going to, and it's on the flat so much easier for walking, and public transport easy and free. There is a shared garden, and my flat is on the ground floor with a door straight out to that, and there are public parks reasonably near that are beautiful to sit in. I may be able to get myself a rechargeable buggy to get to them more easily though not sure how good I would be with driving that!