“This exhaustion is cellular”: Excerpts from the new book ‘What Is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Like?’
Essays focusing on Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), from a new book by an international group of writers documenting their ME experiences. The post “This exhaustion is cellular”: Excerpts from the new book ‘What Is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Like?’ first appeared on The Sick Times .
Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is a debilitating condition where individuals experience extreme fatigue and a variety of other symptoms. In a new book titled "What Is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Like?" featuring essays from an international group of writers living with ME, one writer shares their personal experience with the condition.
The writer has been living with ME for over a decade, and the illness has steadily worsened. Due to the lack of energy, they have been confined to their home since 2019, only venturing out for essential medical appointments, which involve being transported by ambulance. They can only stand upright for about two minutes at a time, walking roughly 300 steps per day, which is often painful and exhausting.
Even after minimal physical activity, they feel an overwhelming sense of fatigue, wishing to lie down as their body feels heavy and immobilized. A simple act like walking 10 meters can cause their muscles to fail, causing them to fall to the floor. They require assistance from their parents to get to their electric wheelchair and bed.
The writer also highlights the various types of pain associated with severe ME. They suffer from neuropathic pain in their feet, which is exacerbated by brain activity, wind vibration, and lack of warmth. They also experience exhaustion at a cellular level, feeling as though every cell is cramping, vibrating, and starving for energy.
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