M.E./CFS Awareness : May 2009

M.E./CFS Awareness : May 2009.

Introducing `tea's Weapon of Mass Escape Facilitation ... the StickStool! :)

Light enough to carry without fatigue; robust enough to use as a stick/support on those days when walking is VERY slow; comfortable enough to sit on.

In case you're wondering why I need one of these, it's because one symptom of M.E. (for people like me who are at least "moderately" affected by the illness) is finding standing strenuous even for short periods - and walking much easier than standing.

A friend who has severe M.E. gave me this stoolstick last year (she uses a similar one herself). It's been one of the best coping things anyone's ever given me. Thanks to the stoolstick, I've had more confidence to go out and travel even on days when symptoms are flaring up. Perfect for those moments when suddenly feeling groggy or dizzy or weak; perfect for taking a pause while walking or for "pacing" oneself over a distance.

I hadn't had to use the stickstool/stoolstick for a while ... oops, speak too soon. Last week another symptom flareup hit. Today was the first day in over 7 that I managed to escape the boundaries of house and garden. Lift into town with Mum to do some shopping. (Pride would have normally dictated that I walk myself up the hill to the bus stop ... but even pride took a back seat to common sense today.) And today, stoolstick went shopping too.

Walked out of the carpark into Boots, walking fine, feeling a bit of a wally carrying the stoolstick around. Then I stopped at the whirl of stocked shelves. Urgh, standing AND trying to concentrate on finding what I needed to buy = NOT good. (In case you didn't know, that's another part of M.E. making itself manifest: cognitive disturbances and disruption of brain function.)

But - never fear!! Stoolstick to the rescue!! Sit down, rest, focus better, find things. Brilliant.