I almost missed this month's story. I had so much going on I didn't realize today is the 12th of the month and a new Becoming VISIBLE 4ME story is up. That would have been a real shame, because this month's story, by Laura Lipscombe, is really impacting. Many of the feelings and situations...

Monthly Archives: March 2011

Relapse Update and Being Frog Bopped

by Dominique on March 31, 2011 - 26 comments

I have had several people ask me how I am doing these past few days so I thought I would respond here on my blog. To be honest, I haven’t talked about it because I’m not even sure how to respond. But I will do my best. Lately I have been feeling like I am walking in a maze and I can’t find my way out. No matter what I do … or more appropriately … don’t do, I am …

Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) | Tagged "myalgic Encephalomyelitis", 4 walls and a view, crash, fatigue, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), Purpose, relapse | 26 Comments

ME: The Never Ending Boxing Match

by Dominique on March 28, 2011 - 18 comments

One of my favorite sports, believe it or not, is boxing. I love to watch boxing matches and have for as long as I can remember. It’s not really about the brutality for me, but it is more about the art. A boxer has to hone his craft in order to become a great boxer. He has to build stamina, learn how to throw a combination of punches, and predict his opponent’s moves; all the while preparing his own counter-moves. …

Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) | Tagged "Dominique's Corner", "myalgic Encephalomyelitis", 4 walls and a view, column, Life Skill Magazine, LSM, ME | 18 Comments

The Energy Conundrum within ME

by Dominique on March 25, 2011 - 34 comments

Before I share something I have been thinking about long and deep lately, I want to be as transparent as possible. This post is my understanding of what I believe is going on in my body in relation to how to better explain the devastating depths of the fatigue I constantly struggle with. I am not a researcher, scientist, or doctor. Having said that, however, I have now lived with this illness for 20+ years and I believe my ME …

Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) | Tagged "myalgic Encephalomyelitis", 4 walls and a view, chronic fatigue syndrome, consequences, fatigue, health, ME energy conundrum, perspective, symptom | 34 Comments

I Have … Hope

by Dominique on March 22, 2011 - 26 comments

Life isn’t Static. Fixed. Determined. It’s flowing. Changing. Evolving. There is always the room for Possibility. Expectancy. Anticipation. Even in as severe a relapse as I now find myself in, there is a power within me that lies in wait because change is always, Possible. Probable. Imminent. I just have to learn to be patient; more patient than this thing that now resides within me called ME. ME is like a ticking Bomb. Waiting. Watching. Lurking in the background. Always …

Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) | Tagged "myalgic Encephalomyelitis", 4 walls and a view, crash, hope, life lessons, ME, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), personal, perspective, relapse | 26 Comments

A Glimpse of Severe ME: Opening the Door

by Dominique on March 17, 2011 - 22 comments

When I started this blog, I started with the premise that I would share with brutal honesty what ME (CFS) is really like. Today, I thought it important enough to break my self-imposed 5-day withdrawal and shielding to reveal once again the devastation of severe ME. First, from this day forward, I will no longer refer to this illness as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). That is an hypocritical joke. This is not fatigue, chronic or otherwise. Second, I am angry. …

Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) | Tagged "myalgic Encephalomyelitis", crash, Invisible, ME, severe ME, severe relapse, visible | 22 Comments

Running Against me and me … and ME

by Dominique on March 15, 2011 - 7 comments

I’ve have been spending a lot of time looking out my window at my view as of late. So much so that there have been moments when I find my mind wandering to days long ago: days of a physical ease that I desperately long for. As I allowed my mind to wander through the halls of my memories, I smiled as I watched myself putting on a pair of running shoes and heading out for one of my long …

Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) | Tagged "myalgic Encephalomyelitis", 4 walls and a view, body building, chronic fatigue syndrome, crash, journey, ME, running, severe relapse | 7 Comments

March 2011 ME Story: Toni Bernhard

by Dominique on March 12, 2011 - 0 comments

"author of How to Be Sick, Toni Bernhard

Today marks the second ME/CFS story being shared onBecoming VISIBLE 4ME by author, Toni Bernhard. Toni is the author of, How to Be Sick, and she has been dealing with the challenges of living with ME/CFS for a long time. As a Buddist, she has learned how to incorporate her faith into her life in order to come to terms with a difficult hand that was dealt her. Here is an excerpt of her story for your perusal. In the …

Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) | Tagged "Invisible Awareness", "myalgic Encephalomyelitis", 1story@atime, 4 walls and a view, health, ME, personal | Leave a comment

ME: Becoming Visible

by Dominique on March 10, 2011 - 6 comments

This Saturday Invisible Awareness dot org will be showcasing another, new story of what living with ME/CFS is like. I’m excited to announce that Toni Bernhard has graciously offered to share her story for the Month of March! To that end, I wanted my readers here to know that I spoke with Ayo who is the editor of Life Skills Magazine (LSM), in which my monthly column, Dominique’s Corner, runs if he would allow my column to be cross-posted here …

Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) | Tagged "Discovering Purpose", "myalgic Encephalomyelitis", 1story@atime, 4 walls and a view, Invisible Awareness dot org, Life Skill Magazine, ME, perspective | 6 Comments

Life is kinder but ME is still kicking my butt!

by Dominique on March 8, 2011 - 25 comments

I’m nicely ensconced back in my apartment, thankfully. As a result of this relapse, I have moved my bed into the living room temporarily. I figure it is 20+ steps less that I have to take to go into the kitchen so that can only help. On Sunday, I actually thought the relapse might be easing a bit as the morning was the best I have had in weeks. But I crashed like a bull in a china shop in …

Posted in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) | Tagged "Invisible Awareness", "myalgic Encephalomyelitis", 4 walls and a view, bad day, crash, health, ME, relapse, severe relapse, symptom | 25 Comments

ME and the Need for a Little Extra Help

by Dominique on March 3, 2011 - 29 comments

I thought I should pop in and let you all know how I’m doing. As you may or may not be aware I have suffered a severe relapse. I have not been this bad since I first got sick 2 decades ago. My days primarily consist of resting in bed (as I have no couch) 24/7 with short 15-20 minutes breaks where I am able to get up. Any more than 15-20 minutes, however, and my legs go rubbery, my …