"Journey with M.E./CFS"

After curve ball after curve ball (that's what I call the big life stresses), as a single mum of two, with secure long standing senior management employment, somehow my ability to cope had not just diminished but vanished.

With long standing but treated Hashimotos, my crippling pain, debilitating fatigue and everything else that came with it had been assigned to this condition. My life spiralled out of control and severe depression crept in along with anxiety related symptoms. I lost my job, couldn't get out of bed and didn't want to leave the house or communicate with anyone. In my eyes, at that time, my life was over and not worth continuing.

My attendance at my GP was almost weekly - and included hysteria and begging for help.... months and months of conversations where all my conditions were still assigned to my UAT but eventually after some two years I was sent to a Rheumatologist, a very lovely lady, Dr G. I had a brief but life changing appointment with her and she referred me to what was and continues to be my saviour.... KA - Specialist Nurse at Long Term Conditions Group, Ladybank Clinic.

Its hard to put into words what has happened since then. But without Keith I don't think id be here. Id lost nearly everything that was constant in my life and he has been that ever since the first day I had my initial appointment. I was sceptical initially and not necessarily fully ready to engage with him, but that soon changed and now I would recommend him to anyone and readily do. The heavens are not high enough to sing his praises. The support, patience, advice, humour, practical coping strategies all tailored to meet my individual needs was amazing. Something underrated and notably different about KA's support and appointments was time. No 10 or 30 minute appointments or an hour and sorry your time is up. He had time and it was as much or little as I needed.

My support has become less intense some two years later, but KA continues to offer me support despite the fact that I know there are more needy individuals and his case load is crippling. My life isn't the same and KA helped me accept it never will be, I am still susceptible and the famous word 'pacing' is what its all about. But I've found a new way forward, along with hope and worth, things id lost.

Nelson Mandela was quoted as saying 'The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall'

I couldn't have risen without KA.