I’m going to be so ill tomorrow …

This is the start of a new series of quick blogs about ‘things ME made me say’, where I will discuss common sayings, or themes, that I’ve heard so many people with ME utter. For me it has been a revelation realising that even the language we use can identify an ME patient.

things ME made me say …

I’m going to be so ill tomorrow … words that have been expressed by every single person with ME …

They are words that we know all too well.

 Im going to be so ill tomorrow 
 . . . said by every single ME patient after they’ve done too much . . . 

definitions …

Let’s first take a look at how ‘health’ and ‘illness’ can be defined:

health:<ref>Dictionary.com, LCC. (2015) Dictionary.com Pro for iPad (version 7.2.27). [Mobile app]. [Accessed 3 March 2022].</ref>
the general condition of the body or mind with reference to soundness and vigor: good health; poor health.
medical definition: Soundness, especially of body or mind; freedom from disease or abnormality.

illness:<ref>Dictionary.com, LCC. (2015) Dictionary.com Pro for iPad (version 7.2.27). [Mobile app]. [Accessed 3 March 2022].</ref>
unhealthy condition; poor health; indisposition; sickness.
medical definition: Disease of body or mind; poor health; sickness.

Given those descriptions it is clear to see that health and illness are opposites of one another and a healthy person may have bouts of illness but would never claim to be wholly suffering from ill health.

I’m going to be so ill tomorrow …

Back to those words. However, claiming I’m going to be so ill tomorrow can be, and frequently is, very telling.

In simple face value terms it tells us that someone is probably suffering from ill health and knows they have overstepped their illness boundaries.

what do those words tell us …

Well firstly, think bout it … 💭 …

Ask yourself the question. Have you ever heard a healthy and well person use them?

No …

I think not … it’s highly unlikely you would hear them from a healthy person. Not even after a hard and gruelling day even to the extreme.

so why not …

Well firstly, their personal experience has shown them that no matter how much they do, or how bad they feel after overdoing things, a good night sleep fixes them. If not fully then halfway there and it could take two good nights of sleep. But on the whole, a healthy person recovers from their previous days activities by having one night’s sleep.

so what is the difference for someone with ME …

Sadly, those with ME know all too well that sleep, in their case, does nothing towards fixing them and certainly not in one or two nights. They often needs days of, weeks / months / even years, doing nothing and equal amounts of nights of good quality sleep. And in many cases, like mine and others with severe ME, nothing fixes us. No amount of, sleeping, doing nothing, resting, takes us anywhere near close to recovery. Everyday is too much and the exhaustion just rolls over to the next day, growing and building up as it goes.

takeaway …

Use the knowledge in this blog to know and understand that, if you repeatedly hear these words in your own head or coming from someone you love, there is a very good chance you are suffering with ME and the only answer is to …

STOP …

rest …

pace …

Additionally, I would add,

and listen to your body.

ME is a neuroimmune disease that, contrary to common misconceptions, is not characterised by chronic fatigue,
but rather by a severe exacerbation of symptoms which manifest after a minor physical or mental exertion.
This hallmark symptom characteristic of ME, known as Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM),
can persist for days, weeks or consequently be a the trigger for a relapse or deterioration.
Anil van der Zee

in summary & in conclusion …

Whenever you hear the words,

I’m going to be so ill tomorrow …

Do not be too quick to dismiss them.

Maybe advise the person speaking them, be it yourself or a loved one, simply advise them to,

STOP …

REST …

PACE …

and listen to your body …

a personal concluding note …

I would conclude by stressing:

stop … rest … pace … listen to your body …

[[references]]

Please feel free to contact me to share your outcomes or with any questions you may have.

 fragmented.ME xXx