My Progress - Seeking Help for ME/CFS

I've been dealing with a whole host of health problems this year, from anxiety and depression, to autistic burnout, ME/CFS and a myriad of other unexplained symptoms. It is rough, but I am so grateful to have a good GP and healthcare team on my side.

I know all too well how hard it is when you have ill health and have a GP that does not really care about you. When I was a teenager and sick with ME/CFS, my then GP did not ever give me a formal written diagnosis (making it very hard when trying to seek accomodations at school) and did not give me any advice or referrals to help with managing my symptoms. I was lost - confused by my own health problems and not given any support from my doctors. I experienced this with multiple doctors over the 3 years that I had ME/CFS from 2018-2020.

I now have a God-send of a GP. She works in a wonderfully neuro-affirming clinic (which should be every clinic honestly, but I digress) and she is giving me so many referrals, they are coming out of my ears (not literally though, thank goodness). Not only has she been working to find a cause for my symptoms (I've been having all the tests - cardiology, ultrasounds, bloods, you name it), but she has also been researching to find the best specialists to refer me to for specific help with ME/CFS and my other health issues.

I am currently receiving help in the form of regular GP appointments (to keep working on finding causes and solutions), fortnightly psychologist appointments, weekly long OT (Occupational Therapist) appointments, physio appointments, training sessions weekly with my exercise physiologist, monthly dietitian appointments, and I will soon be visiting a specialised ME/CFS physician (fingers crossed that the cancellation list quickly pulls through for me!) - I almost have a full-time job attending all of these medical appointments! I feel so very supported by all of the neuro-affirming specialists that I am currently seeing, and it really helps me to feel as though I am being proactive with my health and staying positive about recovery.

So here is my positive update regarding my health journey. Whilst my health itself isn't always good, I am so thankful to have such a caring, expansive team supporting me every step along the way.

Possibly the best member of my healthcare team, however, is Jackson - he takes his role as emotional support animal very seriously.