If I had let my symptoms stop me, I would never have been able to continue

Summary

Lise used a self-directed graded walking program, starting at 100 metres on New Year's Day and building to a full 1.3km block after six months, alongside positive self-talk, gradual sensory exposure to light and sound, and progressively harder reading exercises. She had been severely ill with ME/CFS since the previous summer, at her worst so exhausted she had to "crawl to and from the bathroom," with severe pain, cognitive dysfunction, and sensitivity to light and sound. She says she is "now exercising like I was before my illness" and can go on long woodland hikes, with her body "no longer holding me back" in daily life, and that she is on her way back into the workforce. She deliberately rejected the Norwegian ME Association's rest-focused approach in favor of gradual activity. No relapse is mentioned, though she says she remains "a bit more careful" than before and can no longer handle as much stress or a fast-paced lifestyle.

Symptoms mentioned

Symptoms: Brain fog, Light & noise sensitivity, Pain & fibromyalgia.