Pray for me ,last weekend after feeling angry about the pain and fear of the unknown ,I just made an executive decision to stay out of work until the pain resolved,instead of medicating and going back when it was tolerable.After 7 days I was pain free.This is probably what I should have done after the pain started for the first time after my 1st 2 days of work. I became fearful I maybe pushed the limits to far and the pain would not subside.I have a new respect for pt's in pain .I will be either taking the disability from my work or be placed in a role as a consultant for the hospital working from home and going in only 1 day per wk for a couple hrs for mtgs,etc .I have wrote Administration an offer, will pray over it and turn it in tommorow and ask God to guide them in making the right decision as I am unsure of what is truly the right answer. I have now read your book and gleaned alot of helpful info as I approach a new journey in life. 

Hi Hopeful,

With CFS the most prominent symptom is post exertional malaise, an increase in symptoms for at least 24 hours after any sort of exertion: mental, physical, emotional. One of the recovery "MUST DOS" is to stop the activity that is worsening your PEM, until a time when you are symptom free with that activity and then you can increase. I understand the financial consideration, but there's also a consideration that you will worsen your illness and the overall QOL including your ability to work in the future. 

Another consideration in CFS recovery is starting the day out slowly because people with CFS use up energy much quicker in the early part of the day leading to PEM. If you could do some kind of per diem work that allows you to come in later in the day and stay for shorter hours I'd say that would be the best bet.

Try not to beat yourself up because stress is rat poison to your central nervous system, adrenal glands, and immune system. Let me know how it goes and if you have any more questions.

STRENGTH!

nadine

I have been an RN for 22 years with CFS for about 2yrs ,prominent s/s were debilitating  fatigue and concentration and memory,I am now not doing clinical and serve as Infection Preventionist  at the hospital,much more sedentary, just recently diagnosed  3/1 even though struggling with syptoms for 2 years. After diagnosis went out of work for 4 months.Since back to work after two 6 hr days where I felt I paced myself, I crashed and woke up with sorethroat ,joint pain ,H/A and have now persited 16 days.I have to make a decision by within about a wk now whether to stay and pace and work minimum of 5 six hr days or pull out .I can't get in with my MD before I have  to make the decsion.One MD said 90% get better in 5 yrs another said he sees only about 50% recover.The symptoms have been minimized with rest for periods but have not completely subsided.I need opinions on whether I am hurting myself despite pacing on the trying to reach the 5 yr goal or whether  my body will eventually adjust.I need to work for finances but not at the cost of chronic pain.Just please give me your thoughts, I know everyone with CFS varies but what do you see as the trend? I am so tired and overwhelmed I can't seem to reason out a choice and it hard for family to help because they don't feel and understand the symptoms plus the financial impact is going to be huge with us probably having to downsize.Please give me your opinion on if I continue to push forward will my body adjust or am I probably decreasing chnace of 5 yr recovery.Feel as if I have no quality of life right now.