I am 40, a new mum and suffer from M.E./Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. My inability to exercise really gets me down. Now that I have a new baby it seems as though I will never regain any level of fitness or lose the baby weight. Is anyone else in the same boat? Does anyone have any advice or words of wisdom that could lend me some hope?

Hi Anne.

I don't have any experience of ME/CFS, but I just thought I'd say Hi and welcome to the THC. You will get lots of support on here, even if we can't relate to your exact circumstances.

The Ab-Fab group has lots of members that are trying to lose weight/get fitter and you will get lots of support on there.

We also have a challenge each month, and for September it's to try something new (doesn't have to be related to fitness/diet, it can be anything).

Hi Anne, also saw your post in the other forum wher I commented on Paul's CFS / ME. Just to say I know how hard it can be to start feeling even remotely human when you have an illness that wipes you out so much. I can't even begin to guess how tire you feel with a new baby.

I'd say the same to you as I did Paul - take it very slow and do things you like. What can you do that involves the baby? Can you walk about locally and maybe join a couple of local mum and baby support groups that give you a reason to get out? Can you pop down to your local library and maybe listen to a talk or take advantage of any sessions they may have going on there that you can take the baby to? Same with the local pool - any infant classes where you can join your child?

If you do go walking, do be careful. Follow a bus route and make sure you have the money to pay (sounds daft, but one day after a swim I realised I couldn't walk up the hill home and I didn't have the cash to pay for the bus which was a bit of a problem!).

You don't have to formally exercise in a gym or a set exercise class if you don't feel you have the strength. However, I will say that taking a course of sessions in Chi Gung (somewhat like Tai Chi, gentle stretching exercises which a slightly spiritual bent that focus on letting go negative energy) worked really well for me, and wasn't as expensive as I thought it would be. If you could get an hour or two to yourself it maybe that you could try something similar, such as a gentle form of yoga.

You also shouldn't be harsh on yourself the days you want to curl up in bed and do nothing more than sleep (though I suspect that will be very hard anyway with a new baby!).

But most of all, and as I said before, well done for working to get over this debilitating illness. Take care of yourself, eat well and be kind to yourself. It will get better.

Hi there Anne and welcome!
You'll find lots of support here and a place to chat if you need it. I don''t have CFS but have had 9 months off work recently with exhaustion and back trouble. Like Jane so rightly says, take it easy and do a little at a time. Tai chi is excellent, and not at all strenuous if you can get someone to look after baby. If you can get out for a short walk with the pushchair every other day, for just 15 mins and then buikd it up very slowly, then this will help.
Can I suggest you join the Ab Fab group on this site? We're a very friendly bunch who support each other through thick and thin! Good luck, and well done for posting.

Hi Anne

You have my sympathy with trying to cope with CFS and a newborn. I'm in the 9th month of a relapse and have just joined to use of the monitoring facilities available on-site for sleep, mood, tiredness, etc. Sounds daft but although I know the importance of monitoring symptoms I'm often too tired to make the effort. From past (and present) experience of trying to work full time and manage a home under the blanket of CFS, I would initially suggest that simply monitor activity/tiredness/pain/mood/IBS for a couple of months to get an idea of the situation.

Like you, I get immensely frustrated at not being able to exercise - especially as it's my main method of relaxation. For the time being, I've put all thoughts of exercise (or meaningful weight loss!!) aside as I'm wiped out if the bus doesn't turn up and have to walk the 15 minutes from the alternative route.

Hi I have MS, albeit not badly, but at times I get extremely tired.

I have found walking is good, you can do as much or as little as you wish. As a new mum you can hold on to the pram or pushchair for a little support. When not so tired you can walk a little faster.

Give it a try, I found it helped; and the fresh air is nice!

Sally

Good to see this thread revived, Sally.
How are things going Anne?

You know, I never connected my IBS to CFS, but it kinda makes sense. I think out of all the problems CFS has caused me, that's the most miserable one. No caffiene, no alcohol, no lactose...!

Anyway, I hope that things are getting better for my fellow sufferers. It took me two years to feel relatively normal again, and I work part time now because I physically can't cope working full time. I've learned not to be too hard on myself about it, and if I need to go to bed for a day I do, usually with a pot of herbal tea.

But then I don't have a newborn.

Hi, i do not have CFS but have clients over the last few years that have - mainly children; it can be horrendously debilitating. From what i gather you need to take each day as it comes but never push yourself to do too much. It sounds as it running a home is more than enough excercise, especially if you do not want to set yourself back. try to think of ways to conserve energy so that you have time and energy left to do something of pleasure for you. Good luck. I have noticed that if you are kind to yourselves it helps a lot.

and i forgot to say that a healthy diet is probably more important at this time to keep you alert, focussed and help the general system. x

Hi Anne

I've got fatigue syndrome (hoping it won't become too chronic). I'm at the stage of doing very minimal physical activity and learning to listen to my body. I'm lucky to friends who help out practically, and the Red Cross have lent me a wheelchair for outside the home. I don't have a baby, but do have 3 children. I'm doing a little basic pilates (about 3 minutes a day) and find that doesn't tire me too much and does help me keep some core stability/stomach muscles.

I'm concentrating on eating as much unprocessed food as possible, with more than 5-a-day fruit/veg. Frozen veg are great because I don't have to prepare them. And red lentils don't need any preparation either.

I need high levels of iron. I've discovered that 3 squares of very dark chocolate boosts my daily iron enough without pushing up the calories.

My top tip to myself is to learn some relaxation methods and listen to my body rather than fight it.

All the best - not easy is it.

Anne

Hi Anne,

I had ME and glandular fever on and off for years and here are my tips for exercise...

Firstly, as you will know there are times when you have no energy at all whereas at other times (or so I found) I felt more with it and ready to do something. Unfortunately these "energetic" (and I say that in the loosest sense of the word) moments always seemed to be when the gym was closed, it was raining outside, etc. So I just stuck on the music channel and did some basic aerobics stuff in the lounge (leg lifts, jumping around a bit, etc). I guess this would work with an aerobics/dance vid too. The benefit of this was that I could flop on the sofa if I felt like it. I ended up with a workout of about 10 mins aerobic stuff, 10 mins toning (sit-ups, press-ups against the wall) and 10 mins stretching.

Secondly, as time went on I found it useful to establish a routine of some sort, however basic. Its so easy to let your time slide into one long lounging/sleeping cycle so I forced myself to go for a short walk at the same time every day, eat at regular times, etc.

Hope this helps and that you also have good support from your GP - I think some are better than others with ME as some docs still don't see it as a genuine illness which is ridiculous.