ME can mean – recurrent infections OR superhuman immune system.
I’ve been both.
The only perk to my ME so far over the years has been my superhuman ability to never (well, very rarely) get a cold or any other type of bug that’s been doing the rounds. (I mean, really, it’s the least my body can do – considering the avalanche of chronic illness excrement it puts me through each day). Nonetheless, it has been eerily weird.
From what I’ve read, this is because people with ME have overactive immune systems. In which case, I assume mine can sense a virus from a 5-mile radius and temporarily takes leave from my body to go beat the crap out of it before it can get anywhere near me. Bonus! I’d happily high-five my immune system for that solid effort over the years if I could (whilst temporarily glossing over the whole ME and POTS stuff).
But recently it seems to have lost its superpowers, and I don’t know why.
People with ME seem to go in opposite directions I’ve noticed: some rarely catch anything (like me, until recently). Whereas others seem to pick up every infection/virus under the sun, and are constantly battling something ON TOP of battling their ME.
Since losing my superhuman immune powers – I appear to have joined the latter.
Ten days ago I was in bed with a high fever and chills, and felt like utter death. But I picked back up really quickly over the next 48 hours. I even made a video about how impressed I was with my speedy recovery, considering I have ME.
A week later, and I’ve had another (albeit low-grade) fever, body pains and over the last couple of days it turned into tonsillitis – which I’m now on antibiotics for. It all felt a bit too dejavu. So, I checked my calendar … and yep, it’s only been 6 weeks since I was last on these antibiotics – again, for tonsillitis.
Between the increased frequency of me getting sick on top of being chronically ill, and other weird things going on with my ME … I don’t really know what’s happening. I thought my condition was pretty stable. But there does seem to be a shift going on. And I’m not oblivious to the fact it’s been happening since I’ve been under more stress than normal lately.
And that is the nature of ME. You might feel safe with where you’re at. Safe enough to handle a little extra pressure in life. But the choice is never yours. ME is in charge of my body now. It’s like a slum landlord that exploits my vulnerability at any opportunity, because it knows this body is my only option for accommodation.
In other words … ME is a bit of a wanker.
