LIVE LONG AND PROSPER

Bonjour

As a life long Star Trek fan I have to dedicate this blog to Leonard Nimoy who died on 27th February 2015 and who is best known as Spock in the original series of Star Trek. It was a sad day. 

Spock was half human and half Vulcan and was often struggling to keep control of his emotions and to apply logic at all times. I guess at the moment I too am struggling to use my logic and common sense to make the best decisions for my health and to plan for my future. Yet at times I find myself a victim of my emotions and in danger of slipping backwards. Perhaps you face the same dilemma.

What a week it's been. It started well enough with a feel that Spring was in the air, a pocket of energy and a sense that I was at last turning the corner. It was short lived because as usual the post exertional malaise kicked in for a few days.    

At the end of the week I heard the news that Leonard Nimoy had sadly passed away. Not long after that I also heard that the offices that I worked in for over 20 years had been demolished. What next? I felt as if my past life was crumbling away.

Then on Saturday morning I awoke to some good and promising news.

'Distinct changes in the immune systems of patients with ME or chronic fatigue syndrome have been found, say scientists.

Increased levels of immune molecules called cytokines were found in people during the early stages of the disease, a Columbia University study reported.
It said the findings could help improve diagnosis and treatments'

Could this be the breakthrough that we have been all waiting for? There is hope, although this is not the first time we have been down this road. So I wait to see what happens next.

The other news that has been reported on a lot in recent weeks is the IOM report Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: redefining and illness and the proposed change of name to S.E.I.D Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease. It has resulted in an outpouring of response and some further controversy - especially about the name. You can read about it here.

I've been contemplating how I can write poems in the future about such a ridiculous name. Anyway here's my first poem

 

What’s in a name?  

This chronic illness

Has more than one name

What shall I call it?

Is it all the same?  

The name keeps changing

It once was M.E.

Then came CFS

Now SEID it could be! 

So what’s the best name?

SEID or CFS?

I prefer M.E.

Out of all this mess!!  

 

So this blog is a mixed one with a lot to contemplate.   

All that remains is to leave you with the famous words spoken by Spock 

'Live long and prosper'

 

 

And Chekov says to Kirk

"Course heading, Captain?"

Kirk replies

" Second star to the right .......and straight on till morning"

 

A bientot

From the French Femme xxx