PEM at 2 am
by Ffion
For World ME Day, 12th May 2023
“M.E. – the disease where pushing harder can make you sicker”
Shattered…
Battered…
Shell-shocked…
Dazzled…
Detonated from sleep…
By explosion in my brain.
Perspiration…
Prostration…
Nausea…
Pain…
I lie quietly, tightly,
Barely daring to breathe…
Yesterday, did too much…??
And triggered PEM…
Again…
I long to return to the life that I had…
Excitement and routine…
Highs and lows…
Good and bad…
But I must lie silent,
Isolated in time…
Life-denied…
Soul-destroyed…
Inexpressibly sad…
Notes
“Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is the worsening of symptoms in ME, following even minor physical or mental exertion. Symptoms typically worsen 12 to 48 hours after activity and last for days or even weeks.”
“Malaise”, lit. “ill-at-ease”, does not begin to describe it…. “collapse” a much better descriptor.
