The ME/CFS Society of NSW Inc.

by Kerri Stephenson

Do onions make you cry? Have you ever peeled back the layers one by one? That’s what my life with ME/CFS/FM (Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia) has been like over the past 14 years; gradually losing layer by layer of my once active, social, independent life until I hit the centre/rock bottom/got right back to the basic routine of sleeping/eating/bathroom and was like a baby needing 24/7 care because I was too weak to move, talk or do anything other than keep breathing.

By Vicki Bailey

I have never been a good cook. In fact, I used to describe my cooking to friends as being very pedestrian, and would beg them for their delicious sounding recipes which sounded simple, but would never turn out quite right in my kitchen. I used to make a big effort with the kids’ birthday cakes (thank you Women’s Weekly), and sometimes they’d turn out all right. Other times there was a lot of cheating going on with trying to stick bits back where they should be and cover the lot with jazzy icing.