ABC: Love and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

[Sly Saint]

We all get tired of the whole dating game at times, but for people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), it’s a whole different level of exhaustion.

CFS/ME can leave a person with a whole bunch of symptoms — physical exhaustion, mental exhaustion and muscle fatigue being just a few.

Cat O Dowd, a sex therapist who lives with chronic fatigue syndrome, joins Nat to talk about navigating dating, relationships and sex around CFS/ME.

have only listened to the first 12 minutes.
Not as trivialised as the description might suggest. Also has people phoning in.

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/the-hook-up-podcast/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-and-love/11218260

 

[ProudActivist]

Sex as pain relief?! That would be nice. My muscles get useless and painful within seconds of repetitive movements and take days to recover so... I wish!

It’s good that it’s being talked about.

 

[hellytheelephant]

Sex as pain relief?! That would be nice. My muscles get useless and painful within seconds of repetitive movements and take days to recover so... I wish!

It’s good that it’s being talked about.

ME Maths: EXERCISE + REPETITION = A WORLD OF PAIN AND SYMPTOMS.... so...not so much!
If only it was that simple!!
Imagine every 4 hours explaining to friends that you and your significant other had to go and 'get some pain relief' (!) Far more fun than medication and presumably (to align with sleep hygiene rules of 'no activities in the bedroom other than sleep'), you would have to be doing it on the kitchen floor or on the top of a wardrobe.

Sorry...I am in a silly mood!

 

[ProudActivist]

We’d probably need multiple partners to keep up that 4 hour scheduling. If only they could keep up with us!!! Ha ha dream on.

 

[Trish]

Far more fun than medication and presumably (to align with sleep hygiene rules of 'no activities in the bedroom other than sleep'), you would have to be doing it on the kitchen floor or on the top of a wardrobe.

Thanks for the laugh. I needed it after wading through an article I won't sully this thread with.

 

[hellytheelephant]

We’d probably need multiple partners to keep up that 4 hour scheduling. If only they could keep up with us!!! Ha ha dream on.

We will need an app just for ME to scope out willing 'pain control' participants. Considering how much we would be flared up after, perhaps we could call it HINDER

 

[ProudActivist]

Hinder!! Hilarious

 

[adambeyoncelowe]

I'll tell my fiance he's a therapeutic tool. I wonder how he'll take that!

 

[Barry]

I'll tell my fiance he's a therapeutic tool. I wonder how he'll take that!

Probably not lying down .

 

[adambeyoncelowe]

Probably not lying down .

I just spilt my coffee!

 

[James Morris-Lent]

Come now, guys, these posts are barely helpful. I didn't even get the thrust of the podcast. You're making it hard to slip in and bone up on the latest.

 

[Trish]

I've just listened. I thought it was a good discussion, ranging across everything from difficulties with dating to how to manage a sex life with a partner when one of you has ME. Also mentioned relationships failing because one partner gets ME.
I rarely listen to phone in programs because they are usually taken over by nutters, but in this case the guests all made a helpful contribution.