Tag Archives: coping

In Which I Rant at NPR

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Jennie Spotila

Two weeks ago, NPR published a story about the rise in Social Security disability claims. The bottom line of the story is that unemployed people are choosing to go on SSDI because they have conditions that prevent them from doing … Continue reading →

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AAFP Follow Up

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Jennie Spotila

After the American Academy of Family Practitioners published an article on CFS in October 2012, Dr. Lucinda Bateman and I submitted a Letter to the Editor. Today, that letter was published and the full version is free online. There is … Continue reading →

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On the Shelf

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Jennie Spotila

I recently read Spillover by David Quammen, a book about human diseases that originate in animals. ME/CFS is not mentioned in the book, but a passage about the origin of HIV struck very close to home. Quammen describes how HIV … Continue reading →

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Comparing Exercise Advice

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Jennie Spotila

Exercise is an issue for every CFS patient, and there is no shortage of advice on whether and how to do it. On January 14th, the CDC hosted a conference call as part of its Patient Centered Outreach and Communication … Continue reading →

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Best Laid Plans

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Jennie Spotila

This is not the day I planned to come back from my holiday hiatus, nor is this the post I planned for the beginning of a new year. But as they say: “The best laid plans of mice and men … Continue reading →

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Coffee

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Jennie Spotila

I graduated with honors from an Ivy League law school, and it was largely made possible by coffee. There was a Cinnabon right around the corner, so most mornings I picked up a ginormous vat large cup to get the … Continue reading →

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Insufficient Data

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Jennie Spotila

One of the most frustrating aspects of coping with CFS is the lack of definitive data. A PubMed search for “chronic fatigue syndrome” yields 4,877 results (as of today), but as a patient on the front lines I have to … Continue reading →

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Rest Medicine

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Jennie Spotila

I have been working really hard at resting. That probably doesn’t make sense, but I have been struggling to incorporate preemptive rest into my routine and it feels like a lot of work. The rationale for preemptive rest is that … Continue reading →

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Gratitude

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Jennie Spotila

We celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States on Thursday, and you may have seen the 30 days of gratitude meme on social media this month. I decided to share my gratitude in one post, and focus on aspects of my … Continue reading →

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In Concert

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Jennie Spotila

I went to a concert on Saturday night. I know, right? Given how sick I have been, and how much I have struggled after outings, a concert sounds pretty crazy. In fact, I haven’t been to a concert in many … Continue reading →

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