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Recovery |
I became ill in November 1995 after a virus. I had just started year 5 in primary school. I was ill for about three years before I began to feel substantially better. It's hard to know exactly when because improvement was quite gradual, but I remember that at the beginning of 1999 I was able to have home tuition in two subjects which I later built up to three. I think the first sign that I was getting better was having more energy. I found that I could do more things without feeling so worn out. The first three years of being ill I was a bit up and down.
I hardly noticed that I was getting better until I looked back and saw how much I'd done compared to the year or so before. After that I just kept on improving. I did part time in year 9 just doing the lessons in English, Maths and Science. By year 10 I was feeling so much better that I decided to do full time, taking all my GCSEs. I had so much energy I could even shop for longer than my Mum did! I could also go out after school without having to rest beforehand, and still manage my homework. It was amazing to feel so well. From feeling a bit better to being almost completely well took about two and a half years. It didn't feel that long at the time though!
One of the most important things that helped me recover was the support of my family, especially my parents. They always understood and were ready to listen when I needed to talk. My Mum spent a lot of time caring for me and worked tirelessly to make sure that I was comfortable and had everything I needed. She was absolutely amazing and never lost patience with me. My Dad was always ready to drive me places so I had the maximum amount of energy possible when I arrived! It's impossible to explain how great they were; I can't praise them enough. The other thing that helped my recovery was osteopathy and some temporary diet changes. I had osteopathy on my back every week for a long while which I was gradually able to decrease to every fortnight, then every month. I cut right down on my sugar intake temporarily, which was beneficial. In the end I could cope with some sugar intake but I still had to be careful! I also was taking extra minerals for a while.
Don't be afraid of feeling better, it can be scary at first but only because it's strange. The thing to always remember is to keep positive, even though it can be very hard. It's also important never to forget that you will get better. Yes, it takes time and effort, but the rewards are worth it. I'll never forget how I felt when I was finally able to attend school full time and stay out all day. Even though I'm worse again the memories of those times keep me holding on when I'm feeling down.
Find out more about recovery in Getting better.
