Slow Lane

Source: thequietsthing on tumblr - the incredible harsh quiet revelation that you have when you are diagnosed with chronic illness(es) is that you will never be healthy again. I don't think able bodied people are able to understand what it means to just resign to the fact that your life is not just yours anymore. you share it with a weight that will be with you until you are gone from this world.

Source: thequietsthing on tumblr

A dusty pink hellebore stands proudly above leaves coloured dark green and mottled pink. In the background are winter weary plant stems in a paved yard with pale walls.

First blooms of hellebores in the backyard today, the rest needs a good tidy. Didn't manage to plant any bulbs, so this is a very welcome sight. #plants

THINGS PEOPLE WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS WANT OTHERS TO UNDERSTAND We wish our friends knew how very hard it is to ask for help. Just because we try to stay positive doesn't mean we are all better. It's not fair to have the same expectations from us as you would from a healthy person. There's so much that goes on behind the scenes you'll never know about. We are going to live with this for the rest of our lives. We don't want to sound like we are complaining. @simplyspoonie

The rustling of a plastic packet!

Very dramatic

This week is #SevereMEawarenessWeek
Those with SME are hidden from view,often abandoned,left to struggle.
Severe ME can mean being trapped,you are housebound(like me) &/or bedbound,no escaping.
Yet, so many don’t even believe ME is real.
#SevereMEAwarenessWeek #SME2025
#PwME #MEnotCFS #MyalgicE

A grey sign with white writing stands in front of an old tree. The sign reads: I am very old and need to rest. Please don't sit on me

Just another relatable National Trust sign

Ah, yes - they need seats too!! Add in flight socks, they can help also.

Graphic 1 of 4. DecodeME: The Results graphic. The slide says: ‘The signals discovered are involved in the immune and nervous systems, indicating immunological and neurological causes to this poorly understood disease’.

Graphic 2 of 4. DecodeME: The Results graphic. The slide says: ‘At least two of the signals relate to the body’s response to infection’. Beneath this is an image of green germs.

Graphic 3 of 4. DecodeME: The Results graphic. The slide says: ‘Other signals point to the nervous system, one of which researchers previously found in people experiencing chronic pain, reinforcing neurological contributions to ME/CFS’. Beneath this is an image of a person curled up in bed feeling ill.

Graphic 4 of 4. DecodeME: The Results graphic. The slide says ‘All of these signals align with how people with ME/CFS describe their illness’.

(2/2)

Graphic 1 of 4. DecodeME: The Results graphic. At the top in bold lettering, it says ‘Main Findings’. Beneath this it says ‘Your genes contribute to your chances of developing ME/CFS. Other key findings are on the following slides.

Graphic 2 of 4. DecodeME: The Results graphic. The slide says ‘People with an ME/CFS diagnosis have significant genetic differences in their DNA compared to the general population’. Beneath this is an image of a DNA helix and a magnifying glass.

Graphic 3 of 4. DecodeME: The Results graphic. The slide says ‘These lie in many places across the genome, and do not impact just one gene’. Beneath this is an image of a DNA helix and graphs.

Graphic 4 of 4. DecodeME: The Results graphic. The slide says ‘Eight genetic signals have been identified. As DNA doesn’t change with ME/CFS onset, these findings reflect causes rather than effects of ME/CFS’. Beneath this is a blue magnifying glass with a DNA helix.

(1/2) Key genetic differences found in people with ME/CFS > Swipe to find out more.

These findings reflect the lived experience of thousands of #pwME.

Thanks to all our participants & supporters who made this possible!

Read a summary of our results: shorturl.at/pgsjk

📌

Sign the Petition The NHS must take measures to STOP Dill deteriorating

Petition · The NHS must take measures to STOP Dill deteriorating ✍️ 🙏 -
#PwME #SevereME #MEawareness #SevereMEawarenessWeek #MyalgicE #MEnotCFS
Another person with ME being mistreated by the NHS, this is a shockingly sad situation, happening too often😡 www.change.org/p/the-nhs-mu...

I’d suggest lying down on the back seat with an eye mask on, some padding across the seatbelt docks and headphones if noise sensitivity is an issue. I recently did so for a four hour journey, helped greatly. Deprive yourself as much as possible from sensory stimulants.

Today marks the start of Severe ME awareness week.
People with severe ME are hidden from view & can be totally housebound and/or bed bound.
I have had ME for over 25 years, I have been totally housebound for over 2 years now(& for longer spells before this). #PwME #SevereMEAwarenessWeek #SME2025

Prevalence: Latest research suggests a 62% increase on historic estimates for ME/CFS in the UK - The ME Association The ME Association has reached agreement with Action for ME […]

The prevelance numbers have been revised from 250,000 to 403,923 - it would be good if this number was included in the petition.
meassociation.org.uk/2025/07/prev...

What if your NHS GP advises and refers you to a private consultant for a time critical condition to confirm their diagnosis?

Yes, things could be much, much worse. I’m grateful for the MPs who stood up for their disabled constituents.

This is what I voted for, compassion and understanding. The leadership sadly seem to have lost their way about what truly matters in our society.

A pink rose bloom with some buds in the background

Multiple chive flowers showing a purple delicacy and grace

Contrasting orange and pale lilac coloured blooms

🌱 some recent blooms, most happy with our new rose which was a bare root purchase in March. Nature truly is marvellous 🤩

I spread some cream cheese on the toast too, extra delicious with balsamic vinegar too!

Is Nattokinase worth looking at?

A close up on a dog’s face. She has mainly black fur and a white chest plus brown eyes and a black nose.

Look into my eyes. Step away from the phone. Feed me treats…!!

A mixed bouquet of yellow daffodils, white camelia, red currant, spike leafed holly and other garden foliage

A little flower arranging from the garden canvas at Dad's. Beautiful afternoon to spend a few minutes outside 😊

We’ve been so moved seeing the #FundThePlan videos over the past few weeks.

Now, we want to get our call to #FundThePlan out far and wide. Here’s a little something we’ve put together for the campaign.

We’d love your help making some noise with it 🙏

A close up picture of a dog's head and paw while it snoozes on a maroon pillow. The dog has curly black/brown hair on her head with a white chin and paw. It also has a shiny, black boopable nose. The background is a home lounge area, out of focus.

It's a hard life, sigh! Woke the human up to mither for food but then decided to lie on her and catch 40 winks.

Close up of purple and purple/white crocus blooms with vivid orange stamens at their centre. A few petals are looking tatty but overall, the flowers are still beautiful.

A carpet of crocus flowers in white, purple and mixed purple/white under a wide trunked tree. A beam of bright sunlight falls across a strip. In the background is a brick wall with hedging behind.

A pleasure to see some crocus blooms during a brief outing today. Perhaps nearing past their best, something I can identify with!

YouTube video by Marsh Family "Puppets on a Kremlin String?" - Marsh Family adaptation of Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" on Trump/Vance

Marvellous from the Marsh Family
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvT3...

I couldn’t quite believe what I was reading 😑

A curly haired black and white Spanish Water dog wearing a brown collar lies on her humans blanketed legs while keeping watch on the street outside the room.

Always our defender of the neighbourhood, and a good leg warmer to boot!

She knows it!!