u/Thin-Account7974

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I had my yearly medication check up yesterday with the practice nurse, at my doctor's surgery. I rested for two days before going, so that I felt well enough to go. I'm pretty much housebound, and am horizontal for around 20 hours per day.

I was weighed and measured, and blood taken. I know I'm a bigger lady, so expected it to be mentioned.

When she asked me about my health, I explained that I had ME, and was very limited in the amount that I could do, and that I couldn't really do any exercise, especially anything that raised my heart rate. As she was nodding away, I knew she didn't get it.

She asked if I could do housework, and I explained that I could do small amounts, but with breaks along the way, and I needed lots of extra rest.

I think her idea of small amounts, and breaks, and rest, was vastly different to mine. Especially when she said that I could think about going on walks, I smiled and said walking wasn't possible.

It's the absolute worst thing for me. Walking absolutely destroys me, unfortunately, and If I did try, it would put me in bed for days, and lower my baseline for a month. I've been ill for 20 years, so have a pretty good grasp on how ME/CFS behaves.

I do play the drums a little, which helps keep me moving, and brings me joy. It's sitting down, which is much easier for me, and I don't play super fast, so it doesn't really raise my heart above 100 bpm.

I've just got a message from the doctors surgery, asking me to commit to their weight loss course, involving doing regular exercise. I obviously said no.

Honestly, I don't know whether to laugh, or cry.

How do medical professionals still know so little about this illness.