November Newsletter

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Welcome to the November 2023 Newsletter for the Live with ME/CFS blog.

Let me know what you think, what you'd like to see in the next newsletter, or if you have any comments or questions at [email protected].

Life

I'm trying to get this newsletter out today, October 31, so I can highlight my favorite holiday, Halloween! I miss the days when our sons were young - the excitement and anticipation of a houseful of kids getting ready for trick-or-treating just can't be beat. We often came up with a family theme for our costumes, and my husband and I would go out with our sons. Here are a couple of classics, from the younger years (Star Wars) and the older years (rockers):

Besides Halloween, October has been a good month for me. My health continues to improve as I normalize my thyroid function (read all about diagnosing and treating thyroid dysfunction in my recent thyroid post). I actually got in to see my primary care doctor on October 1 (her schedule is very tight these days) and had a typically wonderful conversation with her. On the downside, my new OB/GYN ordered an ultrasound to be sure my uterus looked fine, since we plan to keep me on hormone replacement therapy (estrogen patches and daily progesterone) long-term. Well, the ultrasound was inconclusive, so she wants to check and be sure with a biopsy of my uterine lining. I waited two months for it, knowing how painful it is (I previously had a cervical biopsy), and ... it didn't work. So, I have another biopsy scheduled for the end of November (another doctor with a very tight schedule). It's been stressful waiting and going through the pain of the procedure only to be told we have to do it again. I keep reminding myself: this is just a precaution, and there is most likely nothing wrong. But it's stressful.

On a happier note, we fit in one last week-long camping vacation for the year! We spent last week in the mountains of Virginia with our camper. It was very relaxing, and the fall foliage was absolutely stunning! I'll include a couple of photos here, but watch for my upcoming Vacation Vlog, on my blog, my YouTube channel, or here on e-mail.

Quote of the Month

Rather than inspirational, this month I am sharing a quote from a novel that was surprisingly relevant to those of us with ME/CFS and related illnesses:

"Despite being at an elevation of almost nine thousand feet, neither of us had any trouble exerting--the hemoglobin in our blood efficiently pulling oxygen out of the thin air thanks to modifications in our EGLN1, EPAS1, MTHFR, and EPOR genes."

---from Upgrade by Blake Crouch, an outstanding science fiction thriller about a man whose genes have been modified to create "the next step in human evolution." I squealed out loud when I read this line and recognized the MTHFR gene, which is so often dysfunctional in our diseases (read my post on Improving Methylation for details). Besides that brief quote, I loved this whole novel; it is fast-paced and gripping, with a unique premise and in-depth characters. You can read my full review at my book blog. I've also enjoyed Recursion by Blake Crouch, and his novel, Dark Matter is one of my favorites! All three of these are sci fi thrillers but all are very different and excellent on audio, too.

TV and Movies to Watch Today

A slight change from my usual newsletter format for Halloween! I haven't watched horror movies since I was a teenager, but here are a few great TV and movie recommendations if you're in the mood for something slightly dark or suspenseful: (links to my past reviews; I chose some of my favorites from the past 10 years)

Movies:

The Accountant - clever, action-packed thriller, starring Ben Affleck

Before I Go To Sleep – psychological thriller based on the novel

Glass Onion - fun, eye-popping, suspenseful mystery with an all-star cast

I See You - Unique and super-twisty - probably our favorite thriller of the past decade!

Parasite - clever, funny, family drama that turns into a suspenseful thriller (Oscar winner: Best Picture)

A Quiet Place - captivating family drama plus super suspense and 100% quiet

A Simple Favor - fun, twisty thriller with a great sense of humor

- thhive

TV:

Bosch - outstanding mystery/detective series based on the best-selling novels by Michael Connelly

Dexter - the serial killer with a moral code who you will end up rooting for! We just finished it last week.

The Flight Attendant - twisty, action-filled thriller with humor

Home Before Dark - suspenseful mystery series featuring a smart little girl detective and her friends

Lie to Me - this human lie detector knows when you're telling the truth

Shining Girls - based on an outstanding novel, this sci fi thriller starring Elizabeth Moss features a time-traveling serial killer

Veronica Mars - one of our favorite shows of all time! Teen detective with a dark, snarky sense of humor starring Kristen Bell.

From My Book

"Since becoming ill with ME/CFS in 2002, I've been surprised by how life with chronic illness makes me more aware of the small pleasures all around me. Although our lives are often defined by illness-imposed restrictions, we have found ways to add pleasure and meaning to our everyday life, too. One way is to celebrate all kinds of occasions, big and small."

-- Introduction to a chapter called Celebrate Everything, Big and Small!, providing tips and lots of simple ideas for celebrating small occasions with minimal effort to add joy to your life, from my book, Finding a New Normal: Living Your Best Life with Chronic Illness, available everywhere (links here). This chapter (I also made a video about it) is perfect for Halloween! Put on some orange or black today, watch something slightly spooky, and up your happiness with a mini celebration. (I

My Recent Videos

(Note that these are my chronic illness videos; my Youtube channel also features videos about books, if you enjoy reading or listening to audio books.)

Measuring Heart Rate in ME/CFS and Long-COVID: Addendum - Apple Watch vs. Heart Rate Monitor

Chronic Illness Vlog 10-16-23: Doing Better! And Sometimes Overdoing ...

Kayaking in Bear Creek Lake State Park, Virginia - a 1-minute video short

Hiking in Bear Creek Lake State Park, Virginia - a 1-minute video short (and it was a short, easy hike)

And my full Vacation Vlog with videos & photos of spectacular fall foliage will be posted on my YouTube channel later today!