{"id":5350,"date":"2022-11-29T23:50:03","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T23:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tutoringwithatwist.ca\/?p=5350"},"modified":"2022-12-01T18:03:40","modified_gmt":"2022-12-01T18:03:40","slug":"why-im-glad-im-a-lifelong-learner-my-battle-with-chronic-fatigue-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tutoringwithatwist.ca\/ns\/why-im-glad-im-a-lifelong-learner-my-battle-with-chronic-fatigue-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I’m Glad I’m a Lifelong Learner – My Life with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome"},"content":{"rendered":"

Content warning: suicide is mentioned.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure we\u2019ve all seen those memes circulating that suggest learning something like algebra doesn\u2019t help with everyday life. While I believe that not everyone has to take algebra to the highest grade, I like to disagree with the memes\u2019 suggestions that learning algebra has no benefits<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We may not find ourselves pulling out an algebraic equation to solve something exactly as it\u2019s written in a math textbook. However, I have found myself using it over the years when trying to figure out how best to deal with my health concerns.<\/p>\n

The reasoning it takes to solve for \u2018x\u2019 in the textbook equations is akin to solving for the \u2018why\u2019 behind my health concerns. Sometimes I long for simpler times when I had an answer key at the back of the textbook to figure out if I was solving for \u2018x\u2019 correctly. Life doesn\u2019t always come with that answer key!<\/p>\n

(Yes, I now sometimes find myself longing for algebraic equations. Don\u2019t tell my children or my former math teachers!)<\/p>\n

A reason I\u2019m so passionate about wanting everyone to feel as though they can learn any subject at any age and with any ability level is that we all find ourselves needing to continuously learn as we go through life. This is the core of our Twisted Philosophy<\/a>!<\/p>\n

For myself, I was solving for the \u2018x\u2019 of why my health was rapidly declining. Among all the inconsistencies happening to me was one consistent piece: exercise (which is another lifelong passion for me) was actually hurting me. It was the repetition of this fact that led to a diagnosis for me.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat condition exists that exercise could hurt someone?\u201d is the question I asked my doctors (and there were many) over and over again.<\/p>\n

The Diagnosis<\/h4>\n

Drum roll please\u2026 We got an answer after many months, many tests, and many specialist appointments. Have you heard of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis\/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME\/CFS)?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be honest, the first part of being diagnosed with this that I had to come to terms with was how to say \u201cmyalgic encephalomyelitis.\u201d I used the phonetic way I was taught in school to learn how! (And I may have also gone into YouTube and listened to others pronounce it as well.)<\/p>\n

In case you are curious, you pronounce it like this:<\/p>\n

my-al-jik<\/p>\n

en-ceph-a-lo-my-el-ite-iss<\/p>\n

When we talk, bear with me saying it out loud as I\u2019m still practicing ;)!<\/p>\n

We believe in making \u201cmiss-takes\u201d at Tutoring\u2026With A Twist (see the clapperboard in our Twisted process!<\/a>). In saying this word, I really should have a clapperboard handy so that we can go through all my takes of trying to pronounce it right!<\/p>\n

My eldest child, River, teases me because when I talk about it now, I say, \u201cME\/CFS\u201d. He asks me, \u201cWhy do you have to say the ME? Why not just say \u2018Chronic Fatigue Syndrome\u2019?\u201d Excellent question, River, sweet child o\u2019 mine\u2026<\/p>\n

What Is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis \/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"effects<\/p>\n

Why put the ME there? Why not just refer to it as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)?<\/p>\n