Exercise, it is such a touchy matter.

How did a bed ridden CFIDSer go from being trapped in her room, to dancing out on the Tango floor?

In all the world everyone benefits from a little exercise except the person plagued with CFIDS. For the first time in my life, as I sat in the doctor’s office discussing options on how to deal with this disability, I was told NOT to exercise.

At the time I thought that was pretty funny since I could barely manage to be on my feet for even a few minutes at a time. I didn’t have the energy to spare to even think about exercise, I had to use everything I had on just breathing and talking.

Unfortunately I continued to go down hill with my CFIDS. My body as it weakened developed more and more health problems. I lost all muscle tone and muscle mass as I was stuck in bed.

During this time I knew one thing, if I didn’t find a way to exercise my body I was going to end up in a wheelchair the rest of my life. Already in trying to prepare my meals, I had to sit on a stool in front of the stove just to cook up a hamburger. I moved from chair to chair throughout my house to get to where I was going. Every few feet there was a place for me to sit. It is most lucky I have such a tiny house!

Out of many books I’d read about how to deal with chronic fatigue and CFIDS, there were recommendations for finding three-minute exercises to keep the muscles active in non-stressful ways. So I tried some yoga moves but couldn’t really even do a lung stretch without bottoming out.

Still I was convinced there was something I could do to prevent my body’s deterioration.

I had heard about people recovering from surgeries that were given rocking chairs in their rooms for exercise, so I got a rocking chair. There were days when I had trouble even sitting up but I stuck with it and kept rocking away each day.

There had been some research into my getting an exercise ball as well but my sister had a rocking chair, and so that was the more affordable option. I still think it would be a fun alternative to bounce on one of those balls.

As other parts of my problem were slowly being managed or solved I progressed it took me a year to get to where I could graduate from the rocking chair to other forms of activity like little short walks.

I was still insistent during these times to train my little dog Shorty to herd livestock and so would expend all the energy to be out in a field with him for herding lessons. Although these times, once a month, caused me to spend days after stuck back in bed I knew they were well worth it.

It was that drive and determination that kept me moving forward. The desire to be able to train my dog was the incentive I needed to keep from accepting my limitations. My will to do these things although faint was still enough to motivate me to keep trying to get better.

Each year I spent more and more time out of bed, giving myself challenges to strengthen my body somehow.

First it was the rocking chair, then it was getting rid of my cooking stool and standing up for longer periods of time. Soon I was trying to walk more. The best thing I ever did for myself was move my bedroom to the one upstairs so each day I had to climb the stairs to get to my bed.

Sure, maybe that doesn’t sound like a big deal to you, but there were times when I was literally climbing those stairs on my hands and knees. Every once in a while I still do!

Using diet, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and other holistic treatments I grew stronger and took on more physical challenges to keep my body in working order. I refused to get a disability-parking license plate, and walked the parking lots like everyone else.

I returned to doing my own shopping. If I didn't get everything I needed the time I became exhausted, I would go home and return for it another day. It was wonderful to be regaining my independence again. It didn't matter how hard it was to do these things. I was doing them for myself.

Each year got better and better, I tried to go back to doing yoga but didn’t have much incentive for some reason. Lucky me, soon found another means of exercise in an organization called “We Can Ride”. Here I was able to ride a horse for physical therapy designed specifically for my special needs. More then anything I was discovering how much I needed to interact with others and this was perfect. The horses shared their strength and warmth with me, and the helpers shared their laughter and good humor.

Then one day the heavens opened up and the light shown down on me. I realized songs on the radio are three minutes long! I had found the perfect exercise. I’d get up and dance to a song and then sit back down and rest until I was ready for another. If there's one thing I love it's dancing!

By the winter of 2003 I was daring enough to take my first dance class. I started with a slow easy dance called nightclub two-step. It was hard and exhausting but so worth it!!! I had to wear a back brace, and ice my back down afterwards. It hurt so bad I could barely drive myself home and many times came home crying with the pain. After those lessons I would be up all night in excruciating agony, but nothing could keep me away from those classes.

Reveling in being so social, I hadn’t laughed like that in forever and being in the company of others was simply exhilarating! What was perfect I discovered about dancing was that I could go to a dance and after being on the floor for a song, rest as long as I needed before going out there again and could still appear normal. I was in heaven!

At first it took me days to recuperate but over time that too became easier. I’m now heading into my fourth year since I began my exercise towards wellness plan and am a regular out on the country dance floor. Yes, I still experience terrible pain and many of those nights when I return home are spent sleepless because of it. But I am stronger then I've ever been.

Happily after changing doctors again for the gazillionth time it was discovered I had a magnesium deficiency, and would also benefit from thyroid medication. As my energy continues to improve through medical and holistic treatments I am now tackling the challenge of Tango dancing and loving it.

I must have a need for drama and Tango suits me just fine. Who knows what I’ll try next! So how did a bed ridden CFIDSer go from being trapped in her room, to dancing out on the Tango floor? Very slowly over time with determination and some creativity.