Basic Stuff
- Name: Ishtar
- Country: Scotland, United Kingdom
- County: Edinburgh
- City: Edinburgh
- Gender: Female
- Age: 71
- Education: Ph.D Degree
- Primary Illness: Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS)
- Diagnosis:
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Year Illness Began: 2011
Functioning Interrupted
Work Interrupted
- Former Occupation: Psychologist & Dance artist
- Job Responsibilities at Former Occupation:
I worked full time as a psychologist for the chronic pain service in the NHS. I ran mindfulness groups and saw individual patients. I also had a part time private practice in psychotherapy. I also had a dance project on the go.
- Current Occupation: Psychologist in private practice, dance artist
- Current Job Responsibilities:
I had to leave my NHS job due to ME/CFS. I am able to work as a psychotherapist by spacing out my clients. I have done a dance film by doing short bits of movement followed by rest.
- Years of Work Lost: 0
- Current Work Status: Still working
Income Interrupted
-
Minimum Current Annual Income Loss:
£8,833
Other Interruptions
- I reduced my work hours
- I left my job or retired early
Most Impactful Loss
Unable to dance or be physically active. Unable to socialise unless I am not working.
My Story
Prior to becoming ill, I had a rich and full life. I was part of a pain management team, I ran mindfulness groups and trainings, I was funded for a dance project and regularly did tai chi, yoga, pilates and walking. I became ill suddenly one day at work and did not get better. I was bed-ridden for about a 6 months, house-bound for another 6 months and had to leave my NHS job and cancel my dance project. All this was devastating to me. I felt like I was dying. Any attempt to do anything like pilates, even for ten minutes, would leave me bed-bound again. I was fortunate that I have a loving husband who looked after me and took over much of the household chores, shopping, cooking etc.
I gradually improved over the course of around 6 years. I used yoga nidra meditation and frequent rests and made sure to rest when I felt symptoms coming on. I got back to around 90% of where I was until 2021 when I relapsed. I was not as bad as the first time and generally have been able to work part time but am still now getting post-exertional malaise if I do too much physically. I can walk for about ten minutes. I had been funded again for a dance project that I had been working on for some years. I was too ill to perform the piece but was able to make it into a film. I would do small bits of movement and lie down repeatedly throughout the day. I did NOTHING else during the two weeks of filming. I got a lot of support from others to be able to do this. I remain hopeful that I will continue to improve again and get back to where I was prior to relapse. I have attached a link to the trailer for my piece that I managed to do in spite of my illness! It had it's first screening in September 2023. Since then I have improved to some degree. I am able to socialise a bit more a do about 30 minutes of movement practice twice a week.
