18 Comments
Jul 25, 2023Liked by Rachel Katz

“Sometimes I've set myself the task of doing 10 minutes a day or one sentence a day. And trying to feel like that is enough.”

Love this! As someone who doesn’t have a diagnosis of CFS but does have very very severe fatigue, I may have to borrow this attitude & goal for writing! And always against perfectionism, against ❤️

Expand full comment
author

Amen! This was also one of my favorite quotes from Louise :)

Expand full comment

Thank you for this! I have Fibro and CFS. I have also been living with mold for the past couple of years and that facet of this interview was like a little lightbulb switch.

Expand full comment
author

I'm also so glad to hear that this offered that spark! I have also found that I'll read and read and then sometimes one particular thing sets off a lightbulb.

Expand full comment

Yes, I find that too. I've learned that you have to keep yourself educated on your own medical issues in order to get the right care.

Expand full comment

I'm glad you got something out of it!

Expand full comment

Great interview <3

Dropping a comment to make sure you're receiving my emails? I saw that it seems like one didn't go through about the reschedule and I'm not sure if you got the second one either? Definitely want to chat so just checking in.

Expand full comment
author

Very sorry! I did get your last one and responded this morning :). Looking forward to our conversation!

Expand full comment

No worries. Just making sure. Looking forward to chatting.

Expand full comment

Good interview! I definitely know the struggle with the nervous system. It's a long journey and it's not that simple to explain to someone.

Btw, I think in the article she meant to say "sympathetic" nervous system, not parasympathetic right?

Expand full comment
author

I'm increasingly thinking about my nervous system, in part thanks to this conversation. And thanks for the catch - it is fixed!

Expand full comment

I think so! Thanks for picking that up...we both missed it!

Expand full comment

A great interview Rae & Louise - do you think there’s something in the water here in Melbourne, maybe?

Expand full comment
author

Such a coincidence that the first two were both ME/CFS folks in Melbourne. Glad you two can connect :)

Expand full comment

Once you're in the club of chronic illness, a whole underground world of people reveals itself to you. I have been told mould is a high problem on the East Coast of Australia , and is becoming more of a problem with climate change, new building codes that prioritise energy efficiency over air flow, and rushed workmanship overall.

Expand full comment

Absolutely. Did I see you in my local coffee shop today? Your face seems quite familiar...

Expand full comment

No, not me. Unfortunately I'm in the phase of my illness where getting out is very challenging!

Expand full comment

I won’t ‘like’ that! Sucks when you can’t go out, sucks more when you’re too crashed to even want to ❤️‍🩹

Expand full comment