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I've been following two new regimes since the start of February 2003, to aid the management of the illness. They are not a cure, but it has had interesting results - I am now able to maintain (low) activity levels, which earlier had become impossible.

It's all about manangement, of which we've all heard much, but introduces the strange concept that the pain is not necessarily associated with the activity.

I've used it in association with prescription pain management and an attempt to improve sleep - I feel sleep is the key to improvements.

• Gabapentin
  In April 06, this replaced Carbamazipine (which was taken at night to reduce pain and promote sleep without the fatiguing effects of sleeping tablets), and in a three times day dose increases fatigue markedly, but makes the pain more remote, and hence has improved stamina on the better days.
  
  
• Hypnotic Sleep CD
  Helps to get ready for sleep, and provide a distraction from the pain.
  
  
• Co-dydramol
  Taken through out the day to reduce the pain and queasiness.
  
  
• Regular physical activity
  To maintain an baseline of activity no matter what. This currently involves a 15min yoga routine and a walk - no matter what. Bare in mind that this is not a lot, and is kept well below "normal".

This regular activity was proposed by considering the illness in a new light - that the pain and tiredness is not an indication of fitness. That is, that some activity is possible even though pain already exists, and that there is a baseline of activity possible which doesn't make things worse.

One way of considering this is that the illness causes the body to be "over sensitive", so that pain is felt where normally it would not, though activity above the (low) baseline still causes fatigue.

One thing to point out is that this is physical activity. Mental activty seems to be a separate issue - the increased physical activity does not effect the baseline of mental activity, one way or the other.