Thread by @MEActNet

Wondering about the terms PEM or pacing? Seen #StopRestPace & were curious as to what it referenced? Been in our community a long time & want easy ways to explain these concepts? Perhaps you have seen pacing misused & want to clear that up. We hope this thread helps! #pwME #PwLC

Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is the cardinal symptom of ME/CFS. PEM is a flare of symptoms and/or the appearance of new symptoms after exertion, often presenting 24 hours after the triggering event. Physical activity, cognitive overexertion, & sensory overload can trigger PEM.

Sometimes exertion is misunderstood as exercise. Exertion is defined here as anything that stresses or strains the system. No trigger can be controlled all of the time. The goal of pacing is to MINIMIZE post-exertional malaise rather than eliminate it.
#PEM #MECFS #LongCovid

#StopRestPace is a campaign created by #MEAction to help our community spread the word to those who were experiencing PEM after COVID-19 to rest and pace their activity.
Check out our videos and more at meaction.net/stoprestpace

#MEawareness #ChronicIllness

Pacing is a self-management strategy for activity. Patients who pace well are active when able and rest when tired. Proper pacing involves building up awareness of the levels of daily activity that do not trigger relapse of symptoms through PEM. It is incredibly difficult.

- There are many barriers to pace properly.
- Activity management in severe patients can be very challenging since even activities like eating or brushing teeth may lead to a crash. Pacing advice may not always be useful in this population.
#SevereME

#MEAction offers three Pacing & Management Guides - adult, pediatric, and clinician - on our site. Our pediatric guide was developed in conjunction with @LongCovidFam. Our clinician's guide was developed with @patientled. meaction.net/resource/pacin…

#MyalgicEncephalomyelitis