Facilitator • Lived Experience ME/CFS • Advocate
Join us for an insightful episode of the Emerge Australia Imagine Podcast as we delve further into the world of ME/CFS and the impacts of post-exertional malaise (PEM) with an expert guest, Louise De Pino.
Louise, a trained social worker and experienced peer facilitator, brings a wealth of knowledge and personal insight to the conversation. With her 25-year journey living with ME/CFS and other chronic conditions, she has become a dedicated advocate and support provider for those navigating similar paths.
In this podcast, Louise emphasises the importance of understanding and explaining PEM, the hallmark of ME/CFS that requires careful management. She shares practical strategies, such as pacing and the use of mobility aids, that can help with avoiding overexertion and managing energy levels more effectively.
Pacing and mobility aids (things like a shower chair, a stool on wheels to use in the kitchen or around the house, wheelchair/walking stick when leaving the house etc) are options we can utilise to help. Other practical measures can be helpful like baby wipe showers and having groceries delivered.
The conversation also highlights the significance of creating safe and inclusive spaces for people with chronic illnesses. Louise discusses the need for support groups that cater to the diverse needs of the ME/CFS community, especially those with severe symptoms. She encourages us to find beauty in the breakdown, with powerful messages of resilience and self-compassion.
Our severe community have significant needs – being heard in our support groups, accessing home and community care from municipal council, and being supported to engage with Centrelink and NDIS – these measures can make a real difference for people’s lives.
Don’t miss this inspiring and informative episode, brought to you during ME/CFS Awareness Week. Join Anne Wilson and Louise De Pino as they shed light on the challenges and triumphs of living with ME/CFS and offer hope and practical guidance for managing PEM.
We are grateful for Emerge Australia’s Ambassador Bloom sharing her rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine to open and close our podcasts.
