Educator • Advocate
Join Anne Wilson, CEO of Emerge Australia, as she welcomes Kate Herbert, the organisation’s dedicated Nurse Educator, for an insightful conversation during ME/CFS Awareness Week. Kate, with her unique blend of professional expertise and personal experience, will delve into the often misunderstood and challenging aspects of post-exertional malaise (PEM) in ME/CFS.
PEM is not just fatigue, it is a disproportionate, often delayed, multisystem response to any sort of exertion
With a background in paediatrics and communicable disease control, Kate’s journey with ME/CFS has shaped her passion for educating health practitioners and ensuring safe, informed care for those affected. Her research and connections within the ME/CFS community have equipped her with valuable insights, which she shares generously.
Rest needs depend on the individual person – some people need shut down rest in a dark room, eyes and ears covered and so on. For me I need something different – rest can be watching easy streaming content that’s not stressful, listening to music that’s not overstimulating, or maybe laying on the coach outside.
During this podcast, Kate will discuss the unpredictable nature of PEM, emphasising that it is not merely fatigue but a complex, multisystem response. She will offer practical strategies for managing PEM, including the importance of individualised rest and the value of working with an exercise physiologist to understand one’s unique patterns and capacity.
PEM management is not an exact science and it’s not always predicable – it can still slam you even if you do all the right things.
Kate’s message of self-compassion and hope will resonate with many, as she shares her own experiences and the lessons she’s learned along the way. This episode is an informative and inspiring listen, offering valuable insights into living with and managing ME/CFS and PEM.
Tune in for this special podcast episode, during ME/CFS Awareness Week.
We are grateful for Emerge Australia’s Ambassador Bloom sharing her rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine to open and close our podcasts.
