Three years ago this Halloween, my life changed forever. What started as unexplained fatigue became an ME/CFS diagnosis that reshaped everything—my career, my body, my future. But then came the plot twist I never saw coming: an IUD pregnancy that actually improved my symptoms.

In this deeply personal anniversary episode, I'm sharing the full story—from the Halloween 2022 moment I realized something was seriously wrong, to the shocking positive pregnancy test, the missing IUD mystery during my C-section, and how I figured out what probably happened (spoiler: menstrual cups and IUDs don't always play well together).

This episode is for anyone navigating chronic illness, making impossible decisions about their future, or wondering if the universe might know better than they do. It's about grief and building simultaneously, trusting your path when you can't trust your body, and finding gifts in the places you least expect them.

In This Episode:

• The Halloween 2022 turning point that marked my "before and after"
• What ME/CFS actually means (and why "chronic fatigue" doesn't capture it)
• How I learned to pace my energy and listen to my body after a lifetime of ignoring it
• The IUD decision that was supposed to be "responsible"
• July 2024's 0.1% surprise: a positive pregnancy test
• The scary lack of research on pregnancy with ME/CFS (and the 1/3 statistic I clung to)
• How pregnancy actually improved my symptoms instead of making them worse
• Taking the European vacation we'd canceled due to illness
• The C-section discovery: my IUD was completely missing
• The menstrual cup revelation and important PSA
• Life six months postpartum with baby Violet
• How chronic illness shaped JSM and made me a better parent
• What I'd tell anyone in year one of their diagnosis

Important Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] Introduction and overnight curls
• [00:03:00] Halloween 2022 - The moment with my mom on the couch
• [00:05:00] Getting the ME/CFS diagnosis
• [00:07:00] Learning to pace and listen to my body
• [00:08:00] Building Joyful Support Movement during this time
• [00:09:00] The IUD decision and family planning
• [00:09:30] July 2024 - The positive pregnancy test
• [00:10:00] Researching ME/CFS and pregnancy
• [00:11:00] Plot twist - Feeling better during pregnancy
• [00:12:00] The European vacation redemption
• [00:13:00] The missing IUD during C-section
• [00:14:00] PSA about menstrual cups and IUDs
• [00:15:00] Six months postpartum update
• [00:16:00] Gratitude and perspective
• [00:18:00] Invitation to share your story

Resources Mentioned:

Learn More About ME/CFS:

• ME Action Network
• Bateman Horne Center

• Join the Joyful Support Village
• Share your messy middle story
• Instagram: @joyfulsupportmovement
• Watch on YouTube

• Shower chair on Amazon
• "I Have to Go Lay Down Now" sweatshirt

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