Andrew Gifford
@andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
2.9K followers 1.2K following 2.9K posts
Hello, welcome :) This Invisible Illness: my first long form documentary photography project, about ME/CFS a complex & challenging health condition - like Long Covid. https://linktr.ee/andrewgifford.photography Bristol, UK. 335.42 ppm. He/him/oi.
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andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
Here but not here - from my ME/CFS photo project

glass.photo/andrewgiffor...

ALT: Colour photo of a caucasian adult male's head just about visible through foggy blue-grey glass, as he peers in through the murk

#DocumentaryPhotography #pwME #MECFS #LongCovid
Here but not here:
Andrew Gifford on Glass
glass.photo
andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
In my own case, iirc, none of my NHS blood tests have suggest low blood volume. I'm sure it would have been flagged if so.

I would love to peruse any papers around electrolytes and ME or Long Covid. I'll dig around tomorrow.
andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
Mmmm, chips.

Adult daily recommended amount of salt is 6g (NHS website). We're already at double this. I wonder how much further we should go as pwME. Seems bloating is the main sign of too much intake; www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slid... (this is NOT medical advice etc.)
Telltale Signs You’re Eating Too Much Salt
Learn about the telltale signs of too much salt in your body, and how you can keep your sodium levels in check.
www.webmd.com
andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
I see, thanks Kati, sounds like I'm much the same re scenario and intake. Do you suspect low blood volume btw? Have you tried a higher intake of salt and any observations?
andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
Thanks Margo, good points all.
andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
Pre my ME developing from Mild to Moderate and worse I would get a dry mouth from salty foods but, thinking about it, this hasn't happened in 15 or so years. I don't crave salt nowadays, but my pallete/body seems to be finding more seems better, going by taste. But, I don't know sweet spot.
andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
My Q prompted by a Patrick Ussher podcast ep where he talks about low blood volume in ME. My GP hasn't tested me for this and I've no idea if/how the ME-addled results would appear via NHS methods/scale. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p... (has his own podcast, and YouToob, too)
Patrick Ussher, author of Understanding ME/CFS and Strategies for Healing
Podcast Episode · The POTScast · 10/07/2025 · 1h 7m
podcasts.apple.com
andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
Nope! I do have a meter, but I really don't like monitoring or apps, recording shit - I generally detest admin. I did test for a few days and was a little low on blood pressure, but my OI improved with salts and so I didn't bother retesting.
andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
My mid Moderate ME body almost never asks for water, I'm almost never thirsty. This seems odd. I do get a headache if dehydrated, but never thirst. I have to drink to a rough schedule, rather than a sensed need.
andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
Salt/electrolytes, how much should pwME consume? How to find the sweet spot?

I take 5g mineral salts daily, plus 5g sea salt with food. Has resolved orthostatic intolerance, but I'm not sure how much more I may need nor the signs of 'too much'. I don't know if I have low blood volume.

#MECFS #pwME
andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
Today was a rare good day for eBay blu ray used bargains; THX 1138, American Grafitti and Revanche.
andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
Thanks Martin, it's been a weird one - testing neg, but fits the Covid profile - manifesting itself in a back-loaded form, with symptoms strengthening rather than being stronger early on. Not feeling as bad today, so far, encouragingly.
andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
I do find it takes me longer to clear the bug than other people, usually I'm a quarter longer/slower. I supplement with D3, Zinc, C and echinacea, which I'd not want to be without as they seems to lessen the impact of each bug.
andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
Generally, while I avoid bugs, my ME does seem lessened after I've had a bug. Presumably the benefit of the immune system ramping up.

More worrying is my digestion now seems to slow/shut down for 48-72 hours around the onst of a bug; non-digestion, heartburn, uncomfortable, impacted sleep etc.
andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
Hiya, well, this is my seventh dose of Covid (afaik) and so far, seemingly no long-term impacts, incredibly. Each dose seems slightly less impactful, runs through like a general bug/flu. This one came three days after last chesty thing, but took longer to come out. Last vaccine was three years ago.
Reposted by Andrew Gifford
peterjukes.bsky.social
This goes even higher up. Forget Medvedchuk. Forget Medvedev

According to former Brexit Party MEP and defected Reform MP Rupert Lowe, the individuals at Gill's meetings claimed to be "close to Putin"
Reposted by Andrew Gifford
oneoffdave.bsky.social
A bit of a long shot but does anyone know of a wheelchair accessible photography studio for hire in London? I'm trying to plan a couple of studio shoots but finding it hard finding anywhere to shoot
andrewgiffordphoto.bsky.social
Covid/grog in da house. Just got over the last bloody thing. Lung butter, anyone?
Reposted by Andrew Gifford
davidosland.bsky.social
I'm sure BBC investigative documentary strand Panorama is even now working on an incisive exposé of Reform's financial links to Russia and it's just that they haven't announced it publicly yet
Reposted by Andrew Gifford
transportenvironment.org
NEW: Biofuels globally emit more than the fossil fuels they replace, our latest study shows.

The first-of-a-kind study looks at global biofuels production today and the potential impacts of government biofuel targets.
🧵⤵️
Reposted by Andrew Gifford
profbillmcguire.bsky.social
"Microplastics have been detected in the brains of dementia patients, and in arterial plaques from people with heart disease"

And the response of the plastics industry is......

....to massively ramp up plastic production

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The plastic inside us: how microplastics may be reshaping our bodies and minds
The particles are in our blood, brains and guts – and scientists are only beginning to learn what they do
www.theguardian.com