I went to see a specialist just like yours and she said basically the exact same thing. The discomfort you are feeling when you do stuff is NOT causing any actual damage. Normally your body gives you pain signals when you are being harmed so you stop. This is not the case here and its ok and beneficial to keep going.

She said that any worsening of symptoms in later months is due to psychological issues increasing like depression or from deconditioning. She advised me to start getting out of the house more and to start doing yoga or other exercising outside the house and not on my recumbent bike or treadmill at home.

She didn't say I should start jogging 3 miles or even go back to work but she did say I should take an interest course so that both sides of my brain would get exercise.

So yes what she's saying has been said before and kind of makes sense. As you start to push a little you realise you're able to do more than you thought. Everything starts to get a little easier as you build back up your stamina and you're retraining your brain that these activities are not harmful and no need to act up.

I think its really important to start with things you enjoy because she said there should be no stress like tests or deadlines.

I'm already noticing I can do things I thought would cause longer lasting problems and I didn't think I was depressed but I'm enjoying getting out a little more.

Hope that helps. Good luck and start small. You will have fatigue because its been so long.

CC