ME/CFS
Mild → much betterIll 1 year before improving or writingNeeds ongoing treatment
Mild ME/CFS crash: unable to sit at work long, now much better with rest and pacing
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 1 year
- Last post
- Oct 2026
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
It looks like I still have very mild mecfs, evidenced by ongoing small PEM and recent small crash.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I’m mild, and I feel like I’ve responded to pacing and healthy diet.
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
Super mild, almost not cfs at all, but it’s still there.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
The problematic fatigue showed up months after 1st Covid, age 60.
In context ↗ - Says they never had: POTS & dysautonomia
I'm mild and don't have POTS
Read from 74 of their posts and comments; links to the 24 this page draws on
Summary
A US graphic designer, 62 in early 2025, who suspects early mild ME/CFS after COVID infections and a Thanksgiving 2024 crash; during that crash they could not sit at work for more than an hour or two. Aggressive rest, pacing, a clean diet, supplements and reduced work helped, and a holiday trip felt near normal, but symptoms returned with work and stress.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
keto diet· Helpedlow-fodmap diet· Helpedcaffeine (green tea)· HelpedOmega 3· HelpedB complex· Helpedincreased protein, grass-fed· Helpedmagnesium glyconate· HelpedChatGPT· HelpedHormone replacement· HelpedRitalin· Helpedno potatoes· No changedifferent antibiotics· Worseacupuncture· WorseNyQuil sleep aid· Worsemulti-vitamin· Worseniacin high dose· Worsemelatonin· WorseAshwaganda· Worsepaleo diet· Not saidsupplements to treat adrenals· Not saidinfrared saunas· Not saidVitamin C· Not saidCod Liver Oil· Not saidSpirulina· Not saidfermented turmeric· Not saidiodine salt· Not saidiodine salt· Not saidplenty of salt· Not saidOther surgery (adrenal, lung, venoplasty)· Not said
Their words about each treatment
- paleo diet · Not said
Went on paleo diet and lost 34 pounds in 4 months.
In context ↗ - supplements to treat adrenals · Not said
Supplements to treat adrenals.
In context ↗ - couples therapist · Helped
I had a mindset shift when I saw an awesome couples therapist many years ago.
In context ↗ - keto diet · Helped
Keto was good for me!
In context ↗ - different antibiotics · Worse
3 months of different antibiotics, absolutely brutal hurx reactions, could never stay on the treatment for 4 full weeks.
In context ↗ - Eckhart Tolle videos · Helped
Eckhart Tolle videos saved my life when I first had Lyme
In context ↗ - infrared saunas · Not said
my Lyme buddies and I researched infrared saunas a lot, they feel soooooo good
In context ↗ - acupuncture · Worse
acupuncture giving me migraine
In context ↗ - NyQuil sleep aid · Worse
NyQuil sleep aid making me jittery
In context ↗ - low-fodmap diet · Helped
I have some kind of mild ibs, and the low-fodmap diet keeps it manageable.
In context ↗ - gf and df diet · Helped
Hubby and I went gf and df to reduce inflammation, and we feel better from this change.
In context ↗ - caffeine (green tea) · Helped
I had been using caffeine as my self-prescribed drug.
In context ↗ - Vitamin C · Not said
these are my staples: Omega 3, Cod Liver Oil, Spirulina, Vitamin C, fermented turmeric
In context ↗ - Omega 3 · Helped
The omega 3 notably helps my skin.
In context ↗ - Spirulina · Not said
Was it the spirulina and / or cod liver oil?
In context ↗ - multi-vitamin · Worse
I keep trying to take a multi-vitamin because I don’t eat great, but I get reactions (jittery, tremors, hot flashes)
In context ↗ - B complex · Helped
I used to take a wonderful B complex, but they stopped making it
In context ↗ - iodine salt · Not said
I’ve started using iodine salt instead of sea salt.
In context ↗ - niacin high dose · Worse
I tried niacin high dose at one point and bloomed a spectacular all-body rash!
In context ↗ - melatonin · Worse
melatonin makes me jittery
In context ↗ - Ashwaganda · Worse
Ashwaganda makes me unbearably jittery.
In context ↗ - pacing · Helped a lot
I stopped all non-essential activity (I was very active before the crash, didn’t know i was having PEM)
In context ↗ - aggressive rest · Helped a lot
I have practiced aggressive rest and pacing, trying to have no exertion, no excitement.
In context ↗ - sleep hygiene · Helped
Good Sleep hygiene made a HUGE difference.
In context ↗ - increased protein, grass-fed · Helped
Since my big mecfs crash, I’ve increased protein, I think that helps, especially grass-fed.
In context ↗ - plenty of salt · Not said
Eating clean and healthy, plenty of salt
In context ↗ - magnesium glyconate · Helped
I’ve been taking magnesium glyconate for a few weeks I think, it has helped me stay asleep wonderfully.
In context ↗ - coQ10 (liposomal) · Helped a lot
A big change came with coQ10 (liposomal). Relief from brain fog, more energy.
In context ↗ - no potatoes · No change
The past 2 weeks I tried no potatoes, since nightshades are suspect, but I don’t think that made any difference.
In context ↗ - ChatGPT · Helped
I found my ai to be life-changing level of helpful because it gave me someone to talk to and investigate my ideas.
In context ↗ - Hormone replacement · Helped
I started on Hormone replacement about 8 months ago, and that helped with joint pain very much, helped with fatigue a little
In context ↗ - Ritalin · Helped
Lost 10 pounds, less food noise, a beautiful 4 hours each day without brain fog.
In context ↗ - Excedrin migraine · Helped
plus once daily Excedrin migraine, seemed to get me upright again
In context ↗ - Other surgery (adrenal, lung, venoplasty) · Not said
Gall bladder removed, then dangerous elevated heart rate next day, probably from anesthesia.
In context ↗
Approaches: CBT & mindset · Diet · Mind-body practices · Other drugs and medicines · Pacing · Radical rest · Supplements
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, with time counted from when the illness began. Hover or tap a point. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | first Covid, months later the problematic fatigue and PEM appearThe problematic fatigue showed up months after 1st Covid, age 60.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| July 2024 | second Covid, fatigue more pronouncedEven more pronounced months after 2nd Covid, age 61.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| November 2024 | big crash after Thanksgiving exertions and election stressI was incapacitated: big migraine, fatigue and shakiness like flu/CovidIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| 16 December 2024 | felt normal after two weeks of aggressive rest and pacingit was like a switch had been flipped and I feel normalIn context ↗ | Mild | Pacing and the energy envelope |
| February 2025 | most days feeling mostly like herself, still tiredI started having most days feeling mostly like myself. Still super tired, but not sick.In context ↗ | Mild | CoQ10 / ubiquinol |
| 5 June 2025 | symptoms resolved, long stretches of pretty normal lifeI got better… I don’t seem to have cfs me any more.In context ↗ | Near normal | Pacing and the energy envelope |
| 24 July 2026 | crashed after an overseas solo vacationI didn’t bounce back, lots of fatigue and depression for 2.5 weeks after returning… then a legitimate PEM crash, 2 days ago.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| September 2026 | 3-week holiday away from home, only one PEM knockdown3 weeks away from home, less work, I was able to do a bunch of things, only one PEM knockdown.In context ↗ | Mild | Pacing and the energy envelope |
| 17 October 2026 | mild ME/CFS held stable by pacingI’m mild, and I stay mild because I’m fortunate, and pacing works.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Antibiotics (unspecified)“3 months of different antibiotics, absolutely brutal hurx reactions, could never stay on the treatment for 4 full weeks.” In context ↗ Herx / die-off reaction
- Antibiotics (unspecified)“the antibiotic treatment was worse than the illness for me” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- “I tried niacin high dose at one point and bloomed a spectacular all-body rash!” In context ↗ Side effects
- Multivitamins (Centrum)“I keep trying to take a multi-vitamin because I don’t eat great, but I get reactions (jittery, tremors, hot flashes)” In context ↗ Side effects
- Melatonin“melatonin makes me jittery” In context ↗ Side effects
- Ashwagandha“Ashwaganda makes me unbearably jittery” In context ↗ Side effects
- Magnesium“I added Magnesium glycinate which made my chest flutter, so reduced the dosage” In context ↗ Heart rhythm problems
- CoQ10 / ubiquinol“I realized that I've been very restless. And today, I rage responded to someone on Reddit” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- CoQ10 / ubiquinol“It was way too much energy, so I had to cut that dose in half too.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Green tea, matcha and EGCG“I was getting up to 3 green teas a day plus a black tea to get me through the afternoon ... I think that played a part in my PEM.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Acupuncture“acupuncture giving me migraine” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- “NyQuil sleep aid making me jittery” In context ↗ Side effects
- Other surgery (adrenal, lung, venoplasty)“Gall bladder removed, then dangerous elevated heart rate next day, probably from anesthesia.” In context ↗ Heart rhythm problems
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)“helped with fatigue a little, but I think it makes me depressed ... HRT also made my ADHD sooooo bad” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- “Since Covid, vaccines make me more sick each time.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodBrain fogBreathlessnessFlu-like symptomsGut problemsHeadaches & migraineHeart symptoms & palpitationsLoss of smell or tasteMuscle weaknessPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problemsTemperature regulationVision problems
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
that mild PEM is sticking around
In context ↗ - Brain fog
mental fogginess and confusion
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
waking up right after falling asleep; not sleeping long enough
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
migraines for 1st time
In context ↗ - Gut problems
I have some kind of mild ibs
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
heart pounding, sometimes at night for no apparent reason
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
I’m constantly putting layers on and off, can’t maintain a temp.
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
I feel like I’ve been poisoned
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
lots of fatigue and depression for 2.5 weeks
In context ↗ - Loss of smell or taste
my sense of smell has been malfunctioning
In context ↗ - Vision problems
frequent problem getting eyes to focus, see double
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
lungs sometimes feel weak or heavy
In context ↗
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