Years unable to get out of bed with ME/CFS, now much better after weight training
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 15 years
- Last post
- Apr 2024
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I've had CFS for 15 years.
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
I've come a long way from not being able to get out of bed for years ... Once was bed bound.
- Now: Much better
Now I work semi full time and have my own house with a doggo.
In context ↗
Read from 8 of their posts and comments; links to the 6 this page draws on
Summary
Kestrel 63581 had had CFS for 15 years by 2021, after years of being unable to get out of bed. They credited slowly increased weight training and a high-protein diet for much of their recovery, along with cannabis, testosterone and a heart-rate tracker. By 2022 they were working semi full time and training three days a week, and in 2023 they put their improvement down to time and patience. Bad flare-ups still occurred in 2024.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- weight lifting · Helped
I started extremely slow. Think 10 mins of gentle machine work - then straight home to eat and crash.
In context ↗ - high protein, high nutrient food · Helped
High protein, high nutrient food has also been a major factor.
In context ↗ - whoop · Helped
This has been a massive insight into when to rest and when to push.
In context ↗ - cannabis (CBD and THC) · Helped
I have also found cannabis to be a big help with nausia, headaches, insomnia
In context ↗ - supplementary testosterone · Helped
I have also experienced with supplementary testosterone and this has helped from a mood/pain/energy standpoint.
In context ↗ - dexamphetamine · Helped
Very cautionary dexamphetamine. I do also have ADHD that was diagnosed after CFS. But it does help to an extent. Can't over do it.
In context ↗ - Doxypin (depran) · Helped
Doxypin (depran) 10mg at night. Assists sleep and nerve pain.
In context ↗ - Sauna · Helped
Sauna. Excellent. See Rhonda Patrick.
In context ↗ - Cold therapy · Helped
Cold therapy. See whim hoff
In context ↗ - meditation / mindfulness · Helped
I did find learning to meditate and practice mindfulness helped with getting through the rough times
In context ↗ - time · Helped
There’s not much I’ve found better in my recovery than time and being relentlessly patient.
In context ↗
Approaches: Exercise and activity
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| onset | CFS onset; bedbound for yearsOnce was bed bound. Now I work semi full time and have my own house with a doggo.In context ↗ | Severe | |
| 2021-05-04 | slow weight training and high-protein diet; holding down a relatively normal lifephysical activity and diet were main contributors to somewhat 'recovering'In context ↗ | Mild | Everyday exercise and activity |
| 2022-06-16 | training three days a week, up from 20 minutes causing a two-day crashI went from 20mins sending me to a 2 day bed episode, to holding down 3 day training sessions that were pretty intenseIn context ↗ | Mild | Everyday exercise and activity |
| 2024-04-01 | working semi full time; still gets bad flare-upsNow I work semi full time and have my own house with a doggo.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Everyday exercise and activity“Think 10 mins of gentle machine work - then straight home to eat and crash.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Everyday exercise and activity“I went from 20mins sending me to a 2 day bed episode” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
20mins sending me to a 2 day bed episode
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
Those daily headaches and nausia is more easily managed
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
Body pains and discomforts
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
Assists sleep and nerve pain
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
I was very skinny and weak physically
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
CBD during the day for inflammation and anxiety
In context ↗
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