Mild ME/CFS that stopped them working, now somewhat better with pacing and timed rests
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 14 months
- Last post
- Aug 2020
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I’m 38 and I’m 14 months into recovery from stress triggered CFS.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
Watching “Unrest”, I have it mild, but still enough to stop me from working.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
My energy levels are continuing to steadily build, and I’m optimistic that I’ll eventually get over CFS.
In context ↗ - Began after: stress or burnout
Mine started after a couple years of pure work stress.
Read from 4 of their posts and comments; links to the 4 this page draws on
Summary
Crocus 71618, in the UK, dates onset to June 2019 after two years of work stress, triggered by being signed off work. Sleep broke down and daytime crashes followed; they called the CFS mild but enough to stop them working. Timed rests, pacing and graded exercise brought steady gains: sleep and anxiety resolved, crashes became less frequent and by August 2020 they could walk an hour, though still not work. Baseline still rising monthly.
Ask Miruvor AI
What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- pacing · Helped
Consistently timed rests have resolved my sleep problems.
In context ↗ - GET · Helped
I’m building how much exercise/walking I do. I’m now up to 1hrs constant walking, and I can do a 2hr stint once a week.
In context ↗ - meditating flat on my back with my eyes closed · Helped
Lying flat and meditating bring my energy levels closer to the new normal.
In context ↗ - CBT · Helped
CFS also introduced me to Anxiety and Depression, which CBT helped me to get over.
In context ↗ - Well Being team · Not said
I was guided through the first few months with the Well Being team in the UK NHS.
In context ↗
Approaches: Mind-body practices · Pacing
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. 1 step has no time and sits in story order between the steps around it. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2019 | CFS triggered after two years of work stress; signed off work for two weeksMine started after a couple years of pure work stress. Triggered when I was signed off for 2 weeks.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| — | crashed for 2-3 days after doing too muchIf I do too much, I crash, then I’m very fatigued for 2-3 days before my energy levels come back to my current baseline.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2020-07-24 | crashes shorter and less frequent; still unable to workmy crashes do subside and I am having them less and lessIn context ↗ | Mild | Pacing and the energy envelope |
| 2020-08-03 | built up to an hour of walking; baseline a bit better each monthI’m now up to 1hrs constant walking, and I can do a 2hr stint once a week.In context ↗ | Mild | Graded exercise therapy (GET) |
| 2020-08-04 | seven months of NHS-guided pacing and graded exerciseit’s taken me 7 months to get to this pointIn context ↗ | Mild |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
If I do too much, I crash, then I’m very fatigued for 2-3 days before my energy levels come back to my current baseline.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I lose the ability to think.
In context ↗ - Vision problems
get tunnel vision
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
Consistently timed rests have resolved my sleep problems.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
CFS also introduced me to Anxiety and Depression, which CBT helped me to get over.
In context ↗
Ask Miruvor AI
Similar stories
-
Housebound with long COVID, now much better and back at work after rest and acupuncture
An Australian academic in their forties got long COVID in May 2024 after a third infection: brain fog first, then crippling fatigue that left them housebound and crashing daily for months. Rest, time and treatments including acupuncture greatly improved…
-
Bedridden with ME/CFS, reached 70%, then relapsed to semi-severity
A German man became bedridden with ME/CFS at 18 after Epstein-Barr, with a pulse over 120, severe POTS and dementia-like cognitive symptoms. Over 5½ years of pacing, breathing exercises, cat's claw, glutathione IVs, hormones, rTMS and slow…
-
Long COVID pain and pooling at six years, somewhat better with pentoxifylline and kratom
Six years into long COVID, with a pain- and pooling-dominated neurovascular subtype, they tried many drugs, supplements, diets and therapies without luck. Pentoxifylline and the hepatitis C antiviral Ledifos helped pain and pooling, and kratom further cut…
-
Long COVID fatigue and infections, much better with antihistamines and rest
A runner in western Europe who fell ill with long COVID in January 2025, she lost her physical and mental health to fatigue and repeated infections. Antihistamines, absolute rest with paced walking and leaving a stressful relationship brought big gains;…