Mild to moderate ME/CFS with brain fog and POTS, somewhat better after valaciclovir
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 12 years
- Last post
- Feb 2026
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
It didn’t improve my ME/CFS though.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I’ve been mild-moderate for 7 years, now I’m quite mild- can do so much, leave the house 6 days a week
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I’m not healed, but I am most definitely better
In context ↗ - Began after: glandular fever or EBV
since getting Epstein Barr virus
Read from 15 of their posts and comments; links to the 11 this page draws on
Summary
After glandular fever around 2012 she was mild to moderately ill for years, with digestive paralysis and brain fog; a COVID vaccination brought on POTS in 2022. She improved a lot over 2023-24, crediting daily valaciclovir, a cooked-vegetable diet with fasting, curcumin, hookworm therapy, emotional healing/group therapy and kinesiology/massage. By mid 2024 she was quite mild, out of the house six days a week with little PEM, but still limited by POTS.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- simple cooked veggie diet · Helped a lot
healed insane gut issues (digestive system paralysis) from the initial glandular fever/mono infection 12 years ago: with eating a simple cooked veggie diet mostly for 5 solid boring years
In context ↗ - 24 hour fast · Helped
I second the 24 hour fast to heal gut flare ups. It’s the best thing I can do for my health
In context ↗ - group therapy / emotional healing work · Helped
have done endless amounts of reading, learning, group therapy over the years ... reducing stress & trauma must have had the biggest effect
In context ↗ - meditation · No change
meditation etc to work through any emotional trauma ... It didn’t improve my ME/CFS though.
In context ↗ - Curcumin (turmeric) with black pepper · Helped
Curcumin (turmeric) with black pepper for 5 years +, strong anti inflammatory
In context ↗ - Valaciclovir · Helped
every day I took it I could study longer before the brain fog stopped me
In context ↗ - Valium · Helped
I always found Valium to be the most amazing sleeping tablet- I’d fall asleep the easiest, & wake refreshed earlier than usual.
In context ↗ - supplements · No change
unlike the $1000 I’ve spent in supplements
In context ↗ - kinesiology & remedial massage therapy · Helped
kinesiology & remedial massage therapy: I found 2 skilled women this year & with their magic, calming vagus nerve etc, I see a light at the end of the tunnel for the first time.
In context ↗ - Helminth therapy · Helped
I don’t feel nauseous all the time now, & can eat bits of gluten without problem.
In context ↗ - prednisone · Helped
It suppresses inflammation & the condition
In context ↗ - Zoely · Helped
Seems to be helping brain fog/memory loss
In context ↗ - Androfemme 1 · Not said
Androfemme 1, a very low dose testosterone cream I rub on inner elbow
In context ↗ - Estriol cream · Not said
I got Estriol cream (intravaginal) also for vaginal wall atrophy
In context ↗ - COVID vaccination as treatment · Not said
I’m slowed down by POTS, (started with the covid vaccine only 2 years ago)
In context ↗
Approaches: CBT & mindset · Alternative therapies · Antivirals · Diet · Supplements
Their path
What they say at each step doesn’t fit the worst point or outcome above on the severity scale, so the steps are listed as they describe them. Dates are when they posted.
| When | What happened | After |
|---|---|---|
| about 2012 | glandular fever / EBV, then ME/CFSfrom the initial glandular fever/mono infection 12 years agoIn context ↗ | |
| 2017 to 2023 | mild-moderate ME/CFS for seven yearsI’ve been mild-moderate for 7 yearsIn context ↗ | |
| 2022 | POTS began after COVID vaccinationI’m slowed down by POTS, (started with the covid vaccine only 2 years ago)In context ↗ | |
| late 2023 to June 2024 | improved a lot over the last 6 months, out of the house 6 days a weekYes I’ve improved a lot recently (last 6 months)In context ↗ | Valtrex / valacyclovir |
| 2025-07-29 | mild ME/CFS with perimenopause and low-grade POTSI’m also a mild ME/CFS just entering peri.In context ↗ |
Adverse events
- Corticosteroid pulses“It makes my heart race & I know it’s terrible long term or can trigger some bad stuff with some vulnerable people, but when I’m absolutely desperate I use it.” In context ↗ Heart rhythm problems
- “I always feel brain damaged after anaesthesia, I think it’s from blood volume drop & poor oxygen supply to my brain…” In context ↗ Side effects
- “I’ve had longer surgeries & woken up mentally incapable, my brain being disabled from being able to think straight.” In context ↗ Side effects
- COVID vaccination as treatment“I’m slowed down by POTS, (started with the covid vaccine only 2 years ago)” In context ↗ Other
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Brain fog
my memory is one thing that’s definitely gotten worse
In context ↗ - Gut problems
healed insane gut issues (digestive system paralysis)
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
I’m slowed down by POTS
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
without much PEM the next day
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I’m able to fall asleep without sleeping tablets for the first time in my life
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
hot flushes, even if they’re mild
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
More like breathless.
In context ↗
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