ME/CFS with daytime sleeping and brain fog, now nearly back to normal with time
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 4 years
- Last post
- Jun 2017
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I've had CFS for 2 years or so.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
Relative to others on this sub I feel that I had a mild case of CFS although it was very debilitating.
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
I am able to work full time. I still have to pace myself, I still have some bad days, but I am overall able to function on a relatively normal level day to day.
In context ↗ - Began after: glandular fever or EBV
First time in over 2 years thanks to glandular fever followed by CFS in June 2013.
In context ↗
Read from 18 of their posts and comments; links to the 12 this page draws on
Summary
Crocus 19282 developed CFS after glandular fever in June 2013, aged about 25, in the UK. They were unemployed and living with their mum for a year, and at their worst slept by day; they also had anxiety, pain and brain fog. They took no medication or supplements for CFS and put the improvement down to time, starting university and then working full-time by 2017, still pacing and having bad days.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- keeping myself awake for a whole day · No change
I've tried to keep myself awake for a whole day but I just can't manage it.
In context ↗ - Berocca · Helped
I take Berocca every morning, and I seem to be able to sustain some kind of 'normal' energy levels for a few hours after I take it
In context ↗ - calorie counting, 1200 calories a day · Not said
I'm trying to calorie count everything and stick to 1200 calories a day, which is hit and miss.
In context ↗ - short power walk and run · Not said
Just been for a short power walk and run with my housemate. First time in over 2 years
In context ↗ - setting an alarm to limit daytime sleep · Helped
when I was at my worst I found setting an alarm before I went to sleep in the day would stop me from sleeping too long.
In context ↗ - citalopram · Not said
I've been through citalopram, escitalopram, propranolol, prozac, and more I can't remember now.
In context ↗ - sertraline · Helped a lot
Sertraline 150mg has been my saving grace. I was on 100mg until I developed cfs and became mildly depressed, bumping it up has really helped.
In context ↗ - pacing · Helped
I am still badly affected by fatigue and other aches and pains if I don't pace myself carefully.
In context ↗ - time · Helped a lot
I've found my improvements with CFS have only come with time. ... I still have some bad days, but I am overall able to function on a relatively normal level day to day.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2013 | CFS followed glandular fever / monoFirst time in over 2 years thanks to glandular fever followed by CFS in June 2013.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| January 2014 | unemployed, living with mum, sleeping by day, anxious about leaving the houseI quit my job, was unemployed and living with my mum for a year. ... I get panicky about leaving the house | Mild | |
| October 2014 | able to do a bit more walkingI'm finally able to do a bit more walking so I'm hoping some of this weight will shift.In context ↗ | Mild | Time and spontaneous remission |
| March 2015 | first short power walk and run in over 2 yearsJust been for a short power walk and run with my housemate. First time in over 2 yearsIn context ↗ | Mild | Time and spontaneous remission |
| April 2015 | full-time university with clinical placementsI'm a full time uni student in the UK.In context ↗ | Mild | Time and spontaneous remission |
| July 2015 | attending university and working a full-time summer jobI am currently able to attend university and work a full time job over the summer, so I can say with confidence that I have made massive progress since I first became ill.In context ↗ | Mild | Time and spontaneous remission |
| June 2017 | working full time, still pacing, some bad daysI am able to work full time. I still have to pace myself, I still have some bad days, but I am overall able to function on a relatively normal level day to day.In context ↗ | Near normal |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
That said I am still badly affected by fatigue and other aches and pains if I don't pace myself carefully.
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
At the moment I am in the stupid cycle of sleeping in late, napping in the afternoon or evening and then not being able to sleep until the wee hours of the morning.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I've always had mild anxiety and I feel like it's getting worse at the moment.
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
I get a lot of neck and back pain.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
the day after I drink I get really bad brain fog
In context ↗
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