ME/CFS worsened by COVID and surgery, now somewhat better after pacing
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Dec 2025
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
wasn't what caused my ME (we suspect ebv)
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
I can't go back to moderate/severe.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I've paced too hard to get to moderate/mild since the last time I was sick.
In context ↗ - Began after: glandular fever or EBV
wasn't what caused my ME (we suspect ebv)
In context ↗
Summary
Lagoon 26132 has ME/CFS, suspected triggered by EBV rather than a 2023 COVID infection. That COVID worsened ME for two to three months before a slow return to baseline; gallbladder surgery the same year lowered their baseline permanently and they cannot work. By December 2025 they had paced back to moderate/mild and were managing a second COVID infection with fluids, electrolytes, rest, ibuprofen, paracetamol and night-time Benadryl.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- pacing · Helped
I've paced too hard to get to moderate/mild since the last time I was sick.
In context ↗ - gallbladder removal · Much worse
surgery made my baseline go down and never recovered
In context ↗ - fluids with electrolytes (Venture Pal or LMNT) · Not said
lots of fluids with electrolytes (venture pal or LMNT)
In context ↗ - ginger tea with honey · Not said
ginger tea with honey
In context ↗ - ibuprofen · Not said
alternating ibuprofen and tylenol per my doctor
In context ↗ - airborn gummies · Not said
airborn gummies (doc suggested letting them sit on my tongue vs chewing them to help my sore throat)
In context ↗ - gargling apple cider vinegar/water mix, salt water and hydrogen peroxide · Not said
gargling apple cider vinegar/water mix, salt water, and just tried hydrogen perioxide in water
In context ↗ - Benadryl · Helped
benadryl at night as I can't sleep with the sore throat otherwise
In context ↗
Approaches: Pacing
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, in the order they describe; they don’t give enough times to place each step. Hover or tap a point. 2 steps say too little to place on the scale and are only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were |
|---|---|---|
| — | ME onset, suspected EBVwasn't what caused my ME (we suspect ebv)In context ↗ | Not stated |
| 2023 | first COVID infection worsened MEmade ME worse for 2-3 months, then slowly started to return to base lineIn context ↗ | Not stated |
| 2023 | gallbladder removal lowered baseline permanentlysurgery made my baseline go down and never recoveredIn context ↗ | Moderate |
| 2025-12-17 | second COVID infection, back down from moderate/mildI've paced too hard to get to moderate/mild since the last time I was sickIn context ↗ | Moderate |
Adverse events
- Gallbladder removal“Had to get my gallbladder removed the same year I first had covid (surgery made my baseline go down and never recovered...).” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Flu-like symptoms
the sore throat isn't nearly as bad
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
(fever was worse)
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
benadryl at night as I can't sleep with the sore throat otherwise
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
That shortness of breath lasted forever for me.
In context ↗
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