ME/CFS at worst mostly in bed with dizzy spells and brain fog, somewhat better on venlafaxine
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Mar 2024
In their words
- At worst: Mild
I eventually ended up spending most of my non-working hours in bed or on a couch
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I'm on a slow creep up the hill of my recovery right now ... Past couple days my energy seems to have improved.
Read from 6 of their posts and comments; links to the 4 this page draws on
Summary
Nightjar 30600 had read about CFS and thought she had it before getting help. At her worst she worked midnight shifts and spent most non-working time in bed or on a couch, with dizzy spells and severe brain fog. Leaving her ex brought some improvement, but it felt temporary and she got worse again; she now works rotating shifts, lies down most of the time after work, and crashes after errands. Taking venlafaxine at bedtime seemed to help, though weather may have played a part.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Venlafaxine · Helped
I made a change to when I take my antidepressant, Venlafaxine, the other day. Bedtime instead of morning. ... Past couple days my energy seems to have improved.
In context ↗ - anxiety meds · Helped
he listened to me and helped me by upping my anxiety meds. It didn't stop symptoms, but it made the bad mental thoughts less... sticky.
In context ↗ - ADHD medicine · Helped
if it wasn't for coca cola and my ADHD medicine I probably wouldn't be making it to work
In context ↗ - pacing · Not said
I told myself that I had just suffered a lot, so I tried to pace myself
In context ↗ - rest · Not said
I ended up getting 3 months off from work, where I pretty much rested the whole time
In context ↗
Approaches: SNRIs · Stimulants
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 |
|---|---|---|
| while living with her ex | heavy midnight shifts; all non-work time in bed or on the couchI eventually ended up spending most of my non-working hours in bed or on a couchIn context ↗ | |
| after leaving her ex | left her ex and tried to pace herselfThings weren't so hard after I left him. There was a period where things weren't so bad.In context ↗ | |
| year of legal proceedings with her ex | crashed during a year of legal proceedingsIt got tough. I started to feel like the boost I got from leaving him was only temporary.In context ↗ | |
| 2024-02-23 | back at regular rotating shifts, evenings lying down or sleepingI'm on a slow creep up the hill of my recovery right nowIn context ↗ | |
| 2024-03-09 | energy improved after moving venlafaxine to bedtimePast couple days my energy seems to have improved. Exerting myself at work doesn't seem to wipe me out easily.In context ↗ | Venlafaxine (Effexor) |
Adverse events
- Venlafaxine (Effexor)“I'm on venlaflaxine, and I think I'm 150mg. My fatigue is *awful*!” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I can only be out for so long before I start to crash and feel weighed down and want to be horizontal.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
my brain feels like mush most of the time
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
I don't get the dizzy spells anymore
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
There was a while there where I had a terrible time falling asleep, but lately, it's not so bad
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I suggested to him that I may have PMDD, he listened to me and helped me by upping my anxiety meds
In context ↗
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