ME/CFS
Outcome unclearIll for 5 years
ME/CFS with brain fog and pain; EMDR and low-dose antidepressant tried
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill for
- 5 years
- Last post
- Apr 2023
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
my brain fog is so bad all I can think of to say
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
I have a shower chair and I still feel exhausted after showering. Today is supposed to be my hair washing day and I'm skipping it because I'd rather clean out my reptile's new fountain we got him. At least after that I know I won't be forced to take a nap.
In context ↗
Read from 10 of their posts and comments; links to the 10 this page draws on
Summary
Pebble 10829 had ME/CFS, with brain fog, sciatic pain and vision trouble, and says she set her health back by pushing through a house move. Two years of EMDR therapy with an empathetic therapist helped immensely, and a low 25 mg antidepressant dose lifted her out of a deep dark hole. Showering still exhausted her in 2021, and in 2023 she still struggled with bedtime phone use and sleep.
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What they tried
Also tried
EMDR therapy· Helped a lotantidepressants· Helpeda stretch done in bed· Helpedreading a book or a menial phone game at bedtime· Helpedstimulants· No changeshower chair· No changearmodafinil· Not saidphysical therapy· Not saiddehumidifier and mold minimization at home· Not said
Their words about each treatment
- EMDR therapy · Helped a lot
I'm two years into EMDR therapy with a wonderfully empathetic therapist and it has helped immensely.
In context ↗ - antidepressants · Helped
I'm on antidepressants ... which is just enough to boost me out of that deep dark hole
In context ↗ - stimulants · No change
my doctor has tried me on some stimulants in the past ... They didn't work for me because my body hates most meds lol
In context ↗ - armodafinil · Not said
The last one we tried me on was armodafinil, which I think he said was a pretty mild one.
In context ↗ - a stretch done in bed · Helped
I can do it in bed and it takes very little muscle work but gives a lot of relief to my sciatic area
In context ↗ - physical therapy · Not said
I have a PT who understands CFS very well and only gives me a few *very* light exercises to do between sessions with her.
In context ↗ - shower chair · No change
I have a shower chair and I still feel exhausted after showering.
In context ↗ - dehumidifier and mold minimization at home · Not said
We have a dehumidifier in our bathroom, have never had one black spot appear anywhere in the home.
In context ↗ - reading a book or a menial phone game at bedtime · Helped
I switched to reading a book instead of being on my phone and it puts me to sleep super fast now
In context ↗
Their path
They say too little about how ill they were at each step to draw it on the severity scale, so the steps are listed as they describe them. Dates are when they posted.
| When | What happened | After |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 (approx.) | onset of ME/CFSI finally feel like I'm starting to settle in there after 5 years.In context ↗ | |
| 2020-02-11 | set their health back pushing through a house moveI'm pretty sure I really set back my health with how much I still ended up pushing myself.In context ↗ | |
| 2020-07-31 | EMDR therapy helped immenselyI'm two years into EMDR therapy with a wonderfully empathetic therapist and it has helped immensely.In context ↗ | Trauma work (EFT, EMDR, TRE) |
| 2020-10-08 | low-dose antidepressant lifted their moodI'm also on a very low dosage (25mg vs the average starting point of 50mg) which is just enough to boost me out of that deep dark holeIn context ↗ | Antidepressants (unspecified) |
| 2021-02-24 | more easy days, fewer vision issuesSince I've been able to have more days to take things easy, I haven't had as many vision issues, which has been nice.In context ↗ | |
| 2023-04-10 | still struggling with sleep and bedtime phone useIt's sometimes a struggle for me to force myself to do something other than be on my phone at bedtime.In context ↗ |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I'm pretty sure I really set back my health with how much I still ended up pushing myself.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I have appointments where my brain fog is so bad all I can think of to say is
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
gives a lot of relief to my sciatic area
In context ↗ - Vision problems
I haven't had as many vision issues, which has been nice.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
just enough to boost me out of that deep dark hole
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
It's sometimes a struggle for me to force myself to do something other than be on my phone at bedtime.
In context ↗