ME/CFS
Severe → no benefit
Housebound with ME/CFS, still housebound and using a walker
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill for
- Not stated
- Last post
- Oct 2026
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
no one seems to really know much of anything about CFS at the VA
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
even though I read it many years ago before I got so sick I spent almost every day in bed
In context ↗ - Now: No benefit
And what comes next? 5 days of pain and complete and utter exhaustion.
In context ↗
Summary
Pebble 51432 had ME/CFS and was severely affected: 100% VA-disabled and housebound, spending almost every day in bed. In 2025 a worsening sore throat and new heart palpitations appeared; amoxicillin eased the throat but the palpitations worsened and they wore a week-long heart monitor. By late 2026 they remained housebound, using a walker and sleeping 14 hours or more; one day out for appointments and errands cost them five days of pain and exhaustion.
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What they tried
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Amoxicillin · Helped
The Amoxicillin knocked down the sore throat and made me sort of not notice the heart thing for awhile
In context ↗ - physical therapy · Worse
inflicted such post exercise malaise on me that I was incapable of doing literally anything else but go to twice weekly PT
In context ↗ - Hydroxyzine · No change
It has never done anything but make me sleepy.
In context ↗ - pain meds · Not said
double my usual pain med dosage to get through the shower and get dressed
In context ↗
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. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were |
|---|---|---|
| — | so ill he spent almost every day in bedbefore I got so sick I spent almost every day in bedIn context ↗ | Severe |
| 2025-08-04 | worsening sore throat and new heart palpitationsa couple months ago I developed a sore throat that was steadily getting worse ... At the same time my heart started skipping beatsIn context ↗ | Severe |
| 2026-10-01 | still housebound, in bed most days, uses a walker; a day of appointments cost him five daysI haven't left the house in so long that the car battery was dead ... 5 days of pain and complete and utter exhaustionIn context ↗ | Severe |
Adverse events
- Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril)“My Headshrinker gives my Hydroxyzine for the anxiety ... It has never done anything but make me sleepy.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodFlu-like symptomsHeart symptoms & palpitationsPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problems
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
the simple act of getting clean and dressed and going to the appointment inflicted such post exercise malaise on me
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
my heart started skipping beats
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
my sore throat is back
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
Today is the first day I have slept less than 14 hours
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
double my usual pain med dosage to get through the shower and get dressed
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
Hydroxyzine for the anxiety I feel the day before I know I have to bathe and leave the house
In context ↗