ME/CFS brain fog, PEM and non-restorative sleep; improved on psilocybin, then relapsed
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Dec 2024
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I got diagnosed with CFS
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
busy seasons with work will dictate how often I use them
In context ↗ - Now: Relapsed
Not the “magic pill” I thought it was at first but I’m using them as another tool in the toolbox to help.
In context ↗
Read from 17 of their posts and comments; links to the 11 this page draws on
Summary
A Reddit user with CFS reported brain fog, PEM and non-restorative sleep. Psilocybin, taken every three to four weeks for six months, brought major improvement and near-complete remission, though later they called it a tool rather than a magic pill. DHEA gave a baseline bump and better sleep, but the benefit tapered after about two weeks. Valacyclovir helped baseline but caused diabetic-like side effects; allergy medicine and B12 also helped.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- generic allergy medicine (Zyrtec/Claritin/Allegra) · Helped
I have also found a lot of relief from brain fog with generic allergy medicine (Zyrtec/Claritin/Allegra)
In context ↗ - B12 injection · Helped
I also just took a B12 injection yesterday, even though I wasn’t deficient. Best sleep I’ve had in a month and I actually woke up feeling refreshed.
In context ↗ - Valaciclovir · Worse
I just stopped taking mine because I had developed diabetic like side effects, one week off now and already feel like a different person.
In context ↗ - psilocybin · Helped a lot
After every dose I notice a major improvement in my quality of life. I think my CFS is almost entirely in remission.
In context ↗ - BCAA's · Not said
5g of BCAA’s and 5g of D-ribose every night mixed with some water. Didn’t see any instant relief but maybe it just slowly built up in my system and could be helping.
In context ↗ - Imodium · Helped
I took Imodium for some stomach issues and it seemed to help too.
In context ↗ - Saccharomyces boulardii · No change
I had taken it for roughly a month, I think it did help with some IBS issues but no noticeable difference in fatigue that I saw.
In context ↗ - cold water at the end of a shower · Helped
Cold water will give me a little burst of energy.
In context ↗ - DHEA · Helped
I just got some DHEA 50mg tablets, been taking 1 in the morning and 1 at night. Im 3 days in now and I have noticed a BIG bump in my baseline.
In context ↗
Approaches: Hormones & thyroid · Other drugs and medicines
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 | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| onset | CFS diagnosisI got diagnosed with CFSIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2023-09-10 | allergy medicine relieved brain fogI have also found a lot of relief from brain fog with generic allergy medicineIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2023-09-11 | B12 injection improved sleepBest sleep I’ve had in a month and I actually woke up feeling refreshed.In context ↗ | Mild | Vitamin B12 |
| 2023-10-01 | valacyclovir helped baselineI’ve been taking 500mg of Valaciclovir for a month now that has seemed to help my baseline.In context ↗ | Mild | Valtrex / valacyclovir |
| 2023-11-03 | psilocybin produced major improvement and near remissionAfter every dose I notice a major improvement in my quality of life. I think my CFS is almost entirely in remission.In context ↗ | Near normal | |
| 2024-01-07 | psilocybin reassessed as a tool, not a magic pillNot the “magic pill” I thought it was at first but I’m using them as another tool in the toolbox to help.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2024-10-25 | DHEA gave a big baseline bump and better sleepI have noticed a BIG bump in my baseline.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2024-12-22 | DHEA benefit tapered after about two weeksBenefits started tapering off, worth it for those 2 weeks though imoIn context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Valtrex / valacyclovir“I just stopped taking mine because I had developed diabetic like side effects, one week off now and already feel like a different person.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
Things I take for PEM
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I have also found a lot of relief from brain fog with generic allergy medicine
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I had been dealing with non-restorative sleep for almost a year now.
In context ↗ - Gut problems
I think it did help with some IBS issues
In context ↗
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