ME/CFS: one shower a week, couldn't stand; still exhausted, somewhat better after gastric sleeve
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Jul 2026
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I’ve taken citalopram pre and post cfs for over 20 years.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
When I was bad it was once a week, showers killed me.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I can probably do more now. ... I’m mild/ moderate.
Read from 8 of their posts and comments; links to the 8 this page draws on
Summary
UK Reddit user with ME/CFS who managed only one shower a week when at their worst and could not stand up in it. They had long-standing depression treated with antidepressants, and a second Pfizer dose caused a flare while the booster was fine. Gastric sleeve surgery helped, making flares less severe, but a gallbladder removal in April 2026 left them still exhausted and they rated themselves mild to moderate.
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What they tried
What they credit
Their words about each treatment
- citalopram (AD) · Helped
I’ve taken citalopram pre and post cfs for over 20 years. I can’t function as an actual human without it.
In context ↗ - Amtriptilin · Not said
I was given the AD Amtriptilin as a pain med. don’t know that it did much!
In context ↗ - VGS · Helped
Yes it did 100%. I still get flares but they are not as bad. VGS a year ago
In context ↗ - rest · Helped
if I rest I’m generally ok as long as I take it as a warning. If not, bam, I’m out for days!
In context ↗ - COVID vaccination as treatment · Worse
first was ok, second gave me a flare, booster was totally fine
In context ↗
Approaches: SSRIs · Pacing · Surgery & structural
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. 1 step says too little to place on the scale and is only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were |
|---|---|---|
| — | got sick; showering was the first thing to goIt was the first thing to go when I got sick, I couldn’t stand up and was exhausted after.In context ↗ | Not stated |
| — | at worst managed one shower a weekWhen I was bad it was once a week, showers killed me.In context ↗ | Moderate |
| 2023-03-24 | gastric sleeve surgery a year earlier; flares less bad; can shower moreYes it did 100%. I still get flares but they are not as bad.In context ↗ | Mild |
| April 2026 | crashed after gallbladder removal, still exhaustedHad gallbladder removed in April.In context ↗ | Moderate |
| 2026-07-22 | still exhausted after the operation; rates self mild/moderateI’m mild/ moderate. ... I’m still exhausted from the procedure.In context ↗ | Moderate |
Adverse events
- COVID vaccination as treatment“first was ok, second gave me a flare, booster was totally fine” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Other surgery (adrenal, lung, venoplasty)“Double the time to recover from anaesthetic, triple the ‘you will be tired’ for regular people. ... I’m still exhausted from the procedure.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
if I rest I’m generally ok as long as I take it as a warning. If not, bam, I’m out for days!
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
I couldn’t stand up and was exhausted after.
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
I was on 3 tablets but then I came out of a flare and the pain was less.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
Been on AD most of my adult life for chronic, high functioning depression.
In context ↗
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