ME/CFS since childhood, now somewhat better with medication and self-work
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 7.5 years
- Last post
- Oct 2026
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
So I've been having chronic fatigue since I wus 11 or 12 I'd say.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
I got really depressed and almost completely stopped going to school ... I would literally lock myself in the bathroom and fall asleep on the floor
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
Through the years with medication, behavioral hospitals and working on myself I have gotten so much better.
In context ↗ - Began after: nothing they could name
So I've been having chronic fatigue since I wus 11 or 12 I'd say.
In context ↗
Summary
A 19-year-old with chronic fatigue since age 11 or 12, when they became depressed and almost stopped attending school, falling asleep on the floor. Diagnosed with BPD, C-PTSD, ADHD and autism, they credited medication, behavioural hospitals and self-work with getting much better, but still spent whole days in bed and missed college classes. They doubted it was ME/CFS because they could get up about 60% of the time, and said caffeine didn't work and extra sleep only made them want to sleep more.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- behavioral hospitals · Helped
Through the years with medication, behavioral hospitals and working on myself I have gotten so much better.
In context ↗ - venlafaxine · Helped
I've been on venlafaxine for around 4 years, maybe its time to change it.
In context ↗ - lithium · Helped
Also didnt know lithium could make you sleepy, it really works for my mood stability
In context ↗ - ADHD medication · No change
I tryed 1 before and it barely worked.
In context ↗ - Caffeine · No change
Caffeine doesn't work, i can fall asleep right after chugging a energy drink.
In context ↗
Approaches: SNRIs
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, with time counted from when the illness began. Hover or tap a point. 1 step has no time and sits in story order between the steps around it. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were |
|---|---|---|
| age 11 or 12 | chronic fatigue began with depression; stopped attending school and slept on the floorI've been having chronic fatigue since I wus 11 or 12 I'd say.In context ↗ | Moderate |
| over the following years | got much better with medication, behavioural hospitals and self-workThrough the years with medication, behavioral hospitals and working on myself I have gotten so much better.In context ↗ | Moderate |
| 2026-10-03 (age 19) | still whole days in bed, misses college classes, doubts they can work full timeBut I still will spend entire days in bed, miss my responsibilities, my own college classes that cost money.In context ↗ | Moderate |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Sleep problems
Sleeping more doesnt work, just makes me want to sleep EVEN more.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
But i am still depressed, like in my body not necessarily my head.
In context ↗
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