ME/CFS with work or study but never both, much better on trazodone and anti-inflammatories
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 34 years
- Last post
- Aug 2026
In their words
- At worst: Moderate
at times I have even recovered enough to work or go to school. Never both at the same time.
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
My energy levels are way up! ... In addition to having that kind of energy my cognitive functioning has gone way up.
In context ↗ - Began after: another virus
what about my lab tests that say it was viral?
Read from 41 of their posts and comments; links to the 20 this page draws on
Summary
Pond 37149 became ill with CFS in 1990 and at times recovered enough to work or study, but never both at once. Adderall got them back to work until the VA withdrew it, and nightly trazodone brought them to about 60-70% in 2020. Modafinil in 2022 produced a day of energy and then a crash lasting days. Prednisone for knee arthritis eased pain, and anti-inflammatories around 2024-25 raised their energy and thinking.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Paleo · Helped a lot
When I follow Paleo, I get better ... Yes the low carb diet helps me tremendously.
- Prozac · Helped
Plus taking the max amount of Prozac in addition to that seems to work.
In context ↗ - Adderall · Helped a lot
But what put me back to work was Adderall. The VA took it away though.
In context ↗ - mindfulness · Helped
I could use the old standby "mindfulness" which helps when I do it
In context ↗ - weighted blanket · Helped
But it has been over a year since I have gotten one and now I can't sleep without it.
In context ↗ - hand buzzers · No change
I have experimented with hand buzzers but they didn't do anything for me.
In context ↗ - Trazodone · Helped a lot
Doctor started me on Trazodone ... But once I started taking it every night, I felt better!
In context ↗ - fasting · Helped
Ok yeah I do better when I fast too.
In context ↗ - kale smoothie · Helped
When I do have it, (4 servings) it seems to help the brain fog. ... I got up 2 hours later and had half the smoothie (20 oz) and found my energy.
- Florinef · Helped
I took Florinef and it did help increase my energy for about a year.
In context ↗ - CPAP · Worse
It is not as a good as a CPAP (which I don't use because I can't sleep with it), but better than nothing.
In context ↗ - modafinil · Worse
I seriously do not remember ever crashing like this.
In context ↗ - Effexor · Worse
I was tired and took my Effexor twice in one day. 3 Days later I had a seizure.
In context ↗ - Meloxicam · Helped
I just know my energy levels and cognition are significantly up since I started taking anti-inflammatories. ... Certainly, Meloxicam.
- Ketorolac · Helped
They also had me on Ketorolac for a couple weeks ... Both meds helped and I did use them separately.
In context ↗ - prednisone · Helped
they treated me for my arthritis with prednisone which got rid of the limp and horrible pain
In context ↗ - KPax Immune · Helped
But I have gotten some energy with just the Kpax.
In context ↗ - Kpax Energy · Helped
Kpax Energy 2 ... I did this and had one day of energy.
In context ↗ - Alpha GPC Maximum strength · Helped
Alpha GPC Maximum strength 2 ... I did this and had one day of energy.
In context ↗ - Ritalin · Worse
The adderall and ritalin made me very anxious
In context ↗ - Viter mints · Helped
Yeah for me Viter mints and/or Kpax supplements.
In context ↗ - ATP 360 · Helped
a doc from Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine recommended ATP 360 and Energy Multiplex and they worked for a while.
In context ↗
Approaches: SSRIs · Diet · Other antidepressants · Other drugs and medicines · Stimulants · Supplements
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. The first step with a time is 30 years after onset: the story doesn’t say how ill they were before that. The dashed part: the story doesn’t say when. 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 | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | Adderall let them go back to workBut what put me back to work was Adderall.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| — | moved states; VA stopped prescribing AdderallProblem is when I changed states, VA wouldn't prescribe them anymore.In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| 2020-02-22 | nightly trazodone; felt better, about 60-70%once I started taking it every night, I felt better!In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2021-09-10 | labs improved and they started a three-month full-time remote jobI am starting a full time job next week!In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2022-07-08 | modafinil-driven housework, then a crash; bedridden for daysI seriously do not remember ever crashing like this.In context ↗ | Severe | Modafinil / armodafinil |
| 2025-02-11 | prednisone then anti-inflammatories for knee arthritis; energy and cognition upMy energy levels are way up!In context ↗ | Mild | Corticosteroid pulses |
| 2026-08-31 | doing the best they can; modafinil raising blood pressure and may be stoppedI do the best I can, at times I have even recovered enough to work or go to school.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Trazodone (Desyrel)“She did not tell me to take it every night, and that really messed me up at first.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Amphetamine salts (Adderall)“The anxiety they caused made me a real bitch which drove away friends.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Modafinil / armodafinil“I woke up about 2AM and felt incredibly exhausted ... I seriously do not remember ever crashing like this.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Venlafaxine (Effexor)“I was tired and took my Effexor twice in one day. 3 Days later I had a seizure.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Amphetamine salts (Adderall), Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta)“The adderall and ritalin made me very anxious” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Modafinil / armodafinil“Also the docs say it is raising my blood pressure too high and they are going to take me off it.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
8-12 hours of getting heavy housework done then I crashed for a week.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
And it's really helping with my brain fog.
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
Yes I still wake up in the middle of the night and take 8 hour naps
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
got rid of the limp and horrible pain
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
the suicidal thoughts are almost gone now
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
Even right now, I feel weak and plan on going back to bed after I post this.
In context ↗
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