ME/CFS: near-debilitating fatigue and insomnia, adrenal supplements no help
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill for
- 8 years
- Last post
- Nov 2020
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I'm a weightlifter with chronic fatigue
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I'm able to struggle through my work days and even maintain my heavy weightlifting at the gym.
In context ↗ - Now: No benefit
I am now horribly fatigued. This has been ongoing for the past few years since my sleep improved.
In context ↗ - Began after: stress or burnout
I suffered for about 8 years of brutal insomnia fueled by an anxiety disorder.
In context ↗ - Says they never had: Post-exertional malaise
I don't have any post-exertional crashes.
Read from 5 of their posts and comments; links to the 4 this page draws on
Summary
drakes8887, a weightlifter, described about eight years of brutal insomnia fueled by an anxiety disorder, followed by several years of near-debilitating fatigue that made mornings very hard. They overcame the anxiety through therapy while their sleep gradually improved, and they tried adrenal supplements without relief from the fatigue. They could still work and lift weights, had no post-exertional crashes and normal bloodwork.
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What they tried
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- therapy · Helped
In my case it was fixable through therapy.
In context ↗ - light box · Helped
use a light box to strengthen your circadian rhythm
In context ↗ - magnesium · Helped
take supplements that help with relaxation, such as magnesium
In context ↗ - melatonin · Helped
low-dose (1 mg) melatonin
In context ↗ - adrenal supps · No change
I'm taking adrenal supps anyway and no luck so far.
In context ↗
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 chart starts 7 years after onset: the story doesn’t say how ill they were before that. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| about 2012 | 8 years of brutal insomnia driven by anxietyI suffered for about 8 years of brutal insomnia fueled by an anxiety disorder.In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| ~2019 | overcame anxiety and insomnia through therapyMy sleep improvement was gradual over the course of about one year.In context ↗ | Mild | CBT and psychotherapy |
| ~2020 | severe unrelenting fatigue despite good sleepI am now horribly fatigued. This has been ongoing for the past few years since my sleep improved.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2020-11-03 | still chronically fatigued but working and weightliftingI'm able to struggle through my work days and even maintain my heavy weightlifting at the gym.In context ↗ | Mild |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Sleep problems
I suffered for about 8 years of brutal insomnia fueled by an anxiety disorder.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I've since overcome my anxiety and sleep problems
In context ↗