Severe ME/CFS crash, now somewhat better after aggressive rest and bisoprolol for POTS
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Oct 2026
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
And yet I am currently in denial that I have ME/CFS.
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
I crashed to severe in January, and with lots of rest it moved to moderate-severe by March, where it’s stayed. I was mild-moderate before the crash.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
having that comorbidity treated has taken the burden off my ME/CFS so much that I think I’ve improved a whole severity level (still being very careful though)
In context ↗
Read from 50 of their posts and comments; links to the 15 this page draws on
Summary
Breeze 31001, in the UK, had years of ME/CFS symptoms and was mild to moderately ill before crashing to severe in January 2025, lying in the dark and unable to tolerate even an audiobook. Aggressive rest brought them back to moderate-severe by March. In December 2025 bisoprolol for POTS lifted them a whole severity level, and they are still pacing carefully.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- continuous heart rate monitor (Visible 2.0) · Helped
I also recently got a continuous heart rate monitor. it’s helped me stay in my energy envelope
In context ↗ - pacing and rest · Helped
if I hadn’t come across this sub and read how important it is, I don’t think I would have gone this long without crashing
In context ↗ - LDN · Helped
I started LDN (0.5mg sublingual at night) three days ago. I have noticed a significant change in my heart rate over the past two days
In context ↗ - group physiotherapy breathing sessions · No change
doing this has never helped an episode of breathlessness, so I am skeptical
In context ↗ - SSRI · Not said
I think I’ll be tapering very slowly, since I have withdrawal symptoms even if I take it a few hours late.
In context ↗ - electrolyte powder · Helped
electrolyte powder (helps with hydration; I get mine from Bulk)
In context ↗ - one-on-one calls with an occupational therapist · Helped
but also one-on-one calls with an occupational therapist — the latter really helps
In context ↗ - cetirizine · Helped
I did take antihistamines (cetirizine and famotidine) an hour before, and that seemed to help.
In context ↗ - bisoprolol · Helped a lot
having that comorbidity treated has taken the burden off my ME/CFS so much that I think I’ve improved a whole severity level
In context ↗ - resting aggressively · Helped
I slowly pulled out of it over a couple of months (by resting aggressively)
In context ↗
Approaches: Beta-blockers · Pacing · Radical rest
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 | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | years of ME/CFS symptomsI’ve had years of symptomsIn context ↗ | Not stated | |
| January 2025 | worst crash of my life, bedbound in the silent darkthe worst crash of my life and unable to tolerate even an audiobook on x0.1 speedIn context ↗ | Severe | |
| March 2025 | came up from severe to moderate-severe with aggressive restwith lots of rest it moved to moderate-severe by March, where it’s stayed.In context ↗ | Moderate | Pacing and the energy envelope |
| June-August 2025 | unexpected exertion stalled further recoverybut I think that’s also due to some unexpected exertion in June-AugustIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| September 2025 | stable and improving while working part-time on a PhD from bedWhen I made the decision to continue, my symptoms were stable/improving with my current exertion level.In context ↗ | Moderate | Pacing and the energy envelope |
| December 2025 | bisoprolol for POTS lifted a whole severity levelA month ago I started a medication to treat POTS, and having that comorbidity treated has taken the burden off my ME/CFS so much that I think I’ve improved a whole severity levelIn context ↗ | Mild | Bisoprolol (Concor) |
| October 2026 | still improved on a low bisoprolol doseit’s the single biggest thing to help improve my QOL (outside pacing).In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Antidepressants (unspecified)“I have withdrawal symptoms even if I take it a few hours late.” In context ↗ Withdrawal problems
- “I usually do get a strong immune response, which takes a few days to recover from, but never PEM so far.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I’ve incrementally restructured my entire life to avoid getting PEM
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
prescribed me beta blockers for my dysautonomia (heart rate spikes when upright)
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
I have shortness of breath every couple of days, seemingly at random
In context ↗ - Mast cell (MCAS) & allergies
As someone with allergies, it’s like night and day. I don’t get nearly as much congestion as I used to.
In context ↗
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