Days in bed with ME/CFS, now much better with vitamin C and magnesium
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Feb 2019
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I have a history of post viral/CFS/Fatigue.
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
I have spent days in bed and weeks on the couch. At my worst, I would struggle to walk a few meters in a day and eat food.
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
I'm beginning to manage things a bit better. Exercise, in the long run, has helped. ... I have peaks and troughs though.
- Began after: another virus
I have a history of post viral/CFS/Fatigue.
In context ↗
Read from 7 of their posts and comments; links to the 6 this page draws on
Summary
A Reddit user with post-viral CFS spent days in bed and weeks on the couch, at worst struggling to walk a few metres or eat, and took years off work. They credited vitamin C, magnesium, a varied low-fat diet and exercise within limits for gradual improvement, and said green tea with honey helped their head pain. By 2019 they could often walk or do light strength training but still had throat pain and peaks and troughs.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Glucose (confectionery) · Helped
I do use glucose (confectionery). ... For me, it can make the difference between getting some exercise and getting none.
In context ↗ - Low-fat, dairy-free varied diet · Not said
My diet is quite low fat and I avoid dairy.
In context ↗ - Vitamin C · Helped
Vitamin c seems to help with post viral symptoms. I now take it daily and it does seem to help
In context ↗ - Coffee · Not said
For post exertion, I usually use a cup of coffee
In context ↗ - Magnesium (Epsom salts) · Helped
I just take a quarter teaspoon epsom salts with herbal tea, honey/glucose and that does seem to make a difference.
In context ↗ - Green tea · Helped
Green tea with honey/ glucose, of all things helped and the head pain did not return after about 12 months.
In context ↗ - Low dose iodine · Helped
I found low dose iodine, magnesium and vitamin c also helped.
In context ↗ - Giving up meat (vegetarian diet) · No change
I did give up meat for six months and it did not help at all.
In context ↗ - Rest · Helped
Rest, rest, rest ... Try and focus on resting every day.
In context ↗ - Walking and light strength training · Helped
Exercise, in the long run, has helped.
In context ↗ - Absolute rest · Worse
Absolute rest left me depressed, and never stopped my body from flaring up anyway.
In context ↗
Approaches: Alternative therapies · Exercise and activity · Pacing · Supplements
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | post-viral CFS onsetI have a history of post viral/CFS/Fatigue.In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| — | days in bed, weeks on the couch, barely able to walk or eatI have spent days in bed and weeks on the couch. At my worst, I would struggle to walk a few meters in a day and eat food.In context ↗ | Severe | |
| 2019-01-18 | condition improving over time with careful diet and supplementsMy condition appears to be improving overall over time.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2019-02-10 | managing better; walking and light strength training on good afternoonsI'm beginning to manage things a bit better. ... Exercise, in the long run, has helped.In context ↗ | Moderate | Everyday exercise and activity |
Adverse events
- Radical rest“Absolute rest left me depressed, and never stopped my body from flaring up anyway.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
For post exertion, I usually use a cup of coffee, or magnesium
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
Green tea with honey/ glucose, of all things helped and the head pain did not return after about 12 months.
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
I still get throat pain though.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
Absolute rest left me depressed
In context ↗
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