Struggling daily with ME/CFS, somewhat better on spironolactone
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 18 months
- Last post
- Apr 2023
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I've had CFS for 8 months
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I still struggle everyday but so grateful I can keep a desk job
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
the meds have helped my symptoms 50%
In context ↗ - Began after: stress or burnout
Mine was triggered by stress studying for the CPA
Read from 15 of their posts and comments; links to the 9 this page draws on
Summary
A Reddit user eight months into CFS, triggered by stress while studying for the CPA exam, tested positive for EBV antibodies and was prescribed experimental spironolactone 12.5 mg daily. Within about two weeks they felt roughly 50% better, after early headaches and cramps. Stopping after a month brought symptoms back within a week, so they restarted. By March 2023 they still struggled daily but kept a desk job.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Spironolactone · Helped
My doc prescribed spironolactone (based on a recent study on CFS/EBV), and the meds have helped my symptoms 50%
In context ↗ - rest · Helped
rest, healthy/easily digestible foods, light exercise, & avoiding stress have been the most important tools to minimize symptoms
In context ↗ - Changing my diet to more easier digestible foods · Helped
Changing my diet to more easier digestible foods. I eat mostly protein and fruits/veggies.
In context ↗ - Consistent daily light 15 min workout outside · Helped
7. Consistent daily light 15 min workout outside
In context ↗ - Good night sleep · Helped
1. Good night sleep
In context ↗ - somatic tracking · Helped
I tried it for the first time and it helped me changed my state
In context ↗
Approaches: Diet · Exercise and activity · Hormones & thyroid · Pacing
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. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CFS begins after stress while studying for the CPA examMine was triggered by stress studying for the CPA, I'm not sure if that broke out the EBVIn context ↗ | Mild |
| 2022-05-06 | about 50% better within a couple of weeks of starting spironolactoneI'd say in the past week I've been feeling about 50% betterIn context ↗ | Mild |
| 2022-05-31 | stopped spironolactone after a month and symptoms returned within a weekI took the spironolactone (12.5mg/day) for a month, then stopped. About a week after I stopped, my symptoms returned.In context ↗ | Mild |
| 2023-04-19 | back on spironolactone long term, still struggling daily but keeping a desk jobI still struggle everyday but so grateful I can keep a desk jobIn context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Spironolactone“I had slight headaches & cramps for the first week on the meds but it went away” In context ↗ Side effects
- Spironolactone“My blood pressure was 94/68 after a month on it. Probably partially due to the meds, altho its usually been pretty low during my CFS time.” In context ↗ Low blood pressure or fainting
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