ME/CFS with rest days and short bursts, now much better after HRT
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 20 years
- Last post
- Dec 2023
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I’ve had ME for 17 years
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
these rest days allow me to function semi normally on a more ‘normal’ day. I average 3/4 rest days a week
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
I’m now on HRT and have drastically improved age 50 also
In context ↗
Read from 7 of their posts and comments; links to the 5 this page draws on
Summary
Cove 59198 had had ME for about 17 years by 2020, managing with three or four rest days a week and tasks done in short bursts, which allowed semi-normal days. They say antidepressants helped when life stress piled up. Two AstraZeneca COVID vaccines sent their immune system haywire, with congestion, fatigue and dizziness for a couple of weeks each time. Menopause made all symptoms worse; HRT at 50 brought a drastic improvement.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- short bursts with rest in between · Helped
my method on a rest day is do whatever I can in short bursts with rest in between ... these rest days allow me to function semi normally
In context ↗ - anti depressants · Helped
from time to time have been on anti depressants, usually when life has thrown just one to many things at me. They do really help.
In context ↗ - AZ vaccines · Worse
My reaction sent my whole immune system haywire this has lasted a couple of weeks each time.
In context ↗ - antihistamines · Helped
Things I found useful were strong decongestant and anti histamines.
In context ↗ - Sudafed / strong decongestant · Helped
Things I found helpful were - Sudafed, antihistamines, vitamin c and b vits.
In context ↗ - thiamin · Helped
I also started regular riboflavin and thiamin with b12 and coq10 ... Things I found helpful were - Sudafed, antihistamines, vitamin c and b vits.
- coq10 · Not said
I also started regular riboflavin and thiamin with b12 and coq10.
In context ↗ - HRT · Helped a lot
now on HRT and have drastically improved age 50 also
In context ↗
Approaches: Pacing · Sex hormones
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 17 years after onset: the story doesn’t say how ill they were before that. 3 steps say too little to place on the scale and are only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| onset | ME onset, trigger not statedI’ve had this for 17 yearsIn context ↗ | Not stated | |
| 2020-08-25 | managing with three or four rest days a week and short bursts of activityI average 3/4 rest days a weekIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2021-07-02 | wiped out for weeks by AstraZeneca COVID vaccine reactionit definitely wiped me out hard for at least two weeksIn context ↗ | Not stated | |
| before age 50 | menopause made every symptom worseMade all of my symptoms worse for sureIn context ↗ | Not stated | |
| 2023-12-20 | drastically improved on HRT at age 50I’m now on HRT and have drastically improved age 50 alsoIn context ↗ | Mild | Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) |
Adverse events
- “My reaction sent my whole immune system haywire this has lasted a couple of weeks each time.” In context ↗ Autoimmune or inflammatory flare
- “I seemed to heavily congested, fatigued and dizzy which lasted a few weeks” In context ↗ Side effects
- “it definitely wiped me out hard for at least two weeks.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- “I’ve ended up with glue ear but it seems to be getting better slowly too.” In context ↗ Other
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- POTS & dysautonomia
fatigued and dizzy which lasted a few weeks
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
from time to time have been on anti depressants, usually when life has thrown just one to many things at me
In context ↗
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