Tired and sleeping badly with ME/CFS, now somewhat better after herbal treatment
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 17 years
- Last post
- Apr 2018
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I was searching for information on how to treat my CFS.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I have a loving and supportive family and a good career with relatively low stress.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
it made a huge difference to me. ... However, I still haven't found relief from some of my worst symptoms
- Began after: stress or burnout
It started when I had a really bad case of depression that lasted for years.
In context ↗
Read from 7 of their posts and comments; links to the 6 this page draws on
Summary
Oak 11060 fell ill with CFS in their late teens during a years-long bout of severe depression, and was still tired and sleeping badly in their mid-30s. Herbal treatment for Lyme gave the first major improvement, and testosterone, progesterone, adrenal hormones, a VPAP machine for sleep apnoea and allergy immunotherapy each helped. Insomnia and a low body temperature of 96-97°F remained, with a low white cell count.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- medication for depression · No change
Medication and talking therapy did nothing for my depression.
In context ↗ - vitamin C infusions · No change
I wasted time and money on vitamin C infusions and chelation that did nothing for me.
In context ↗ - herbal treatment for Lyme Disease (Buhner herbal protocol) · Helped a lot
My first major breakthru happened when I received herbal treatment for Lyme Disease. That seriously improved my quality of life and gave me more energy.
In context ↗ - supplemental testosterone · Helped
I've been taking meds to raise them up ever since and I get relief from many symptoms.
In context ↗ - ResMed S9 VPAP with ASVAuto · Helped
This is another treatment that I really wouldn't want to be without.
In context ↗ - progesterone · Helped
I have been having lots of good nights on the progesterone dose I've been taking lately (200 mg)
In context ↗ - hydrocortisone · Helped
These medications relieved symptoms such as irregular food cravings, dizziness upon standing up, and shaky hands.
In context ↗ - immunotherapy for mold allergies · Helped
prescribed immunotherapy and nasal sprays which have improved my breathing if nothing else
In context ↗ - herbal medicine to protect the adrenals · No change
I tried taking on of these for several weeks and saw no improvement.
In context ↗ - DHEA · Not said
I'm on a lower dose of DHEA (25 mg).
In context ↗
Approaches: Antibiotics · 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. 1 step has no time and sits in story order between the steps around it. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| late teens | CFS began after years of severe depressionI came down with what I would characterise CFS in my late teens.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| — | major breakthrough with herbal Lyme treatmentMy first major breakthru happened when I received herbal treatment for Lyme Disease. That seriously improved my quality of life and gave me more energy.In context ↗ | Mild | Herbal remedies (unspecified) |
| 2018 | still tired with insomnia and low body temperature despite hormones, sleep apnoea and allergy treatmentI still have one major symptom that seems to stick to me like stink on excrement: insomnia.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Lyme / co-infection protocols“I had one of those dreadful "herx" reactions within the first few weeks and I knew I had done something right.” In context ↗ Herx / die-off reaction
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Sleep problems
I frequently wake up too early and can't go back to sleep even tho I am so throughly exhausted
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
These medications relieved symptoms such as irregular food cravings, dizziness upon standing up, and shaky hands.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
It started when I had a really bad case of depression that lasted for years.
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
my body temperature is constantly lagging around 96-97 degrees Fahrenheit
In context ↗ - Mast cell (MCAS) & allergies
I was also diagnosed with severe mold allergies and prescribed immunotherapy and nasal sprays which have improved my breathing if nothing else.
In context ↗
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