ME/CFS that flared after stress, somewhat better; SSRIs helped energy, quetiapine sleep
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Not stated
- Ill before improving or writing
- 20 years
- Last post
- Dec 2023
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
Me/cfs blew up badly a couple of years ago during intensely stressful life event.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
It’s more manageable now.
In context ↗ - Began after: glandular fever or EBV
For me it was getting Glandular fever (Epstein Barr virus) and cold sores (herpes simplex 1 virus) within six months of each other at age 20.
In context ↗
Read from 4 of their posts and comments; links to the 4 this page draws on
Summary
Horizon 20471 developed ME/CFS at age 20 after glandular fever and cold sores; it waxed and waned into their 40s. An intensely stressful life event about two years before late 2022 made it blow up badly, but by November 2022 it was more manageable. SSRIs, taken for years, were lifesaving for anxiety and helped their energy envelope; low-dose quetiapine remained effective for sleep, while benzodiazepines quickly built tolerance but were still good for short-term use.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- SSRIs · Helped
Been on SSRIs for years and they have been lifesaving for anxiety. ... preventing panic attacks and severe OCD spirals have been great for my energy envelope.
In context ↗ - quetiapine (quetiapeine) · Helped
I have been taking a low dose of quetiapeine (12.5mg) at night for years now. ... it still works for me just fine.
In context ↗ - benzos · Helped
I built up a tolerance to benzos pretty quickly (damn shame, they're the bees knees)
In context ↗
Approaches: Other drugs and medicines
Their path
They say too little about how ill they were at each step to draw it on the severity scale, so the steps are listed as they describe them. Dates are when they posted.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| age 20 | Glandular fever and cold sores within six months; ME/CFS beganFor me it was getting Glandular fever (Epstein Barr virus) and cold sores (herpes simplex 1 virus) within six months of each other at age 20.In context ↗ |
| a couple of years ago | ME/CFS blew up badly during an intensely stressful life eventMe/cfs blew up badly a couple of years ago during intensely stressful life event.In context ↗ |
| 2022-11-27 | ME/CFS became more manageableIt’s more manageable now.In context ↗ |
| 2023-12-17 | Still using quetiapine for sleep; no ME/CFS functional detailfind a very small dose (12.5mg) of quetiapine is effective for sleep, and has been for yearsIn context ↗ |
Adverse events
- Benzodiazepines (unspecified)“I built up a tolerance to benzos pretty quickly (damn shame, they're the bees knees)” In context ↗ Other
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Anxiety & low mood
lifesaving for anxiety ... preventing panic attacks and severe OCD spirals
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
effective for sleep, and has been for years
In context ↗
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