Bedbound with ME/CFS at 5% function, now housebound and much better after low-dose patches
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Very severe (bedbound, unable to do basic care)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Feb 2026
In their words
- At worst: Very severe
I started low dosing in August 23 when I was completely bedbound.
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
Over time I stopped being bedbound and I'm now housebound but able to do a lot of activities. ... I'm now 50%.
In context ↗
Read from 1 of their posts and comments; links to the one this page draws on
Summary
They were completely bedbound and at about 5% function when they began low-dose patches in August 2023, starting with an hour or two and slowly increasing. The patches gave some energy, and over time they stopped being bedbound and became housebound, able to do many activities, at about 50% function. They still used a very low dose occasionally and said the patches helped significantly, though they were not the only thing tried.
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What they tried
What they credit
Their words about each treatment
- low dose nicotine patches · Helped
It gave me some energy but I had to be careful not to overdo it at first and take things slowly
In context ↗
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. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | completely bedbound, about 5% function, started nicotine patchesI started low dosing in August 23 when I was completely bedbound.In context ↗ | Very severe | |
| 2026-02-19 | stopped being bedbound; now housebound and able to do many activities, about 50% functionOver time I stopped being bedbound and I'm now housebound but able to do a lot of activities.In context ↗ | Moderate | Nicotine patches |
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