ME/CFS with frequent tiredness and pain, now somewhat better
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Apr 2022
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
my chronic fatigue journey
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I work part-time while doing full-time school. I also do some volunteer work and am the primary caregiver for my boyfriend with bipolar disorder.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
Still tired quite often and still in pain, but I can actually do small things without immediately needing sleep.
In context ↗
Summary
A Reddit user with chronic fatigue worked part-time, studied full-time, volunteered and cared for their boyfriend while often tired and in pain. After a mild concussion at work forced them to take leave from everything about two weeks before their April 2022 post, they had slowly been improving and could do small things without immediately needing sleep, though still tired and in pain. They also said 20 mg of escitalopram left them a zombie and cymbalta was less bad.
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What they tried
What they credit
Their words about each treatment
- escitalopram · Worse
I was on escitalopram and on the 20mg dose I was a zombie.
In context ↗ - cymbalta (SNRI) · Helped
Got switched to cymbalta (SNRI) and it hasn’t been as bad.
In context ↗ - therapy · Helped
I’ve had therapists who have traumatized me, and some that have made a massive difference in my life!
In context ↗ - taking a leave from basically everything · Helped
2 weeks ago I hit my head at work and got a mild concussion which forced me to take a leave from basically everything.
In context ↗
Approaches: Radical rest
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 |
|---|---|---|
| — | ongoing chronic fatigue alongside part-time work, full-time school and caregivingmy chronic fatigue journeyIn context ↗ | Mild |
| 2022-04-13 | slow improvement after a concussion forced a break from everythingI’ve slowly been recovering from what I can only assume is a really bad crash that I never took care ofIn context ↗ | Mild |
| 2022-04-13 | could do small things without immediately needing sleep, still tired and in painStill tired quite often and still in pain, but I can actually do small things without immediately needing sleepIn context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)“I was on escitalopram and on the 20mg dose I was a zombie.” In context ↗ Side effects
- CBT and psychotherapy“I’ve had therapists who have traumatized me” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Pain & fibromyalgia
Still tired quite often and still in pain
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I can actually do small things without immediately needing sleep
In context ↗
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