Too sick to continue a degree with ME/CFS, somewhat better with pacing and rest
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 2 years
- Last post
- Oct 2026
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
PEM wasn't noticeable for me until around 6mo after the migraines started.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
was midway through my bachelor's degree when I became too sick to keep going
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
on the days that I do manage to pace well and prioritize rest, it genuinely does help. I've been able to do more of the things I loved doing before I got sick
In context ↗ - Began after: nothing they could name
For me it was migraines, especially after cognitive exertion, and massive brain fog.
In context ↗
Summary
A university student developed migraines after cognitive exertion and heavy brain fog, sliding from straight-A grades to barely passing over a year; post-exertional malaise showed up about six months in. About two years before their latest post they became too sick to continue their degree, and physiotherapy helped only their neck pain. By October 2026 they said pacing well and resting genuinely helped, letting them do more art and music.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- physiotherapy · Helped
I went to physiotherapy, and although strengthening my neck muscles seemed to help with postural pain, the rest of my symptoms kept worsening.
In context ↗ - pacing and prioritizing rest · Helped
on the days that I do manage to pace well and prioritize rest, it genuinely does help
In context ↗
Approaches: Pacing
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 dashed part: the story doesn’t say when. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| around 2024, at university | migraines after cognitive exertion and heavy brain fog began; grades fell from straight A to barely passing over a yearFor me it was migraines, especially after cognitive exertion, and massive brain fog.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| about 6 months into the illness | physiotherapy helped postural neck pain but other symptoms kept worsening; PEM appearedPEM wasn't noticeable for me until around 6mo after the migraines started.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2026-10-22 | pacing well and prioritising rest lets them do more art and music on good dayson the days that I do manage to pace well and prioritize rest, it genuinely does help. I've been able to do more of the things I loved doing before I got sick, like art and music.In context ↗ | Mild | Pacing and the energy envelope |
Adverse events
- Physical therapy / physiotherapy“although strengthening my neck muscles seemed to help with postural pain, the rest of my symptoms kept worsening” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Headaches & migraine
For me it was migraines, especially after cognitive exertion, and massive brain fog.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
massive brain fog
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
PEM wasn't noticeable for me until around 6mo after the migraines started.
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
strengthening my neck muscles seemed to help with postural pain
In context ↗
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