Stuck in bed with ME/CFS, now much better with beta blockers and pacing
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 10 years
- Last post
- Oct 2026
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I got diagnosed with cfs maybe....8 years ago?
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
After that I was slowly getting worse and worse until I was stuck in bed because I physically couldn't leave. I had horrible migraines all the time, severe light sensitivity
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
I'm mild/moderate. Some days are worse than others. ... I am able to properly pace myself and haven't had a proper crash in a while.
In context ↗ - Began after: nothing they could name
I was working at a pet store around the time I was trying to figure out what was wrong with me, so I kept pushing to get through my shifts even though I was suffering.
In context ↗
Read from 30 of their posts and comments; links to the 16 this page draws on
Summary
Beech 22831 was diagnosed with CFS about eight years ago after years of tests; before diagnosis, after pushing through pet-store shifts, they worsened until stuck in bed with migraines and light sensitivity. A first COVID infection in 2024 worsened heart palpitations and dropped them from mild/moderate to moderate/severe. Treatment for high blood pressure and heart rate brought significant relief, and beta blockers plus other meds help reduce strain; with pacing and a rollator they now call themselves mild/moderate and doing much better.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- SSRI · No change
which I have taken in the past and did not work well for me
In context ↗ - birth control pills · Worse
I had mental health issues on the pills
In context ↗ - Nuvaring · Not said
I was recommended Nuvaring because I had mental health issues on the pills, but did not have the same effect on Nuvaring.
In context ↗ - iron supplements · Not said
I take iron supplements the week leading up to my period and I'm definitely still more susceptible to crashing
In context ↗ - uterine ablation and laparoscopic surgery · Helped
I got a uterine ablation not long ago. It didnt fully stop my periods, but they went from extremely heavy to pretty mild.
In context ↗ - NSAIDs · Helped
It also helps to take NSAIDs the second you see blood and keep taking them regularly the length of your period. It reduces swelling and any exhaustion you would get from being in pain
In context ↗ - ice packs and migraine caps · Helped
I sleep with an icepack on my head and get a lot of headache relief from just using icepacks on my head and neck.
In context ↗ - Fitbit Inspire 3 · Helped
Its been really helpful being able to look at my heart rate when I'm doing chores and I sit down a lot more
In context ↗ - beta blockers (Atenolol) · Helped a lot
I'm currently being treated for my high blood pressure and heart rate (likely due to POTS), and I feel significantly better.
In context ↗ - two weeks rest in bed · Helped
I did just 2 weeks (at my partners request) where i stayed in bed whether or not I slept and he took care of everything and it helped a lot with my baseline at the time.
In context ↗ - delta 9 gummies · Helped
Ive also had success with delta 9 chocolates and drinks, but they tend to be more expensive.
In context ↗ - metformin · Helped
i recently started taking a med normally used for type 2s called metformin. I'm doing well on it so far, but I havent been taking it long.
In context ↗ - calorie counting · Helped
I have been counting for 156 days according to my app, and I am, as of last weight in, 12 lbs down.
In context ↗ - pacing · Helped a lot
I'm able to pace well now, so I very rarely have any serious symptoms.
In context ↗ - Ensure Max Protein shakes · Helped
The ensure max protein shakes are helping me a lot right now. Easy to drink slowly through the day
In context ↗ - rollator · Helped
Also, I recently got a rollator! That has really improved how much walking I can handle.
In context ↗ - shower chair · Helped
I have a shower chair and a lower shower mount that makes it much easier.
In context ↗
Approaches: Beta-blockers · Pacing · 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 | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| onset | ill while working at a pet store, pushing through shiftsI was working at a pet store around the time I was trying to figure out what was wrong with me, so I kept pushing to get through my shifts even though I was suffering.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| — | stuck in bed with constant migraines and severe light sensitivityAfter that I was slowly getting worse and worse until I was stuck in bed because I physically couldn't leave.In context ↗ | Severe | |
| 2024 | worsened after first COVID infectionI got covid last year for the first time and my symptoms have been worse since. Heart palps are more frequent and I've gone from mild/moderate to moderate/severe.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2025-04-07 | lower resting heart rate and able to do a chore or twoRight now, my resting heart rate is better than it has been (80-85 instead of 95), and I'm able to get up and do a chore or two without my heart rate going out of control (Going up to 110 instead of 130-40).In context ↗ | Moderate | Atenolol (Tenormin) |
| 2025-07-09 | significantly better on blood pressure and heart rate medicationI'm currently being treated for my high blood pressure and heart rate (likely due to POTS), and I feel significantly better. I am mild/moderate and houseboundIn context ↗ | Moderate | Atenolol (Tenormin) |
| 2026-09-25 | doing a lot better with pacing, a rollator and medicationI find I'm doing a lot better these days, but enjoying myself occassionally means pacing becomes that much more important.In context ↗ | Mild | Atenolol (Tenormin) |
Adverse events
- Hormonal birth control (unspecified)“I was recommended Nuvaring because I had mental health issues on the pills” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Atenolol (Tenormin)“the only ill side effects I had of the medication was weight gain and some weird dreams for the first month” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I'm definitely still more susceptible to crashing
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
One of the big things I've been having trouble with is lots of headaches and my head is physically warm.
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
my heart would beat so hard I couldn't breathe (still struggling with that sometimes)
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
I'm currently being treated for my high blood pressure and heart rate (likely due to POTS)
In context ↗ - Light & noise sensitivity
I had horrible migraines all the time, severe light sensitivity
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
My legs gave out under me on several occassions
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
I feel like even if I have the energy, standing for too long really hurts my joints
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I got some lemonbalm tea to try next time I have trouble sleeping.
In context ↗
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