Mild ME/CFS, off work for weeks after panic, now somewhat better with ketogenic diet
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 12 years
- Last post
- Dec 2025
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I‘m also a mild CFS sufferer since 2013.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
Fortunately I can work part-time and otherwise “enjoy” life by watching TV.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
Keto helped me massively. ... But it hasn’t been a cure!
In context ↗ - Began after: glandular fever or EBV
It started with an infection of the EBV virus
Read from 21 of their posts and comments; links to the 16 this page draws on
Summary
A Reddit user developed mild ME/CFS in mid-2013, aged 42, after EBV, and kept working part-time by pacing from the start. Cycling 5 km to work around 2019 triggered a panic attack and a long depression that kept them off work for weeks. A ketogenic diet from autumn 2020 gave at least 10% more energy, the single most beneficial thing tried, though not a cure. Working from home after COVID improved their situation.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Pacing · Helped
paced myself from the beginning
In context ↗ - riding with my bicycle to work · Much worse
riding with my bicycle to work(5 km each way) and after some weeks I had my first panic attack
In context ↗ - Keto diet · Helped a lot
Keto helped me massively.
In context ↗ - Feldenkrais · Helped
Feldenkrais: helps to relax the body
In context ↗ - Yoga Nidra · Helped
Yoga Nidra ... afterwards I feel as if my Adrenalin has been greatly reduced.
In context ↗ - LDN · Helped
What helped me for sleep is LDN one hour before bedtime and Melatonin 5mg.
In context ↗ - probiotic · No change
tried many things for leaky gut(probiotic, prebiotic, abx) and nothing made a difference
In context ↗ - Wim Hof Breathing · Helped
Wim Hof Breathing: helps me to lower a spike in anxiety. Very helpful to prevent panic attacks.
In context ↗ - Open Focus · Helped
the most helpful exercises are Open Focus + Yoga Nidra
In context ↗ - Fluoxetin · Helped
Fluoxetin: is helpful
In context ↗ - Ritalin · Not said
I take everyday Ritalin and also Fluoxetin.
In context ↗ - therapist · Helped
having a trustful therapist has helped a lot with anxiety
In context ↗ - supplements · Helped
Some have helped with symptoms( anti-depressant, sleep aid, meditation, supplements).
In context ↗
Approaches: Diet
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. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| mid 2013 | CFS began after an EBV infection; mild from the start, paced from the beginningIt started with an infection of the EBV virus and fortunately I’ve paced myself from the beginning.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2019 | panic attack and depression after cycling 5 km each way to work; off work for weeksriding with my bicycle to work(5 km each way) ... Afterwards I got a massive depression and had to stay home from work for several weeks.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| Fall 2020 | ketogenic diet gave more energy and better skin colour; not a cureI‘ve got CFS and I‘m on a Keto diet for 15 months. It‘s not a cure but my energy level has increased.In context ↗ | Mild | Keto and low-carb diets |
| December 2025 | situation improved since Covid: working from home and more acceptanceRather cruelly my situation has improved since Covid hit: working from home; much more acceptance in society because of long-covid.In context ↗ | Mild |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
If I overdo it, I suffer more for some day.
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
unable to sleep without sleeping pills
In context ↗ - Light & noise sensitivity
Noise sensitivity on the other hand is a regular occurrence.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I ended up with a panic attack and a full blown depression.
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
Probably because of Pots.
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
fluctuating pulse
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
freezing in winter, sweating in summer
In context ↗ - Tinnitus
Even more irritating was a bang noise in my ear while laying on my side to sleep.
In context ↗ - Loss of smell or taste
At my lowest sometimes I smelled something burnt.
In context ↗
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