Weak and sleeping constantly with ME/CFS, nearly back to normal after waitressing
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 10 years
- Last post
- Jul 2016
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
my pediatrician finally diagnosed me with CFS in fifth grade
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I would wake up, go to school, come home, sleep for hours, do my homework, go to sleep and back off to school again.
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
I'm still not 100%. My body is still weaker than most my age, but I'm so much better than I have been for a really *really* long time.
In context ↗ - Began after: glandular fever or EBV
I was diagnosed with Mono/Epstein Barr Virus in, I think, maybe third or fourth grade.
Summary
Maddi fell ill with mono/EBV around third or fourth grade and was diagnosed with CFS in fifth; high school exhausted her, and the summer after graduation she slept constantly and felt very weak. A waitressing job was terrible at first and made her worse, but it gradually made her stronger; after about a year she tapered off SSRIs and began eating better, with a definite slump. By 2016 she was much better than she had been for years, though still not 100%, her body weaker than others her age.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- SSRI's · Not said
Earlier hours and newly developed depression just *exhausted* me. ... This is where I started taking SSRI's.
In context ↗ - singulair · Helped
I've been taking them together since and have improved VASTLY.
In context ↗ - flonase · Not said
I was prescribed singulair and flonase last year, started those back up this year and still ended up having to take a couple sick days from work.
In context ↗ - zyrtec · Helped a lot
she suggested zyrtec. I've been taking them together since and have improved VASTLY.
In context ↗ - rest · Not said
I spent that entire summer recovering. I slept all the time.
In context ↗ - waitressing · Helped
So, I kept the job. ... My body was getting stronger.
In context ↗ - eating better · Not said
I decided to ween myself off of the SSRI's and start eating better.
In context ↗
Approaches: H1 antihistamines · Antihistamines & MCAS · Exercise and activity
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. 1 step says too little to place on the scale and is only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| third or fourth grade | Mono/Epstein Barr Virus, symptoms persistedI was diagnosed with Mono/Epstein Barr Virus in, I think, maybe third or fourth grade. My symptoms persistedIn context ↗ | Not stated | |
| grades 7-9 | 504 plan accommodations; mostly ok through grades 7-9With the help of a 504, I believe this is why I was mostly ok through 7-9 grade.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| high school | high school exhaustion, early hours, depressionEarlier hours and newly developed depression just *exhausted* me.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| summer after graduation | spent the whole summer sleeping and very weakOnce school was over, I spent that entire summer recovering. I slept all the time. I was incredibly weakIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| May-June 2015 | allergies and heat caused exhaustion and sick daysAbout three weeks ago my allergies/the heat started and pretty much did me in.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| June 2015 | added zyrtec to singulair and flonase, vast improvementI've been taking them together since and have improved VASTLY.In context ↗ | Mild | Cetirizine (Zyrtec) |
| first week of waitressing | started waitress job, worse than beforeMy first week there was terrible. I couldn't carry a full tray, my feet and legs were in pain constantly.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| after 6-9 months of waitressing | got stronger, able to carry a full tray and socialise after shiftsBut, I think after 6-9 months or so, I was able to carry a full tray.In context ↗ | Mild | Everyday exercise and activity |
| July 2016 | much better, still not 100% and weaker than peersI'm still not 100%. My body is still weaker than most my ageIn context ↗ | Near normal |
Adverse events
- Antidepressants (unspecified)“I decided to ween myself off of the SSRI's and start eating better. It was a slow process and I had a definite slump” In context ↗ Withdrawal problems
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Sleep problems
I would wake up, go to school, come home, sleep for hours, do my homework, go to sleep
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
My body is still weaker than most my age
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
my feet and legs were in pain constantly
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
newly developed depression just *exhausted* me
In context ↗ - Mast cell (MCAS) & allergies
my allergies/the heat started and pretty much did me in
In context ↗
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