Years of brain fog and low energy, now much better after pacing and stopping Adderall
- Condition
- Condition not stated
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Jan 2025
In their words
- Condition: Condition not stated
I haven't been officially diagnosed with ME/cfs but I have struggled with brain fog and low energy for a really long time
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
(I haven't even hit 50% tbh heh)
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
I stopped taking them and, over time and with pacing, came back up to a more mild baseline.
In context ↗ - Began after: nothing they could name
I have struggled with brain fog and low energy for a really long time
In context ↗
Read from 18 of their posts and comments; links to the 14 this page draws on
Summary
After years of brain fog and low energy, with severe brain fog developing during pandemic lockdowns, Oak 85424 started radical rest in early 2023 and saw energy improve within a week, then crashed. Pacing with a Garmin watch helped, and stopping Adderall eased fatigue and cleared brain fog. A low-dose THC:CBD gummy helped sleep; Paxlovid during COVID brought weeks of good energy before settling back to a mild/moderate baseline.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Flonase · Worse
I lost my sense of smell for several days after taking Flonase the first (and last!) time*.
In context ↗ - Adderall extended release · Worse
as an ADHDer who had to stop taking stimulants because it was worsening my fatigue
In context ↗ - Garmin watch · Helped
I've had success getting back to a higher baseline thanks partly to my Garmin.
In context ↗ - radical rest · Helped
I'm already seeing improvements to my energy, stress levels and recovery times.
In context ↗ - pacing · Helped
over time and with pacing, came back up to a more mild baseline
In context ↗ - 2:1 indica THC:CBD gummies · Helped
it has done wonders for my sleep and energy levels
In context ↗ - Paxlovid · Helped a lot
It significantly reduced my symptoms in the first 24 hours and I didn't experience any extreme side effects.
In context ↗ - Root canal · Worse
I had to get a root canal the other day and my energy levels have taken a huge hit since.
In context ↗
Approaches: Antivirals · 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. 2 steps say too little to place on the scale and are only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | gradual brain fog and low energy over yearsI have struggled with brain fog and low energy for a really long timeIn context ↗ | Not stated | |
| 2020 | severe brain fog during pandemic lockdownsduring pandemic lockdowns I developed severe brain fogIn context ↗ | Not stated | |
| February 2023 | daily push-crash cycle, under half of normalI quickly realized what I thought was good pacing (resting when tired/feeling bad) was actually a daily push-crash cycleIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| February 2023 | one week of radical rest brought better energyIt's only been **one week** of resting more than I'm moving around, and I'm already seeing improvementsIn context ↗ | Moderate | Radical rest |
| February 2023 | first crash after starting rest and pacingI'm experiencing my first crash after starting serious rest and pacingIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| January 2024 | stopped Adderall: energy better, brain fog gonefor now I am doing better without my ADHD medicationIn context ↗ | Mild | Amphetamine salts (Adderall) |
| May 2024 | energy hit hard after a root canalI had to get a root canal the other day and my energy levels have taken a huge hit sinceIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2024 | several weeks of great energy after COVIDAfter the covid was mostly out of my system I actually had several weeks of great energy levelsIn context ↗ | Mild | Paxlovid / nirmatrelvir |
| December 2024 | back to a more mild baseline with pacingI stopped taking them and, over time and with pacing, came back up to a more mild baseline.In context ↗ | Mild | Pacing and the energy envelope |
Adverse events
- Fluticasone nasal spray (Flonase, Avamys)“I lost my sense of smell for several days after taking Flonase the first (and last!) time*.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Amphetamine salts (Adderall)“I recently stopped taking my stimulant medication because I noticed that it was just making me more fatigued vs helping like it used to, and my HRV was much lower every day I took my meds” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Root canal“I had to get a root canal the other day and my energy levels have taken a huge hit since.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Paxlovid / nirmatrelvir“I did sometimes have the metallic taste people have described taking it, but it wasn't constant, and light enough that it didn't bother me that much.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Amphetamine salts (Adderall)“when I started struggling really badly with brain fog and fatigue, it started to overstimulate my CNS” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- “If I take too much it makes me feel fuzzy and hungover the next day.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Brain fog
my energy is better and my brain fog is gone
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
I quickly realized what I thought was good pacing (resting when tired/feeling bad) was actually a daily push-crash cycle
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
For me I think it's related to my POTS
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
to help with falling and staying asleep every night
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
As someone who overcame health anxiety many years ago
In context ↗ - Loss of smell or taste
I lost my sense of smell for several days after taking Flonase the first (and last!) time
In context ↗
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