ME/CFS bad enough to drop out of college, much better on a stimulant
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- several years
- Last post
- Jan 2025
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I am a graduate student with ME/CFS (mild-moderate these days while on a stimulant).
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
I had to drop out of college, spent years dragging myself to every specialist I could find
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
I am a graduate student with ME/CFS (mild-moderate these days while on a stimulant).
In context ↗
Read from 10 of their posts and comments; links to the 8 this page draws on
Summary
Ocean 49386 had ME/CFS for several years by 2023, ill enough to drop out of college. A stimulant prescription changed things: they got at least 60% of their energy back, finished a bachelor's and went on to graduate study toward a PhD, still mild-moderate on the stimulant in 2025. Propranolol with melatonin almost entirely resolved their insomnia. Zinc supplements twice caused allergy symptoms, the first time leading to an asthma diagnosis that cleared on stopping.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- zinc supplements · Worse
The first time, I started having intense allergy symptoms (sneezing, coughing, constantly stuffed up).
In context ↗ - multivitamin · Not said
I've been taking a multivitamin regularly for the past 2 years
In context ↗ - vyvanse · Helped a lot
getting a stimulant prescription changed my life ... I've gotten at least 60% of my energy back
In context ↗ - therapy · Helped
I had a great therapist who helped me learn to cope with things very early on
In context ↗ - radical rest · Helped
When I fully allowed myself to rest, I found that my condition improved even more quickly than I thought it would.
In context ↗ - propanolol · Helped
I take 10 mg of propanolol + 3 mg of melatonin before bed and it has almost entirely gotten rid of any insomnia.
In context ↗ - sumac · Helped a lot
Immediately I felt my brain fog and muscle pain melt away
In context ↗ - ground celery seed · Not said
1-2 tbsp of two kitchen spices: sumac and ground celery seed
In context ↗
Approaches: Radical rest · Stimulants
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | ME/CFS onset, had to drop out of collegeI had to drop out of college, spent years dragging myself to every specialist I could findIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2023-02 | stimulant (Vyvanse) gave 60% of energy back; finished bachelor's, part-time studyI'm still living with CFS, but I've gotten at least 60% of my energy backIn context ↗ | Mild | Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse, Elvanse) |
| 2025-01-30 | graduate student, mild-moderate on a stimulantI am a graduate student with ME/CFS (mild-moderate these days while on a stimulant)In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Zinc“I started having intense allergy symptoms (sneezing, coughing, constantly stuffed up).” In context ↗ Allergic reaction / anaphylaxis
- Zinc“The side effects weren't as bad this time, but I was still sneezing constantly.” In context ↗ Allergic reaction / anaphylaxis
- “I started feeling incredibly drowsy, as if I had taken a handful of melatonins.” In context ↗ Side effects
- “I still felt a crash after 2 hours and was a bit more groggy than usual for the rest of the day.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
take a semester off to recover from overexertion
In context ↗ - Brain fog
Immediately I felt my brain fog and muscle pain melt away
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I take 10 mg of propanolol + 3 mg of melatonin before bed and it has almost entirely gotten rid of any insomnia
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
I would always be waking up from a dream with my heart racing
In context ↗
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