ME/CFS
Very severe → no benefitIll for 2 years
Bedbound with ME/CFS after COVID, still at Bell 20 or below; Acyclovir worsened fatigue
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Very severe (bedbound, unable to do basic care)
- Ill for
- 2 years
- Last post
- Nov 2025
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
My second Covid infection however gave me severe ME/CFS.
In context ↗ - At worst: Very severe
lying down 22 hours of the day, only getting up to eat and go to the toilet
In context ↗ - Now: No benefit
I'm overall a lot worse off than before taking it. This effect seems to be permanent for me.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
My second Covid infection however gave me severe ME/CFS
Read from 26 of their posts and comments; links to the 16 this page draws on
Summary
Lagoon 54886 developed ME/CFS-type long COVID after a second COVID infection in October 2023, initially mild-moderate, then deteriorated fast from Christmas 2023 and was bedbound. Two doses of Lexapro caused a severe crash; mirtazapine improved their sleep and helped them out of it. In 2024 they were 99% bedbound; by 2025 they were still at about Bell 20 or below, and said Acyclovir had permanently worsened their fatigue.
Ask Miruvor AI
What they tried
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- budesonide (asthma inhaler) · Not said
It's a common asthma medication, I've been using it since I was a child.
In context ↗ - corticosteroids · Not said
I got corticosteroids during acute infection and now have LC/ME.
In context ↗ - pacing and resting · No change
Resting and pacing but keep getting worse ... I think I've done all the right things, but I keep deteriorating at a scary speed
In context ↗ - meditation and yoga nidra · Not said
trying to balance that with meditation, radical rest breaks and yoga nidra
In context ↗ - radical rest breaks · Not said
My aim is 8 of such rest breaks for 15 minutes each day.
In context ↗ - Lexapro · Worse
I started Lexapro on Friday and unfortunately had to stop 2 days later because the side effects were truly unbearable for me
In context ↗ - zopiclone · Helped
So I took a zopiclone last evening - eased my symptoms, calmed me down.
In context ↗ - melatonin · Helped
I fall asleep okay-ish on Melatonin, but constantly wake up after an hour
In context ↗ - Ativan · Helped a lot
last night I took an Ativan - 8,5 hours of uninterrupted, refreshing sleep ... Benzos seem to help, but I don't want to take it for more than 3 days
- Mirtazapine · Helped
for me Mirtazapin is helping me out of the crash because it made me sleep a lot better
In context ↗ - Acyclovir · Much worse
Acyclovir worsened my fatigue very significantly and I'm overall a lot worse off than before taking it. This effect seems to be permanent for me.
In context ↗
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2023 | ME/CFS-type long COVID after second COVID infection; mild-moderate at first, off work from NovemberI have the CFS type Long Covid (since October last year) ... Until Christmas, I was able to cook my own meals, go for a slow 20 minute walk and meet friends at my home for a few hours, with mostly mild symptoms and lots of restIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| Christmas 2023 | fast deterioration; moved in with mother, lying down 22 hours a daySince Christmas, it's been going downhill FAST. ... lying down 22 hours of the day, only getting up to eat and go to the toiletIn context ↗ | Severe | |
| February 2024 | crashed after 2 doses of the SSRI Lexapro, fully bedboundI crashed big time after 2 doses of an SSRI, which I reacted really terribly too. Haven't gotten out of this crash yet (fully bedbound)In context ↗ | Very severe | |
| March 2024 | coming out of the crash on Mirtazapine, sleeping better but still 99% bedboundMirtazapin is helping me out of the crash because it made me sleep a lot better. I'm 99% bedbound coming out of this crash ... Still Bell 5 | Very severe | |
| July 2024 | week of horrible new-type symptoms without clear trigger, 99% bedboundI've been feeling absolutely horrible (in waves) for a week now, without a clear trigger ... I'm 99% bedboundIn context ↗ | Very severe | |
| April 2025 | Acyclovir worsened fatigue significantly and permanentlyAcyclovir worsened my fatigue very significantly and I'm overall a lot worse off than before taking it. This effect seems to be permanent for me.In context ↗ | Severe | Acyclovir |
| November 2025 | still severe ME/CFS, about Bell 20 or belowMy second Covid infection however gave me severe ME/CFS ... Especially when already at Bell 20 or below | Severe |
Adverse events
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)“I started Lexapro on Friday and unfortunately had to stop 2 days later because the side effects were truly unbearable for me 😣 and now I'm in a bad crash from it” In context ↗ Side effects
- Escitalopram (Lexapro), Mirtazapine (Remeron)“Add to that a paradoxical reaction to an SSRI where I was in pain and full panic mode for 48 hours, emergency doc coming in” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Escitalopram (Lexapro), Mirtazapine (Remeron)“I had a paradox reaction to it which landed me in my worst crash so far and possibly lowered my baseline permanently” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Acyclovir“Acyclovir worsened my fatigue very significantly and I'm overall a lot worse off than before taking it. This effect seems to be permanent for me.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
walking caused minor PEM, longer conversations and cooking exhausted me
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I'm also dealing with severe insomnia, and not even sleeping pills work that great.
In context ↗ - Light & noise sensitivity
light sensitivity is there, but barely noticeable ... When my noise sensitivity isn't that bad
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
This morning I actually feel decent! No flu symptoms, no tired but wired feeling, reduced noise sensitivity.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I'm still in the very early phases of this disease and grieving and panicking
In context ↗