ME/CFS with post-exertional fatigue, almost back to normal after rest and gentle activity
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 12 years
- Last post
- Oct 2024
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I have a ME/CFS diagnosis.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
slowly tracked and increased my 'exercise' which was often just 1/2 of a normal person's day
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
I'm up to being almost recovered.
In context ↗
Read from 1 of their posts and comments; links to the one this page draws on
Summary
A Reddit user diagnosed with ME/CFS in 2012 was told to build activity up slowly after post-exertional fatigue. Unable to afford a trainer, they rested almost completely for a week, then gradually increased gentle activity and light weight lifting, and by October 2024 said they were almost recovered, lifting twice weekly. Aerobic exercise still left them sleeping 14 or more hours for a week. Topiramate made them more tired.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Topomax · Worse
Topomax made me a zombie. ... it made me even more tired.
In context ↗ - radical rest · Helped
rested almost completely for a week even more than I needed to
In context ↗ - weight lifting (after slowly increased exercise) · Helped a lot
slowly tracked and increased my 'exercise' ... weight lifting has given me a lot of my life back
In context ↗
Approaches: Physiotherapy and rehab · Radical rest
Their path
They say too little about how ill they were at each step to draw it on the severity scale, so the steps are listed as they describe them. Dates are when they posted.
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | ME/CFS diagnosis; doctor advised building activity up slowlyI got my diagnosis over a decade ago (2012)In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| 2024-10-14 | almost recovered, lifting light weights twice a weekI'm up to being almost recovered.In context ↗ | Near normal | Graded rehab and self-made programmes |
Adverse events
- Topiramate (Topamax)“Topomax made me a zombie. ... But, it made me even more tired.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
Any aerobic exercise for more than 10 mins or so (like, jogging)... and, I'll sleep 14+ hours for a week after.
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I'll sleep 14+ hours for a week after
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
I like Migraine Insight for tracking
In context ↗
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