ME/CFS
Outcome unclear
Moderate ME/CFS with cane and wheelchair, credits pacing and creatine
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill for
- Not stated
- Last post
- Jul 2026
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
My ME and anxiety feed each other too.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
Moderate here. I use my electric wheelchair at most once a week to go out
In context ↗
Read from 25 of their posts and comments; links to the 14 this page draws on
Summary
A young US-based Reddit user with ME/CFS calls themselves moderate: they use a cane for short distances and a second-hand electric wheelchair for longer trips, and still work. CoQ10 eased brain fog, but daily 100 mg spiked anxiety, so they take it every other day. Propranolol stops palpitations from feeding an anxiety-PEM cycle, and they credit pacing, electrolytes and creatine for helping them manage.
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What they tried
Also tried
cane· Helpedelectric wheelchair· Helpedelectrolyte drinks / electrolyte powder· Helpedmenthol or lidocaine patches (salonpas)· Helpedcooling towel, gel packs and neck cooling tubes· Helpedpacing· Helpedpropanolol· Helpedcoq10· Helpedsertraline· Helpedcooling eye patches· Helpedcreatine· Helpedmeal supplement drinks (Soylent, fairlife)· Not saidred light· Not saidbuspirone· Not said
Their words about each treatment
- cane · Helped
I use a cane pretty frequently. It's very helpful for balance and support.
In context ↗ - electric wheelchair · Helped
I recently got an electric wheelchair so that I can get around my neighborhood/city more without relying on family to drive me around. It's been very liberating!
In context ↗ - meal supplement drinks (Soylent, fairlife) · Not said
Meal supplement drinks are great options, especially when I just can't be bothered to chew.
In context ↗ - electrolyte drinks / electrolyte powder · Helped
I find that they help achy muscles recover faster ... electrolyte powder supplements (orthostatic intolerance)
- menthol or lidocaine patches (salonpas) · Helped
I always have a stock of menthol or lidocaine patches for my neck, back, and shoulders
In context ↗ - cooling towel, gel packs and neck cooling tubes · Helped
the coolness doesn't last long but they're really effective at working quickly
In context ↗ - pacing · Helped
But only when used in conjunction with proper pacing
In context ↗ - propanolol · Helped
Propanolol helps a lot. As soon as I feel my heart racing, I take one and it prevents the cycle from starting for me.
In context ↗ - coq10 · Helped
The brain fog is definitely better but not gone
In context ↗ - red light · Not said
I only use it for my face, but had to start off with 1mn 2x weekly and slowly make my way up to 10mn every other day.
In context ↗ - sertraline · Helped
I credit it with it being the reason I've been able to handle navigating this new condition without turning into an utterly depressive mess.
In context ↗ - buspirone · Not said
I did have to add buspirone on top of it to deal with my anxiety
In context ↗ - cooling eye patches · Helped
the aromatherapy helps, especially when my other senses are overloaded
In context ↗ - creatine · Helped
creatine (muscle pain & fatigue recovery)
In context ↗
Adverse events
- CoQ10 / ubiquinol“After four days, my anxiety spiked a ton.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- CoQ10 / ubiquinol“If I take too much, I get jittery and my anxiety spikes.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Sertraline (Zoloft)“The first 1-2 weeks after starting it and then after any dosage adjustments was rough with very bad brain fog.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Sertraline (Zoloft)“those first 1-2 weeks had me pretty much nonfunctional” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Sertraline (Zoloft)“I deal with some jaw clenching and heat intolerance (ME has compounded this one) as side effects” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodBrain fogHeart symptoms & palpitationsPOTS & dysautonomiaPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaiseTemperature regulation
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
which makes me tense my body and that sends me into PEM
In context ↗ - Brain fog
The brain fog is definitely better but not gone
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
Heart palpitations from ME mimics anxiousness
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I already have anxiety so they feed each other
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
I don't like heat on my eyes due to general heat intolerance
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
electrolyte powder supplements (orthostatic intolerance)
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
creatine (muscle pain & fatigue recovery)
In context ↗