I actually had a bit of a break-down this week. I think a lot of it had to do with post-travel fatigue and lack of proper sleep. But I'm also just so tired of being ill and unable to function. There are so many things each day I either want to do, or attempt to do. I get so frustrated with my complete lack of energy/stamina or strength. Also, I'm lonely. M.E. is so isolating. I only have one friend in this city, and she has her own busy life. I just am not well enough to go out and meet people, it's not like I have a job where there's social contact. I wonder sometimes what I'm doing here? But I don't know where else I could go?
As for recovery, I decided I would wait a week after returning home to start working on my dissertation again. I have managed to get approval from my program for a medical leave this summer. I still have to get approval from the university itself, and will find out next week. If I'm approved, this doesn't mean I won't continue to plug away, it will just take the pressure off a little.
I still seem to have jet lag. I'm up until 1 or 2 am, then I sleep in, but I'm not getting very good sleep, or the 9 hours I seem to function best on. If I get less than 9 hours, the M.E. seems to get worse.
Here's a print I created before I left on my trip, I just had to print the final layer, or key block.
Tell me which version you like better, the lighter one, or the darker/bolder one.
I'm also posting a few photos from around this time last year when the ice was going out on Lake Superior. It might be hard to see, but they partly inspired the print.
As for the poll on the right, it seems that most of us with M.E. have some form of OI, and POTS is the more common one.
I was super lightheaded a few minutes ago and took my BP and HR. It was 98/70 and 133. I should maybe give the Florinef another go, it was the best drug for me although it caused significant pulsate tinnitus. I did start a beta blocker, but it made me super super lethargic and fatigued, more than usual if that's possible.
I prefer the second pic. May I ask what beta blocker you tried? I've just started on propranolol and I'm trying to do as much research as I can on the topic. It seems to work fine for me in low doses but of course lowers your BP. I've also been on salt tablets in the past to raise my BP, which seemed to work fine and didn't have any significant side effects.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the lighter one too, Siobhan, although I'm guessing it's just a preference thing.
DeleteThe BB is called Teva-metoprolol, I was just trying 25mg. Has it improved things for you? I noticed it lowered my HR significantly, I guess the problem is it lowers the BP too which can cause fatigue. I think next I will try the BB with the florinef? I'm like a test tube, haha.
Both my father and sister, who are perfectly healthy, have had very bad reactions to metoprolol. They said it made them zombiefied and sluggish. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone with ME/CFS! I'm on propranolol which I think Sue from Learning to Live with CFS is taking (I think that's her blog name). My tablets are 10mg and my dr recommended I start on a quarter tablet. But half a tablet (5mg) seems to do the job - my heart rate stays under 100 after a shower which makes showering so much easier. It is just a little thing but it takes a bit of strain off. I'm no expert, these are just my experiences, but if you try again, maybe try a beta blocker with less side effects than metoprolol, and at a very small dose, at least to start off with. I hope you find something that helps you.
DeleteThey're both nice but I think my choice is the first pic.
ReplyDelete