Struggling with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Need Help!

It's a prescription NSAID, typically prescribed to people with RA. OTC NSAIDs never got my systemic inflammation under control, which was a huge obstacle for me. I ended up getting prescribed Diclofenac after a car accident for whiplash and found that it reduced my inflammation in general, so I asked my doctor to refill it for me.

Honestly, nothing helps my fatigue except making sure I rest. I have to carefully manage my energy output (pacing) -- go to bed early, don't overcommit/overbook myself, don't "push through it" when I'm feeling fatigued. I also have systemic inflammation that's connected to it, and Diclofenac has helped with that a lot.

Tldr: Getting energy for me has been soley about positive reinforcement and trigger identification. I struggle with it, too. Going for a walk makes me feel sort of cloudy and glassy when other people seem totally with it. I used to give myself points. Essentially I was tricking my brain into seeing the ‘bright side’. So I could see that I didn’t eat breakfast or lunch. And I’d feel confused, sad, and disappointed in myself. But I’d give myself a point for the granola bar I ate half of. Despite the thoughts and feelings I was having, my brain was still being tricked into at least acknowledging in some degree that I got a point that day. This was my first big step into learning how to replace the love I wasn’t getting from other people. This has helped reduce the power of many of the triggers that drain my energy. I did it up until I was running 3 times a week and eating at least 1 meal a day for about 2 months. I’m picking back up again after 2 months of confusion. When I go backwards, I still try to acknowledge what I did right. It doesn’t matter how far back I am, I did things right. It’s just that I deserve to want and fight for good consequences. When I smoke weed, I noticed I lose interest in functioning like that. It lasts for about 24 hours after smoking, especially if I’m smoking for multiple days at a time. They say dopamine isn’t the reward, it’s the drive and desire to have something, which is drained out of your system for a while when you hijack it. I always spend the first half of the day wondering why I’m being ‘lazy’, ‘unappreciative’ and ‘useless’. (However, on a ‘trigger’ day, weed helps me function and bypass depressive episodes. I just have to be wise about it.) Oftentimes, I remember it was just a trigger. I’ve learned to identify triggers. I tend to have delayed reactions, so if I breakup with someone, or if I lose a family member, or who knows what, I tend to not realize I’m grieving until a long time later. I’ll be totally fine and normal when and while it happens, and I’ll handle the situation like a queen, but then I’ll wonder why I can’t develop relationships, or wonder why I’m not eating, or wonder why I’m doing this or that. Hence, everything is exhausting because I’m functioning ‘normally’ in a headspace that doesn’t ever feel rewarded by normal behavior. So my advice, recognize where you’re hurting. Reward yourself for things that are good for you, and recognize when something isn’t a reward, even if you think it should be. Then, rinse and repeat. Just train your brain to release dopamine. Your brain is a great actress, just keep going.

Lower Carb, Vitamin b1 and D ribose are cheap and easy to take. It's complicated because I have a similar issues but with other chronic illnesses. It's like juggling, you don't know what day or time you'll have motivation, low pain, energy, concentration align enough to function well enough and get stuff done. Give yourself grace, it's incredibly hard to manage multiple conditions and bad days are part of the process.

For me, sometimes it can be helpful to lay out some really comfy clothes right next to my bed. I can even get dressed while in bed, but ive found that if I can get dressed, it's a little easier to start doing other things, like brushing my teeth, or making lunch etc. it might just be me though, because I find getting dressed to be one of the more daunting parts of getting up, but making it so I'm still comfy and moving at least a little can make a difference- idk if that'll be any help for you, but it helps me :) ♡

take risks dating or make new friends, start over start something new like a workout journey or apply for a job, take classes for something you find potentially interesting, hope this somewhat helped 🤷‍♀️💗💗🫂😁