Antares in NYC
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... but unfortunately it didn't. It always came back.
Has anyone experienced a sudden improvement, albeit short, to the point that it felt like you were "normal" again? I'm asking because I recall three unique instances when my ME/CFS symptoms seemed to completely disappear... only to come back again a few days later.
It's moments like those that give me hope that we will be cured. It's little glimpses of such a healthy reality that make me believe that not all is lost.
The following is a description of those three unique instances during my long 15 years of ME/CFS, when I felt such a sudden and clear improvement that I thought I was getting cured. Unfortunately, those moments only lasted temporarily. Only a handful of days out of 15 long years when I felt normal again. I'm sharing this experience in hopes that it is helpful, and maybe gives us some clues as to what could be the cause. Maybe this info rings someone's bell:
For the record, in the last 15 years I have lived in 3 different apartments, and 2 different states, so I wasn't always going back to the same apartment of location.
I'm completely confused by those three fleeting moments when I felt I was free. I can't figure it out, and wish I could recreate whatever conditions that led me there.
Has anyone else had moments like these? Can you recall what made a difference? I want to be there again!
Has anyone experienced a sudden improvement, albeit short, to the point that it felt like you were "normal" again? I'm asking because I recall three unique instances when my ME/CFS symptoms seemed to completely disappear... only to come back again a few days later.
It's moments like those that give me hope that we will be cured. It's little glimpses of such a healthy reality that make me believe that not all is lost.
The following is a description of those three unique instances during my long 15 years of ME/CFS, when I felt such a sudden and clear improvement that I thought I was getting cured. Unfortunately, those moments only lasted temporarily. Only a handful of days out of 15 long years when I felt normal again. I'm sharing this experience in hopes that it is helpful, and maybe gives us some clues as to what could be the cause. Maybe this info rings someone's bell:
- Spring 2005, New York: One random day in early 2005 I woke up in my apartment completely rested, refreshed, and without brain fog. My mind was clear, I could recall things, reading was easier. I was psyched! For the previous 7 years I had not experienced a single good night of sleep. There was nothing particular or special to that day, or to anything that happened the day before, as much as I tried to find a difference. It was astonishing, and I felt that maybe the nightmare was over.
Unfortunately, the very next day I woke up again with the old familiar fatigue, unrested, brain fogged.
- Fall 2009, Italy/Spain: During a trip to southern Europe (Italy and Spain), I experienced another moment of sudden improvement: I was rested, slept soundly and the brain fog lifted to the point that I had a working short-term memory! The remarkable thing about this event is that it lasted almost 2 full weeks. This sudden improvement happened about 3 days into the trip, and lasted for the duration of the trip. The itinerary included both large cities (Madrid, Rome) and the countryside, different environments, different types of weather.
Not only did my short-term memory improve, but my long term memory was back. I was recalling events from years past, and was doing it clearly, and at a rapid speed. I was absolutely thrilled. It gave me hopes that my memories were not lost; they were all in there, but my ME/CFS prevented me from accessing them.
I felt extremely active and even creative. Truly joyous albeit fleeting moment, since all the ME/CFS symptoms came back within two days of arriving home. Imagine my disappointment after experiencing two weeks outside of the CFS nightmare... only to have everything come back again, with a vengeance.
Note: I have traveled to many countries and regions, and never experienced anything quite like this. What's even more puzzling is that I went to southern Europe again last year, but did not benefit from such improvement. I once felt a bit of similar improvement in Albuquerque, NM, but not nearly as dramatic. Color me puzzled!
- Summer 2011, New York: In the awful summer of 2011 I underwent a major surgical procedure, unrelated to ME/CFS. I was hospitalized for more than two weeks, recovering from the trauma of the operation, with heavy monitoring 24/7, IV serum, and major painkillers. A horrible, painful mess.
Well, get this: half way through my hospital stay, the brain fog lifted almost completely, despite the heavy painkillers. For a few days I was able to read well, watched movies in my smartphone from beginning to end, following the narrative without the need to rewind every 10 minutes. Short and long term memory seemed to function much better. And even though I was not sleeping well due to the pain, my mind was clear of brain fog. I was shocked and surprised that this was happening under these circumstances.
Soon after I was released from the hospital, the awful symptoms of ME/CFS came back.
For the record, in the last 15 years I have lived in 3 different apartments, and 2 different states, so I wasn't always going back to the same apartment of location.
I'm completely confused by those three fleeting moments when I felt I was free. I can't figure it out, and wish I could recreate whatever conditions that led me there.
Has anyone else had moments like these? Can you recall what made a difference? I want to be there again!