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    Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of and finding treatments for complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia (FM), long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.

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Search results

  1. Plum

    Acute severe stress

    I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this... In response to a severe acute stress (like selling your house or dealing with a death in the family), has anyone else noticed they can cope TEMPORARILY better than normal with an increase in activity? I'm talking weeks of daily stress, not...
  2. Plum

    What diet do you follow?

    Due to having Eosinophilic Esophagitis the best way to describe my diet is Autoimmune Paleo with additional allergens excluded. I also eat low histamine due to MCAS.
  3. Plum

    Can anyone recommend a good fish oil ?

    Nordic Naturals is the best in terms of quality and amount of omega 3 for the price. It also stays nice and fresh. In the UK there is a better brand for anyone who's interested called Bare Biology.
  4. Plum

    I can now get to sleep, but I wake up 3am, then my sleep is very patchy - any advice ?

    2 things have helped me. Listening to something that distracts my brain without engaging me much. So it stops me thinking about stuff I don't need to be thinking about which makes me more awake and distracts my brain so I can switch off and go back to sleep. Food. Particularly carb. This...
  5. Plum

    Nausea, cold extremities, and peeing lots!

    Nausea for me is histamine related. Food allergies, high histamine foods. meat that isn't fresh etc all cause bad nausea for me. Low histamine diet and the occasional antihistamine aimed at nausea helps me. Cold feet and hands are a constant issue for me. Poor circulation. Dysautonomia. I...
  6. Plum

    Few questions on increasing calorie intake with gastroparesis and SIBO

    With protein shakes I personally would try various protein powders in their simplest form i.e. just the protein in powder form, no additives. That way you know if you react to that protein. Regarding calories - despite a lot of the advice given on GP I have found that I can eat more fat than...
  7. Plum

    Magnesium- what European brands can be tolerated with IBS?

    It does absorb on me. I get symptoms when I don't use it. I am unable to take pills so I was left with this as my only option. I think there's more info from the company on these pages: https://betteryou.com/evidence-transdermal-magnesium-absorption https://betteryou.com/transdermal-magnesium
  8. Plum

    GABA makes my headache/nausea worse, while Coca Cola helps, WTF?

    Is it regular cola? It might be the sugar.
  9. Plum

    Magnesium- what European brands can be tolerated with IBS?

    I use BetterYou Magnesium spray. I can't take any pills.
  10. Plum

    What was your first year of ME/CFS like?

    I was given something very similar to this a while ago. My version is a bit different due to neck issues but the first picture is the closest to what I do. When you get enough pillows, in the right places - knees, head, neck, back and arms ALL supported by pillows, it's a VERY nice feeling. I...
  11. Plum

    What was your first year of ME/CFS like?

    I'm unable to answer all of these due to being too ill, but I did want to answer number 10... I didn't get diagnosed right away, took a few years of me being really ill. So I wish I had been diagnosed quicker AND I wish I had learnt about pacing in my first year. Things like my Garmin heart...
  12. Plum

    Who Would You See to Heal Your Gut?

    Nobody. Through my own research Drs can be good in their chosen specialist field. At best offering some help for some of your gut along with some detrimental treatments that could make you worse. But often this isn't known until you've pursued them. In my experience Functional Medicine Drs...
  13. Plum

    How do you manage at Christmas?

    I do not have children so I cannot imagine how difficult this is for you. But I did grow up with a sick Mum. The only thing I really cared about was that she spent time with me. Even if I sat on the floor while she was in bed. I am in a similar situation to you energy wise but there is only...
  14. Plum

    For those with gastroparesis

    Does your gastroparesis get worse when you have a crash?
  15. Plum

    Antioxidants which cross the BBB

    Does anyone have a list of antioxidants which cross the blood brain barrier? Which 1s are considered the most effective? Thank you!
  16. Plum

    bathroom cleaner

    I use Ecover limescale remover on most of the bathroom. I wear gloves as my skin doesn't like it. But it works well with little effort, on dirt. It has a smell but it's not of fragrance and dissipates fairly quickly. Mould and mildew get bleach and a floor scrubbing brush. I use 1 of the...
  17. Plum

    Supplements you take?

    I used to take a lot more. I have tried A LOT over the 10 years I've been very ill. And I have reacted to a lot! I now take: simple, high strength probiotic 3.5g omega 3 per day vitamin C in the form calcium ascorbate vitamin E high dose vitamin D I try to buy the cleanest supplements I can...
  18. Plum

    Curious if you have been helped by coq10/pqq combo or ubiqunol/pqq?

    I had no benefit from it. I thought it was really expensive too.
  19. Plum

    ME/CFS symptoms over time

    10 years for me since I had to quit working and became very ill. In the beginning I could cook dinner for my partner and I and take the dog for a walk. I was probably doing too much and pushing myself but I kept this up for a few years. I was able to go to a dentist or Dr appointment and get...
  20. Plum

    Brain fog suddenly much worse than before

    A blank sheet of paper sounds right! I usually have a fairly high threshold so this is why this is so weird.... I have been through a lot in the beginning of the year so I just seem to be having to deal with big pay back from that. My partner and I now communicate mainly by text even when...
  21. Plum

    Brain fog suddenly much worse than before

    Thank you very much @Shoshana. I hope so too :)
  22. Plum

    Brain fog suddenly much worse than before

    I have been going through a crash for just over 2 months now. Something new which I haven't had before is that my brain fog/mental fatigue is going from ok to severe in a matter of minutes whilst my physical fatigue declines more slowly. In the past I tend to have a worsening of physical...
  23. Plum

    Supplements that help with muscle fatigue/pain

    @bertiedog I have similar snps to you. I used to do very well with Reishi. Only a thought about BCAAs - when they were 1st recommended to me I looked into how they are made and wasn't at all happy with them. I wonder if some of the processes used in extracting them might leave traces of...
  24. Plum

    Supplements that help with muscle fatigue/pain

    I 2nd BCAAs. BUT I have found that taking them daily doesn't work for me. On days I overdo it a bit I will take them and this is where I notice reduced symptoms the next day. I take 1.5 x the recommended dose. It mainly helps me with pain. The other thing that has helped a lot is my heart...
  25. Plum

    Gastroparesis - Problem w/Fluid Emptying Only - Need help with rare symptom / diagnosis

    @Howard I have Gastroparesis and Eosinophilic Esophagitis. When my GP is bad I cannot keep water down. It will sit in my stomach for ages and I often regurgitate it back up very easily. IF however I drink something like tea with milk and sugar this tends to eventually pass through. It seems...
  26. Plum

    Doctors in and around London, UK

    I find medichecks helpful to get tests done yourself. This website lists Drs which may be open to or helpful with what you're suggesting: https://www.bsem.org.uk/
  27. Plum

    Probiotics suggestions? (UK)

    Optibac are a good multi-strain. So are Biokult. I can't remember how many billion in each. I take Biocare which is fewer strains but higher number. They post to you too. I got a nasty armpit rash when I tried changing to a natural deodorant. I'm fine on the cheap stuff!
  28. Plum

    Sleeping arrangements, etc, trouble with family

    A few ideas come to mind: white noise or a fan - I sleep with a fan and air purifier on could you sleep upstairs and use the downstairs room as your day room? i.e. go up to sleep only I don't think your requests are unreasonable but family is complex....
  29. Plum

    Permanent worsening after surgery

    About 4 years ago I had 2 surgeries within 3 months of each other. Both required general anaesthesia. I prepared well before hand and rested A LOT afterwards. I was around 35-40% functioning before surgery. It took me about 18 months after surgery to be able to be out of bed for long periods...
  30. Plum

    Heartburn... Not sure if right thread?

    Yes. Mine was due to food allergies and a gut condition.