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PEM from writing an email

neweimear

Senior Member
Messages
215
Hi
Does anyone crash mainly from mental exertion. I cannot socialise or I will fry. I can have one visitor for less than an hour. I can get PEM from trying to type an email. I limit physical activity as in do very little so I can manage PEM from that side. But the crashes from mental activity are awful. Anyone else in the same boat?
 

bspg

Plant Queen
Messages
547
Location
USA
I definitely crash and experience PEM if I over exert myself mentally. When I was trying to become a patient at my current clinic, I had to write an email telling my story with illness and ME. It took me nearly a week to complete it because there was so much to include and consider. Writing and editing easily overwhelms me and wears me out so it took forever.

The same is true if I read or watch too much of anything. It goes from being enjoyable to sucking energy very quickly, then ultimately becoming an assault on my very being.
 

Countrygirl

Senior Member
Messages
5,429
Location
UK
Yes, mental exertion causes me to crash too. A difficult letter I had to compose and type recently made me crash for three weeks.

Mental exertion is at least, if not more,likely to induce a relapse than mild physical activity.
 

neweimear

Senior Member
Messages
215
.
Yes, mental exertion causes me to crash too. A difficult letter I had to compose and type recently made me crash for three weeks.

Mental exertion is at least, if not more,likely to induce a relapse than mild physical activity.
How about phonecalls and chatting? A phonecall can wipe me out if it's with the wrong person, as in someone that I am not entirely comfortable talking to.
 

bspg

Plant Queen
Messages
547
Location
USA
.
How about phonecalls and chatting? A phonecall can wipe me out if it's with the wrong person, as in someone that I am not entirely comfortable talking to.

Ha, yes, phone calls with my mom actually. She can be overwhelming at times so I avoid her calls if I'm not feeling well.
 

Alvin2

The good news is patients don't die the bad news..
Messages
2,995
It will burn out my mental functioning if i push too hard, Not PEM per se but it will take a few days to think straight again if i mentally fried myself, Though i can do a fair amount but what i am trying to do matters as much as how much, math or problem solving or processing information or reading articles/books/flyers is much harder then posting something i already know about (though my memory has begun to fluctuate as well).
I've been having more problems with my systems thinking lately, its almost dementia like until i started and have upped my acetyl carnitine. I also went through a period of no dreams (didn't realize till it came back) and apathy and even worse sleep troubles (again before acetyl carnitine)
 
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Diwi9

Administrator
Messages
1,780
Location
USA
@neweimear - Crashing from mental exertion has been the most confounding aspect of this disease for me. I am much improved from earlier this year. At that time, phone calls were the worst. I was unable to drive. Forget making a decision about anything. I've improved, but still cannot read books and break cognitive work into chunks. One thing that will still blow me up, is a lot of noise and more than one person talking. I can handle it for a bit of time, but going out to dinner with a group, for example, will make me crash.

It's so important to learn all about your individual triggers, to prevent the push-crash cycle. Signals of over-doing it can be subtle and are not easily recognized until it's too late and we crash.
 

Mel9

Senior Member
Messages
995
Location
NSW Australia
@neweimear - Crashing from mental exertion has been the most confounding aspect of this disease for me. I am much improved from earlier this year. At that time, phone calls were the worst. I was unable to drive. Forget making a decision about anything. I've improved, but still cannot read books and break cognitive work into chunks. One thing that will still blow me up, is a lot of noise and more than one person talking. I can handle it for a bit of time, but going out to dinner with a group, for example, will make me crash.

It's so important to learn all about your individual triggers, to prevent the push-crash cycle. Signals of over-doing it can be subtle and are not easily recognized until it's too late and we crash.

Thanks diwi9,

I would be interested in your subtle early signs that you have been overdoing things?
 

Diwi9

Administrator
Messages
1,780
Location
USA
Thanks diwi9,

I would be interested in your subtle early signs that you have been overdoing things?
What comes to mind are any one of the following: light sensitivity, visual-spatial problems, annoyance with sound, temperature dysregulation (especially sweating), cold hands, and of course...any heart palpitations.
 

Mel9

Senior Member
Messages
995
Location
NSW Australia
Yes, I get that too after overdoing things. I also get an 'inflamed brain' feeling with pressure like wearing a too tight helmet. Similar to another thread I just found: 'brain feels enflamed'. (?). If I lie down for around 3 hours I feel a lot better but if I keep going that is asking for a PEM episode next day.
 

Diwi9

Administrator
Messages
1,780
Location
USA
Yes, I get that too after overdoing things. I also get an 'inflamed brain' feeling with pressure like wearing a too tight helmet. Similar to another thread I just found: 'brain feels enflamed'. (?). If I lie down for around 3 hours I feel a lot better but if I keep going that is asking for a PEM episode next day.
Exactly. I have to rest, but the rest is not normal. I have to have zero stimulation and I rarely actually sleep, but neither am I actually asleep. It's a very strange state. When I wake, I feel horrible and groggy, but better after about an hour. Oddly, I often wake up after one of these episodes ravenously hungry, whereas I normally have zero appetite. These are the obscure things with this disease that are never described or studied. So thankful for PR!
 

raghav

Senior Member
Messages
809
Location
India
I had this along with heart burn and I will have to lie down to relieve it. Antidepressants gave much relief.
 

Skycloud

Senior Member
Messages
508
Location
UK
I can get PEM from trying to type an email

Me too. This has been one of the worse things in recent months. e.g. It takes me ages to write a post on these forums and I have to be really careful with editing. I write such nonsense sometimes and it takes it out of me so badly.

I wanted to email my MP recently about a couple of things but haven't because of how hard it is. It worries me that I'd end up sending her a pack of nonsense because I don't really trust what I write, I used to be so easily articulate but now ugh!. I am actually trying to do something to help my brain though so fingers crossed.
 

Sidney

Senior Member
Messages
146
Location
East Sussex, U.K.
Yes, I get that too after overdoing things. I also get an 'inflamed brain' feeling with pressure like wearing a too tight helmet. Similar to another thread I just found: 'brain feels enflamed'. (?). If I lie down for around 3 hours I feel a lot better but if I keep going that is asking for a PEM episode next day.
At least 3 hours; and as @Diwi9 says, not sleeping, not waking; in dark, eyes closed. Sometimes panting...etc.
 

svetoslav80

Senior Member
Messages
700
Location
Bulgaria
Yes, I've crashed from listening music, reading , writing, talking ... especially in real-time communication. That's why I don't chat anymore . Having said that, some (or even all) of the activities above can be done without crashing. It all depends on how much effort you put. Well, at least for me.
 
Messages
91
I've just crashed from studying too long :( and I have an exam on Monday this is going to be fun since I can't think... . Ironic that the more I study the worse I do.. trying to see the funny side.. :)
 

Skycloud

Senior Member
Messages
508
Location
UK
I've just crashed from studying too long :( and I have an exam on Monday this is going to be fun since I can't think... . Ironic that the more I study the worse I do.. trying to see the funny side.. :)
I hope you have functioning braincells for Monday! :)