- Messages
- 17
- Location
- Southeast Pennsylvania, US
Hi, Everyone -
I'm pretty new to the Forum - been reading posts for a couple of weeks now, and can't say "thank you" enough for having a place to go where I feel validated. Been living with CFS for six and a half years now and although my symptoms are generally better than they were, say, two years ago, I am still running at about half-speed. I used to be a competitive cyclist but have been unable to do anything (even take short walks) for six years. About eight months ago, due to a change in living circumstances, I decided I'd try to get back out on the bike, even if for only a few miles, on those days when I had the energy. Six months into it, each ride was as awful as the first day I'd gone out....I've learned to back off the pace enough so that at least I can function the next day, but there's absolutely nothing pleasant about the experience.
Have tried all manner of supplements, vitamins, diets, etc. to no effect. Then about two months ago, I saw an article in the New York Times that extolled the general health virtues of taking one baby aspirin (82 mg) a day - significantly lower rates of cancer, in addition to the expected lower rates of cardiac issues, stroke, etc. So I started taking one, simply as a preventive for those things. Then, about three weeks in, I noticed that my primary CFS symptom - extreme muscle fatigue (feels just like the mitochondria have shut down) - had abated. I was out riding and found that I'd ridden up a hill that, three weeks prior, had left me literally draped across the handlebars until I could get moving again. After a week of that experience, I realized something was going on. My health wasn't great, but it was a darned sight better than it had been in years - I was so excited and hopeful! Started reading up more on pro-inflammatory cytokines, since certainly the aspirin could be having an effect on the inflammation.
Then, last week, the effect just stopped. I mean, stopped cold. The fatigue is back and it's just as bad as before, the bike rides are excruciating, and each ride has gotten slower than the last one. Two things happened right around that time that may be the culprits: I hurt my neck and after two days went to a chiropractor to get it set right - I'm wondering if I set up a new inflammatory process there; and then I noticed that i had a swollen lymph node in the back of my head again, and am wondering if the virus (I was Dx'd with a new EBV infection when I got sick 6 years ago) has been reactivated.
Anyway, this is partly by way of venting my frusrartion, but I'm also wondering a couple of things: For those of you who had a treatment work, then stop, do you have any ideas what might have triggered the relapse of symptoms? Also, were you ever able to get relief from that treatment approach again? Secondly, has anyone here had relief from a tiny, chewable aspririn? I know aspirin has all kinds of amazing qualities, but I was happily stunned by the effects for those few weeks. Thanks for any input or insights you all might have.
I'm pretty new to the Forum - been reading posts for a couple of weeks now, and can't say "thank you" enough for having a place to go where I feel validated. Been living with CFS for six and a half years now and although my symptoms are generally better than they were, say, two years ago, I am still running at about half-speed. I used to be a competitive cyclist but have been unable to do anything (even take short walks) for six years. About eight months ago, due to a change in living circumstances, I decided I'd try to get back out on the bike, even if for only a few miles, on those days when I had the energy. Six months into it, each ride was as awful as the first day I'd gone out....I've learned to back off the pace enough so that at least I can function the next day, but there's absolutely nothing pleasant about the experience.
Have tried all manner of supplements, vitamins, diets, etc. to no effect. Then about two months ago, I saw an article in the New York Times that extolled the general health virtues of taking one baby aspirin (82 mg) a day - significantly lower rates of cancer, in addition to the expected lower rates of cardiac issues, stroke, etc. So I started taking one, simply as a preventive for those things. Then, about three weeks in, I noticed that my primary CFS symptom - extreme muscle fatigue (feels just like the mitochondria have shut down) - had abated. I was out riding and found that I'd ridden up a hill that, three weeks prior, had left me literally draped across the handlebars until I could get moving again. After a week of that experience, I realized something was going on. My health wasn't great, but it was a darned sight better than it had been in years - I was so excited and hopeful! Started reading up more on pro-inflammatory cytokines, since certainly the aspirin could be having an effect on the inflammation.
Then, last week, the effect just stopped. I mean, stopped cold. The fatigue is back and it's just as bad as before, the bike rides are excruciating, and each ride has gotten slower than the last one. Two things happened right around that time that may be the culprits: I hurt my neck and after two days went to a chiropractor to get it set right - I'm wondering if I set up a new inflammatory process there; and then I noticed that i had a swollen lymph node in the back of my head again, and am wondering if the virus (I was Dx'd with a new EBV infection when I got sick 6 years ago) has been reactivated.
Anyway, this is partly by way of venting my frusrartion, but I'm also wondering a couple of things: For those of you who had a treatment work, then stop, do you have any ideas what might have triggered the relapse of symptoms? Also, were you ever able to get relief from that treatment approach again? Secondly, has anyone here had relief from a tiny, chewable aspririn? I know aspirin has all kinds of amazing qualities, but I was happily stunned by the effects for those few weeks. Thanks for any input or insights you all might have.