I have been living at 8,000 feet in So. Colorado for over two years now and it is greatly exacerbating my fatigue. All the energy I have goes to my part time work and swimming and yoga when I am able and the rest to some socializing. I am sure menopause is not helping, so I am working on that with HRT. However, right when I got here I realized I was very tired and unmotivated to do much and that has persisted. Also, the psychology of the place is overly laid back and slacker. Not even a street light here and it's at the end of a long road out in the middle of a big desert pretty much. It is high alpine desert. Beautiful, but I had hoped I would adapt more by now. When I go anywhere lower to about Denver which is just over 5,000 feet, my energy is better. I still have fatigue issues, but I feel like I have more energy to work with. I don't think my cells use oxygen as well anymore. Might be mitochondrial dysfunction.
I do test my O2 Saturation. have a little machine that might not be as accurate, but sometimes I go to the doctor and it is 94-95. Anywhere else it is 97 -98. When you consider they put you on oxygen under 90, a little difference might be big to someone with CFS. I don't know...I have thought of getting oxygen but cannot afford the twice daily home tank. I know they sell some on ebay from other countries, but I read that those can be less effective at high altitudes as these things need to be calibrated a certain way.
Overall, I do think my CFS is worse here for sure. I like it here in some ways, but I am overly frustrated with not being able to get enough done and feeling trapped in this tiny weird little town. As I said, I think the psychology of the place is draining on its own.
I go sit in a sauna which helps get more oxygen to my brain and body parts, but it doesn't increase my daily energy otherwise.