Momentary switch of state

[Vladimir]

Recently, I have had many days when my energy was high enough to go surfing.

The interesting thing is that every time it happens, it feels like an on/off switch that changes its state in a matter of seconds—one moment I am exhausted, lying on the sofa since the morning, and the next moment I feel an unexpected hit of energy, a light feeling in my back and legs, and I am ready to go.

I could not find any correlation between this effect and any probable cause, unfortunately.

I am pretty sure it's a dopamine hit - I've had it so many times that I can distinctly tell it from anything else. More and more, I am convinced that dopamine imbalance plays the biggest role in CFS/ME. Chronic stress suppresses dopamine, weakens the immune system, and makes us susceptible to dormant viruses that reactivate and cause more stress by draining our energy, creating a vicious circle.

 

[linusbert]

try masturbating without ejaculation, if you feel great then, consider your theory confirmed.

Chronic stress suppresses dopamine, weakens the immune system, and makes us susceptible to dormant viruses that reactivate and cause more stress by draining our energy, creating a vicious circle.

dopamine relies on a lot of things, vitamin C being among them.

 

[Wishful]

I have days when I become aware that I'm feeling energetic. I wasn't aware of an abrupt switch the way you describe, but it's still a surprise to feel like going for a long walk or bike ride.

 

[Vladimir]

I have days when I become aware that I'm feeling energetic. I wasn't aware of an abrupt switch the way you describe, but it's still a surprise to feel like going for a long walk or bike ride.

For me, it's never been days. Usually, it's the second part of the day when my states switches, and rarely it lasts through the next morning.

 

[GhostGum]

You say the second part of the day, wouldn't be test kicking in would it? I know I can feel ok during the middle part of the day and end up pretty flat come mid afternoon.

Getting towards mid 40's at this point, I need to get hormones done again and test checked. Almost considering at some point going on therapeutic doses of test regardless to see how it goes, as with all the info around these days doing it intelligently, like 30mg every second day, there doesn't seem to be a lot of draw backs.

 

[Vladimir]

You say the second part of the day, wouldn't be test kicking in would it? I know I can feel ok during the middle part of the day and end up pretty flat come mid afternoon.

Getting towards mid 40's at this point, I need to get hormones done again and test checked. Almost considering at some point going on therapeutic doses of test regardless to see how it goes, as with all the info around these days doing it intelligently, like 30mg every second day, there doesn't seem to be a lot of draw backs.

My free testosterone is within the "normal" range—130 pg/mL. I'm the same age as you. I took this test a couple of years ago and felt much worse then than I do now.

I also gain muscle mass very easily, provided that I have the energy to work out.

 

[Vladimir]

You say the second part of the day, wouldn't be test kicking in would it? I know I can feel ok during the middle part of the day and end up pretty flat come mid afternoon.

Getting towards mid 40's at this point, I need to get hormones done again and test checked. Almost considering at some point going on therapeutic doses of test regardless to see how it goes, as with all the info around these days doing it intelligently, like 30mg every second day, there doesn't seem to be a lot of draw backs.

Probably, one day, I will consider that too.

For now, I stick to eating as close to a carnivore diet as I can, and I can definitely say that it really helps with muscle and overall strength growth. It also improves sleep, reduces anxiety, and enhances mental clarity. The only thing it hasn't fixed so far is my energy levels.

 

[Dysfunkion]

I experience this myself in both directions, I actually think it's a shift in the load on something (I guess mitochondria due to some oxidant or metabolite). There is certain times where having an extra 2 grams of vitamin C will pull me out of it (this morning was actually one of them) but it's not consistent. I also found that sometimes something may trigger it but the trigger is delayed and sometimes it might not even happen. It's also one of those things I haven't found a clear pattern with for anything. Funny thing up there Linusbert mentions I didn't go back to reading it before I typed this up and funny thing is in some of the cases upping vitamin C does help but if I for example "kept myself on the edge" that wouldn't do anything but drive me insane, in fact I don't know how people do that. Sounds like a form of torture. lol I used to have POIS but not really anymore, I'll feel a bit weaker and off after but nothing like it used to be. Maybe I will start keeping the C dose at 4 grams and see what happens.

 

[JES]

I experienced something similar long ago when I had bad POTS. I was barely able to stay upright and was supposed to give a presentation. Then when the adrenaline kicked in, I was surprised to get through with it without an issue. Could well be a dopamine related thing in that sense.

These short switches of states may not be super helpful to find any permanent cure though. Adrenaline and dopamine release can temporarily mask all kinds of symptoms in a healthy person as well. Someone who got shot in the leg for example may be able to walk a remarkable distance before the pain fully kicks in.

 

[ilivewithcfs]

Recently, I have had many days when my energy was high enough to go surfing.

The interesting thing is that every time it happens, it feels like an on/off switch that changes its state in a matter of seconds—one moment I am exhausted, lying on the sofa since the morning, and the next moment I feel an unexpected hit of energy, a light feeling in my back and legs, and I am ready to go.

This sounds a lot like bipolar disorder. Are you sure you don't have it?

 

[Vladimir]

This sounds a lot like bipolar disorder. Are you sure you don't have it?

No, it has nothing to do with my mental state - it's only "energy", it's 100% physical - my legs, back and the rest of the body are finally getting light when it happens and I feel like I can do normal physical activity.

 

[Wayne]

one moment I am exhausted, lying on the sofa since the morning, and the next moment I feel an unexpected hit of energy

Hi @Vladimir -- Just to mention, people who have Cervical Cranial Instability (CCI) often have symptoms that come and go almost instantaneously. This includes so-called mental and emotional symptoms like depression, anxiety, deep fatigue, etc.

 

[linusbert]

Hi @Vladimir -- Just to mention, people who have Cervical Cranial Instability (CCI) often have symptoms that come and go almost instantaneously. This includes so-called mental and emotional symptoms like depression, anxiety, deep fatigue, etc.

but wouldnt that be dependent in which position the head is held?

 

[Vladimir]

Hi @Vladimir -- Just to mention, people who have Cervical Cranial Instability (CCI) often have symptoms that come and go almost instantaneously. This includes so-called mental and emotional symptoms like depression, anxiety, deep fatigue, etc.

Thank you, Wayne. There are no signs of CCI. From what I've learned, CCI is an extremely rare pathology with very prominent symptoms which I don't have.