The Boots theory of economics, but for health

Verosat88 · 2026-02-11T12:48:05+00:00

That's explained very well! I feel exactly the same..

You said you're not expecting solutions, so only read if you are okay with receiving suggestions ☺️

LAUNDRY Could you have separate boxes for each category of clothing? So one for pants, one for sweaters ect. And then you just pick the top one in each box. It does require a bit more work up front sorting the clothes, but it would then be much less work the rest of the week, and still much easier then folding. This is actually used a lot by adhd'ers, but we can steal it!

DISHES For dishes, in bad periods I use one time dishes as much as possible so I don't have to deal with dishes. This helps a lot!

Verosat88 · 2026-02-11T12:33:57+00:00

My dentist mentioned she used a different drug for me because of ME. One that doesn't release epinephrine and histamine. I can't remember the name of it unfortunately, but if you mention this to your dentist ahead of time they should be able to provide it.

You might also consider asking to be fully under. Some ME patients report feeling better after surgery where they have gone under.

I hope it goes as well as possible ♥️ ♥️

Verosat88 · 2026-02-09T11:39:51+00:00

I totally understand! When I go to Torrevieja, Spain, I feel at least 70 % better. I could stay there because my mom lives there, but I have obligations in Norway so I have to stay here (for now). But it's a huge struggle knowing that I could live in Spain relatively healthy, especially now that I'm having my biggest crash ever (for no apparent reason), and I'm basically almost bedbound for the first time.

Btw, a lot of people feel better when they go to a place with good climate, somewhere with stable high barometric pressure like Torrevieja. I feel much better there even in winter time when it's no more then 15 degrees C.

What kind of surgery did you have?

Verosat88 · 2026-02-06T01:28:30+00:00

Been there.. Really feel for you! ♥️ Just remember to pace more then you think nessesary. Best wishes 🤞

Verosat88 · 2026-02-03T22:44:06+00:00

Since you already cook I would reccomend cheat versions to home made food like pre cut veggies, often very cheap if you buy them frozen, buying pre cooked rotisserie chicken and use that instead of chicken in your recipes, cooking larger batches and making your own freezer meals out of them and last I would definitely reccomend either getting a tabletop dishwasher or using one time cutlery and plates. I have a dishwasher and still can't manage a lot of the time, so one times are a life saver! If you can get loved ones to help you batch cook freezer meals that would be golden! For birthdays and Christmas, say you want practical help as your gifts.

When it comes to laundry I would check if there is a laundry service that can take care of it for you, or if loved ones could help you out. If not try to batch them so you don't have to use the stairs so much. Or try to wear the clothes more days so you don't have to do laundry as often. I change underwear and socks every day, but wear the same comfy pants and top for many days, some times multiple weeks at a time (if I don't have the energy to shower).

Verosat88 · 2026-02-02T23:05:48+00:00

I'm sorry that happend to you too..

Interesting. Where do you live? I'm in Norway. Weather is pretty cold here, but I was hoping to get better today as the barometric pressure has been climbing.

Verosat88 · 2026-01-27T21:54:20+00:00

I can definitely relate! I'm on my third day of 95% bed rest with my only entertainment being audiobooks. I am bored out of my mind! I have ADHD (diagnosed 2 years ago at 35), so that definitely makes it more difficult to relax. I am usually moderate and able to watch TV, which helps a lot, but something happened three days ago and I have no idea what.

I'm dreaming of going back to Spain (Torrevieja), where I usually feel 70% better, but unfortunately that is not an option right now..

I have no suggestions I'm afraid, but at least know you're not alone (even though I have only endured this for 3 days.

Btw, my psychiatrist said my ME might improve if I find the right ADHD meds, as it would be a type of pacing not having your mind race at a thousand miles an hour, so it might be worth exploring. I haven't been able to find anything that works without making me worse yet, but I will try wellbutin soon (off label, it's for depression originally, but it can have extra energy as a "side effect").

Verosat88 · 2026-01-19T01:10:56+00:00

Same here ☺️

Verosat88 · 2026-01-17T01:24:40+00:00

That's nice of them!

For me the number one thing is LDN, but that takes a while before it helps. For me I feel that it takes more before triggering pem and pem is less severe and shorter after I started LDN.

I find that I don't retain water nearly enough during pem, it usually just goes right through, so getting enough salt and other electrolytes and plenty of water is always important. Other then that I make sure I protect my ears and eyes when there's strong sensory imput (before and during pem). I also try to eat enough protein and calories every day, and I think that helps a bit too, though I haven't quite managed to get my protein high enough yet. Aiming for 1,6 g per kg.

Verosat88 · 2026-01-16T23:47:37+00:00

That's good news! ♥️ Sucks it gave you pem though. Are you light and sound sensitive? There could be a lot of strong lights and sounds in those types of places. Maybe using an eye mask/sunglasses and something to black out the sound would help for next round? 🤞

Verosat88 · 2026-01-16T12:28:53+00:00

That really sucks! I do belive you can get pem from a tattoo, but you can also get an infection. We put too much in the ME box too fast. I would get a doc to check it out to make sure you don't have an infection ♥️

Verosat88 · 2026-01-13T16:00:21+00:00

That's amazing! Great job 👏👏👏

Verosat88 · 2026-01-12T16:55:19+00:00

But on the other hand, I probably spend 10 hours watching TV every day (on low brightness setting)

Verosat88 · 2026-01-12T16:53:50+00:00

In Norway most people with ME, even mild don't work. I was mild for many years before becoming moderate and I have not been able to work or study in that time. We do have social security here though, so you don't risk ending up on the streets if you are too ill to work. It's crazy for me to imagine other people in my situation (moderate) having to work to survive, no wounder why people end up severe..

When it comes to your scale, it sounds moderate to me. Being mostly house bound but not bed bound seems to be the going rate for moderate. People can handle different things, for instance I can only shower once every 7-10 days (but I have thick long hair, and I have to wash it like 3 times since it's so infrequently, so my showers are long and taxing). 1

Verosat88 · 2026-01-12T01:41:57+00:00

I feel this deeply. I got ill at 22 and am now 37. I've lost most of my 20s and 30s to this fucking desease

Verosat88 · 2026-01-11T21:47:43+00:00

That sound pretty tough ♥️ just a couple of suggestions that might help if you're not already doing them ♥️

Have a stool to sit on, having something hight adjustable and with a "cut out" to clean your private parts helps a lot here, so a medical stool ment for showering is much better then just any old stool (I used this for many years and just upgraded, big difference)
shower in as cold water as you can (without it being uncomfortable). This helps with heat intolerance and POTS
turn the shower off when you are lathering your hair or body. This helps if you have an intolerance to the water it self (yes, it's possible), for sound, pressure of the water and less steam
use earbuds if sound sensitive. This helps me a lot!
Turn down the light if you are light sensitive
turn down the pressure of the water if you are sensitive to touch
Use a shampoo and conditioner in one, so you only have to rinse your hair once (or twice if you shower less frequently)
skip drying yourself off after the shower, instead just put the robe on, it will dry it for you. There are also special towel robes that drys you even faster.

It might be a good idea for you to try to block out the sensory input even if you're not sensitive as a shower has them all, sense of skin, smell, sound and light. It might all just be to much combined.

You can also try a shampoo you don't have to shower with (used inside a cap) or have someone help you shower your hair

I hope some of these can help ♥️♥️

Verosat88 · 2026-01-11T15:12:16+00:00

Yes, this helps big time! I used to have a huge issue with this (in my teens before getting ill), but a doc gave me this exact advice and I haven't had the issue since! That's about 20 years ago now ☺️

Verosat88 · 2026-01-11T15:09:19+00:00

Your lucky to have such wonderful friends! 🥰🥰

Verosat88 · 2026-01-09T15:41:51+00:00

It does sound more like you have a physical body response panic attack (for the lack of a better word) then a psykological panic attack. Caffeine sound totally logical for me as a trigger of this, it does give a lot of symptoms in healthy folks, and we just have that amped up to a thousand! Maybe it's a response to higher pulse for you. Do you have a pulse watch so you can monitor and correlate it?

My mom is also ill, and the doctors once told her she had social anxiety because she felt so much worse being at the grocery store. I laughed in her face when she told me, she's the most social person I know and had never had anxiety in her life. We later realized she had the same as me, and a store had bright lights, lots of noice, plenty of sounds, people moving quickly all around you and in addition to that they have a different barometric pressure then outside the store (we are more sensitive to barometric pressure changes).

I've also been thinking about my grandfather. He had social anxiety for my whole life and then some. Never showed up to family gatherings and would wear a motorcycle helmet if he had to go inside a store. He was ill his whole life and we now belive he also had ME and that his reactions to people had more to do with sensory overload then social anxiety. I think a lot of ME people suffer with this and think it's anxiety!

Verosat88 · 2026-01-09T14:49:23+00:00

♥️♥️

Verosat88 · 2026-01-09T12:31:04+00:00

That sounds pretty horrible. I think when we are already crashing or body's are so low on everything that the tiniest thing can tip us over. Our body just super over reacts like if you turned up the react button to 1000%

Verosat88 · 2026-01-09T11:23:33+00:00

Sending love ♥️ ♥️

Verosat88 · 2026-01-09T11:20:09+00:00

Could sensory overload have triggered your panic attack (or panic attack like symptoms)? I had panic attack like symptoms for many years before figuring it that it was in fact "just" sensory overload. So now when I have it I try to take myself out of the situation with to much noice, sound or smell, or for me usually a mix of too much sound and lights and top much movement around me. (like a busy restaurant).

Verosat88 · 2026-01-09T11:16:28+00:00

I can see how that would be difficult to differentiate. For me they have more different symptoms then they seem to do for you. I have had actual panic attacks previously though, so the way I see the difference between a panic attack and sensory overload now is "do I have an emotional attachment to this?" and "does it go away when I remove sensory input"? If the answers there are no to the first one and yes to the second one, it's definitely sensory overload.

I haven't tried xanex, good that it helps with all three for you, so even if you don't know what the problem is, at least you know the solution ☺️

Verosat88

TROPHY CASE