other aciclovir acyclovir zovirax valaciclovir valacyclovir valtrex valtrex / valacyclovir amitriptyline bupropion celexa citalopram cymbalta duloxetine effexor escitalopram fluoxetine fluvoxamine lexapro mirtazapine nortriptyline paroxetine paxil prozac remeron sertraline ssris and antidepressants trintellix venlafaxine vortioxetine wellbutrin zoloft oral rehydration salt, fluids and compression amoxicillin azithromycin doxycycline doxycycline and other antibiotics other antifungals diflucan fluconazole itraconazole nystatin cortef hydrocortisone hydrocortisone / cortisol testosterone iv nutrient iv vitamin myers cocktail and iv nutrient pushes astragalus herbal and chinese medicine herbal medicine other creatine b12 injections and methylation hydroxocobalamin methylation protocol methylcobalamin kefir probiotics and fermented foods sauerkraut aip diet elimination and ketogenic diets elimination diet keto paleo alprazolam ativan benzodiazepines and klonopin clonazepam diazepam klonopin lorazepam valium xanax ldn low-dose naltrexone naltrexone other armodafinil modafinil modafinil / armodafinil nuvigil provigil faith healing prayer and faith healing breathwork buteyko meditation, yoga, breathwork mindfulness yoga cbt and psychotherapy psychotherapy other antifungals diflucan fluconazole itraconazole nystatin alprazolam ativan benzodiazepines and klonopin clonazepam diazepam klonopin lorazepam valium xanax cbt and psychotherapy psychotherapy creatine amoxicillin azithromycin doxycycline doxycycline and other antibiotics cortef hydrocortisone hydrocortisone / cortisol ldn low-dose naltrexone naltrexone breathwork buteyko meditation, yoga, breathwork mindfulness yoga armodafinil modafinil modafinil / armodafinil nuvigil provigil faith healing prayer and faith healing amitriptyline bupropion celexa citalopram cymbalta duloxetine effexor escitalopram fluoxetine fluvoxamine lexapro mirtazapine nortriptyline paroxetine paxil prozac remeron sertraline ssris and antidepressants trintellix venlafaxine vortioxetine wellbutrin zoloft oral rehydration salt, fluids and compression testosterone valaciclovir valacyclovir valtrex valtrex / valacyclovir
The Suffering of One, Relieved: Kyle McNeases' ME/CFS Recovery Story, Detailed
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Very severe (bedbound, unable to do basic care)
- Ill for
- 3.5 years
- Published
- Sep 2019
Summary
Kyle McNease was severely ill with ME/CFS for about 3.5 years after heavy-metal exposure in a barn renovation, bedbound and unable to communicate. He credits a chelation protocol: a brief early improvement, two weeks of worsening, then recovery. Valacyclovir, hydrocortisone, testosterone and LDN also helped. Six months after starting it he was running sprints; he now says his health is fine apart from lost near-photographic memory.
What they tried
Credits POTS medication, Alternative therapies, Antibiotics, Antivirals, Hormones & thyroid, Mind-body practices, Other prescription drugs, Supplements, Antifungals, Benzodiazepines and Klonopin, CBT and psychotherapy, Creatine, Doxycycline and other antibiotics, Hydrocortisone / cortisol, Low-dose naltrexone, Meditation, yoga, breathwork, Modafinil / armodafinil, Prayer and faith healing, SSRIs and antidepressants, Salt, fluids and compression, Testosterone, Valtrex / valacyclovir.
What they credit
Also tried
Approaches: POTS medication · Alternative therapies · Antibiotics · Antivirals · Hormones & thyroid · Mind-body practices · Other prescription drugs · Supplements
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, in the order they describe; the account doesn’t give enough times to place each step. Hover a point to see what happened and what they link it to. Open dots mark a change they link to a treatment, orange ones a setback. 2 steps say too little to place on the scale and are only in the table. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were |
|---|---|---|
| onset | heavy-metal exposure in barn renovation triggers illness | Not stated |
| after 3 ½ years of illness | unable to communicate, carried to appointments, emaciated | Very severe |
| early in chelation protocol | initial burst of improvement on chelation | Not stated |
| two weeks after chelation burst | two weeks of worsening on chelation, sleeping almost 24 hours a day | Very severe |
| after the two-week worsening | recovery starts: pain eases, speech begins to return | Very severe |
| six months after starting new protocol | running sprints again | Mild |
| end of the first year | back at university as a top student | Recovered |
| last two years | health fine apart from lost near-photographic memory | Near normal |
Adverse events
- “he spent the next two weeks getting dramatically worse – sleeping almost 24 hours a day.” Made symptoms worse
- Low-dose naltrexone“I did have a mix of insomnia followed by extremely vivid dreams!” Insomnia from treatment
- Modafinil / armodafinil“I did find that I would feel extremely exhausted when the drug was out of my system.” Withdrawal problems
Symptoms mentioned
Symptoms: Brain fog, Heart symptoms & palpitations, Light & noise sensitivity, Muscle weakness, POTS & dysautonomia, Pain & fibromyalgia, Sleep problems.
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