In 2015 I detailed the best sleep aids for ME according to ME/CFS specialists and my own experiences. Since this date I have been on a rollercoaster journey in search of some much needed refreshing sleep. This article will cover my travails as well as what I have since learnt regarding sleep studies, Restless Legs Syndrome, Upper Airways Resistance Syndrome, good sleep hygiene and sleep supplements.   Sleep Studies for ME Dr. Klimas, Dr. Bateman and Dr. Levine all recommend that sleep disturbed ME/CFS patients get a sleep study performed. Sleep studies fall into two categories; fi ..read more

  In a subsequent blog entry; when the phase III trial is fully released, I will detail the theory behind using Rituximab as an ME treatment as well as present the studies investigating its usage. This blog entry is focused on my experience with Rituximab.   I had to go through the laborious task of seeking government approval prior to starting Rituximab. This process was just as you would expect bureaucratic dealings to be. Another barrier I encountered was the extremely high cost of the drug and affording it. I was lucky enough to come 2nd in something called AFL SuperCoach for th ..read more

  Mestinon, AKA Pyridostigmine, is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor typically used to treat myasthenia gravis- a neuromuscular disease. It is a drug that can markedly reduce fatigue and enable patients to exercise in general disorders.   ME Specialists and Mestinon Pulmonologist, Dr. David Systrom, specialises in patients with disorders beneath the exercise intolerant umbrella. As cardinal symptoms of ME include post-exertional malaise and exercise intolerance, Dr. Systrom has begun to focus on this patient cohort. He has conducted invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing on ME pa ..read more

This blog entry will examine the rationale behind Galantamine and Ibudilast as treatments for ME both individually and in conjunction. I will also detail my experience with this treatment synthesis.   Galantamine Galantamine belongs to a class of drugs known as ‘cholinesterase inhibitors.’ It is most commonly used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease as well as other indications involving circulation based memory impairment. Galantamine is unique as it is available as both a supplement readily accessible online as well as a prescription drug. There are a glut of possible mechanisms by ..read more

This blog entry will detail the theory behind Clostridium Butyricum as an ME treatment as well as my experience with this probiotic. Following this, I will examine a post-exertional malaise treatment that has proven useful to me. Finally, I will scrutinise the meaning of an abnormal blood test that I recently had.   Clostridium Butyricum (Miyarisan) Clostridium Butyricum (CB) is a probiotic that many ME patients have trialled, some noting a reduction in symptoms. This treatment du jour has a 60 page thread devoted to it on Phoenix Rising that can be found here.   CB may benefit ME pa ..read more

The following list of potential ME/CFS treatments is divided into two sections. The top part describes treatments requiring a prescription while the lower section lists over-the-counter formulations that are readily available. I have written about the majority of the following treatments elsewhere on my blog, often in more detail. Clicking on the name of the treatment will open up a new window with this information. The below, alphabetically ordered two lists, detail a brief rationale as to why each treatment may be beneficial to ME/CFS patients. I also examine the safety profile and common do ..read more

In my previous blog entry, found here, I wrote about the general theory of heparin as a treatment for ME. This blog entry will detail my personal rationale for trying heparin. I will essentially illustrate why I believed this treatment was in theory suitable for me. Following this, I will describe the results of my heparin trial.   APS Antibodies Several months ago, I had a blood test performed for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The results came back as follows:   Cardiolipin IgG Ab= 26     (normal is less than 12) Beta 2 glycoprotein IgG Ab= 58   &nbs ..read more

Heparin is an anticoagulant drug that may be useful to some ME patients. It is typically used in the prevention and treatment of both pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. It has been theorised that ME in some instances may be caused by a hypercoagulable state and thus heparin would treat this. I will; examine the heparin studies on ME patients, present the opinions of ME experts on heparin and detail which patients may benefit from either heparin or an alternative anticoagulation treatment. The theory The human body’s coagulation process is complicated. The ME-coagulation theory is dou ..read more

  Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant drug primarily used to treat epilepsy that may be helpful to some ME patients.   Gabapentin may benefit ME patients due to: Reducing general pain Thwarting neuropathic pain Minimising fatigue Relieving muscle cramps Enhancing sleep quality Stopping restless legs syndrome Improving bladder function Having potential neuroprotective properties Decreasing multiple chemical sensitivity symptoms   It was originally thought that Gabapentin primarily worked due to its effects on the GABA neurotransmitter hence inducing calmness and sleep. It is now t ..read more

  Over the past 12 months, I have tried many treatments that I haven’t written about in previous blog entries. This article will briefly touch on these treatments. Following this, I will detail how my health has played out throughout 2015.   2015 was a year that I trialled many ME treatments. These primary treatments were articulated in more detail in blog entries during the year. The following is a list of treatments I trialled at various stages of 2015 that I haven’t written about previously.   Astaxanthin The main motive for me taking astaxanthin was its powerful anti-inflam ..read more