Posts by Nicole Taylor5

I was watching the game last night and it felt like I could see the playbook coming from a mile away. It seems like every time a team gets into the red zone, they run the exact same three concepts. I know coaches say they have to stick to the script, but at some point, isn't it just a lack of creativity?

I remember back in the day, you actually felt like you might see a trick play or a weird formation that caught you off guard. Now, it feels like everything is optimized by a computer or a spreadsheet. It’s efficient, sure, but it’s kind of draining to watch when you feel like you've already solved the puzzle by the second quarter.

I've been seeing a lot of talk lately about which coordinators are actually outperforming their expectations, but it makes me wonder: does a "great" scheme actually exist, or is it all just about having the right personnel to run basic stuff?

Do you guys think modern play-calling has become too formulaic, or am I just getting old and losing my edge?

In short... if you didn't shake this crap off in the first couple of years, you probably aren't going to. The fallout ranges from "annoying" to "completely life-altering." And let's be real—maybe 5% of people actually see a full recovery. Let's not sugarcoat it... this thing is brutal 😉

Karen Gomez5... the EBV virus is a super common trigger for CFS. Pretty sure that’s what did it to me. That said, fatigue isn't the only thing you have to deal with. Usually, they look for at least four symptoms to make a diagnosis. You can check out the details here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_fatigue_syndrome.

Aside from that first year where I was basically housebound, I’m stuck in a moderate phase now. Even though my lab results look pretty grim, on a scale of 1 to 10, I’d put myself at a 2 or 3. Being a guy, I can lean on adrenaline and testosterone to fight off some symptoms... but the real question is how long that actually lasts. Luckily, I’ve restructured my life so I can just pace myself and rest whenever I need to. I’ve managed to mostly get a handle on the physical PEM, even if the brain fog is still hanging around.
silentbear16, I can only offer so much advice since we’re all dealing with different versions of this... but I really want to encourage you to live as much as you possibly can. I know it feels impossible to ignore what's happening to you, but dwelling on it too much will just drag you down even further.

Doctors treating AIDS and CFS say if they had to pick one to deal with today, they’d choose AIDS every single time. They actually compare the daily struggle of severe CFS patients to the terminal stages of AIDS or cancer. Personally, I think that's a massive stretch. Someone should go read some stories from CFS patients who were unlucky enough to be hit with cancer on top of everything else.

wearyorca15 said:Thanks for the insight. Dizziness is a massive hurdle for me too, though mine doesn't hit at night; instead, it comes in waves alongside other symptoms like GI spasms, chills, tremors, and low-grade fevers. Sleep quality isn't something I can brag about either—it's definitely a core trigger. I've checked those sites and looked over the diet you mentioned, but that approach isn't feasible for me since certain foods act as major flare-ups. I've been diagnosed with gastritis, which seems common enough with CFS. I'm still stuck in that endless cycle of trying to figure out what I can actually eat without crashing.
Since I'm still new to all this, it's hard to stomach the fact that there's zero awareness of CFS/ME in the US and we're essentially left to fend for ourselves. It's no wonder doctors try to push anxiety meds or antidepressants on us. I’d love nothing more than for those to solve the problem, but they don't. And sure, I get anxious sometimes—anyone would be feeling the same way under these circumstances. I can't even begin to imagine how you've managed after 13 years...

One more thing... I came across some info on European sites suggesting that bioresonance might help due to its antiviral effects, almost like an antiviral medication. Has anyone here actually tried it?

Honestly, it might be easier for me than for you. I've already made my peace with the impossible.

Tyler James5 said:@Nicole Taylor5 - yeah, this definitely sounds like anxiety issues. have you ever actually sat down and talked things through with a therapist or maybe even a psychiatrist?

...

I've been in therapy for a year now and even tried antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds... didn't do much for me. Still, I'm going to stick with the therapy through to the end because I think it'll eventually pay off. Combining the sessions with steady exercises and vitamins usually helps, too.

Tyler James5 said:can someone break this down for me? what does this actually mean?

...

I get this weird sensation in my head, kind of like I'm swaying. It’s not full-on vertigo, just feeling totally off-balance. Sometimes in my sleep, I feel these "hits"—like my blood pressure is spiking and dropping at once. Could just be anxiety; after dealing with this stuff for 13 years, the mental toll starts catching up to you.

wearyorca15, most of us end up self-diagnosing anyway. I got my own confirmation through bloodwork—my cellular energy flow was sitting at 0.24, while the healthy range is usually between 1 and 3. So if the average is 2, I’m basically running on 1/8th power. On top of that, I’m hitting B12 injections, Vitamin C, D, ribose, multivitamins, niacin, L-carnitine, Q10, Omega-3, and magnesium. I even did the paleo diet for six months. Honestly? Felt zero difference. I think it’s worth being proactive, maybe heading to a clinic to look into antivirals. But like silentbear16 said, it’s all so individual that you really have to make your own calls. Regarding exercise, I’m with silentbear16 on this one—you can't just give blanket advice on how much to work out. I’ve gone from being bedridden to pulling 8-hour shifts. Right now, cardio is a disaster for me, but I can manage a ton of pushups. My biggest hurdle is the nighttime "shaking," which ruins my sleep, and bad sleep is one of the main triggers for CFS crashes. For anyone new here, check out phoenixrising.com or Dr. Myhill’s site if you want to actually learn something... because awareness of CFS here in the States is practically non-existent.

silentbear16 said:Thirteen years is a lifetime. Honestly, even four feels way too long for me.

I agree, Phoenix Rising is top-tier.

I'm not looking for justice or anything, but there’s nothing wrong with people getting educated. It’s easy for me since my English is solid, but not everyone has that luxury.

Besides, AIDS actually has "syndrome" right in the name—Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome—so we all know it's caused by HIV, and I doubt anyone would dare claim it isn't a disease.

But maybe using Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is just better to avoid those kinds of misunderstandings.

Whereabouts in New York City were you guys?

I didn't go in person. I just sent my bloodwork over to Quest Diagnostics through Dr. Myhill. If you Google her name, her site should pop right up. Once the results came back, she set me on a treatment plan.

I’ve been dealing with this crap for 13 years. That first year, I couldn't even get out of bed. Eventually, I managed to claw my way back up to about 60%. There’s a chart available if you want to see where you currently stand. Last year, I tanked down to 25% (had some bloodwork done in New York City). For the last six months, I’ve been on a strict Stone Age diet and slamming vitamins—I actually just gave myself a B12 injection five minutes ago. I feel slightly better, though I doubt it's the vitamins doing the heavy lifting. My sleep issues definitely make everything worse.

As for the name... the "syndrome" part is right there in the diagnosis, but honestly, who cares? Don't waste your energy fighting for justice. Until CFS is actually taken seriously here in the States, we aren't going anywhere. Just try to help yourself however you can... don't expect a damn thing from the healthcare system, because unfortunately, that's all you'll get. Head over to the Phoenix Rising website... you can find pretty much everything you need there.

silentbear16 said:Yeah, I know they're running studies on Valcyte (Valganciclovir) and some other similar antiviral drugs, but nothing's been proven yet. Even if they do work, the results have to be replicated by independent researchers, and then it'll still be quite a while before doctors are actually allowed to prescribe them.

I guess if there's no cure, it's just incurable.🤷

CFS isn't technically a disease because nobody knows what causes it; it's just a cluster of symptoms. It's so different for everyone that whatever helps one person might do nothing for another. On a scale of 1 to 10, where are you guys at right now?

silentbear16 said:So, what's the cure?

Based on what I've seen on the forums, antivirals have had the best track record. They're pricey, though, and honestly, you aren't going to get an American doctor to prescribe them for this. Personally, I think most people who recover actually just heal on their own... but as time goes on, those odds drop. My take? If your body is going to fight this off naturally, it usually happens within the first two years.

It’s not incurable, but let’s be real—the odds of a full recovery are pretty slim.

Betty Lewis2 said:Have you been officially diagnosed with ME? Like, where did you go to get that checked out?

I've been dealing with this crap for 12 years. Just recently, a specialist here suggested it might actually be CFS. I ran the tests to confirm at a Quest Diagnostics lab over in Devon. Shoot me a DM if you want the specifics.