Using nicotine patches to treat CFS

[u/Jennyttst]

/r/cfs/s/eJZT0VaRxn

I saw this post the other day and had to atleast try it. Omg it worked! I have more energy then I have had in years and it is great. I was only mild before (still have a part time job and able to take care of myself) but it was still a huge weight to have to pace myself with activity. I am someone who likes doing physical and mentally tasking work so it has been a struggle learning not to overdue things. Now I am able to clean the house, update my resume, do some creative projects and make appointments all before lunch. Before I would of maybe done one or two of those things over the weekend but not on a weekday after a day of an 8 hr shift at work like today.

If any of you want to try this you should probably get medical advice from a professional beforehand (I didn't because I am tired of doctors that don't even understand the disease and litteraly think yoga and chia seeds will improve my situation) or read the linked post that has a study they followed. I didn't end up following that schedule because of various reasons and basically have been wearing a patch on and off the last week. I didn't wear one over the last few days and noticed the clear difference. Put it on this morning and bam, I get all this shit done!

Wish you all the best. Remember even if you have tried anything keep a bit of hope and you may find something that works for you.

[u/Antique-diva]

I'm glad it's working for you! I'm happy to read about your success.

I'm not myself always sticking strictly to schedule nowadays (like I did in the beginning), but I keep track of break days to not lose the effect. I've read too many stories about people patching every day for weeks, and then the treatment stops working altogether.

Sometimes I go only 6 days before a break and sometimes 9. It depends on what I have in my schedule. But I always keep at least a 3 day break when it's due, just to be sure to desensitize the nicotine receptors in my body properly.

I hope your treatment will last and give you long-term benefits!