Growing old versus ME/CFS—which is which?

I would say that menopause has changed my levels of fatigue and overall achiness. I used to be able to nap in the late morning early afternoon which was wonderful because it gave me more stamina for the remainder of the day, but now I'm unable to nap, so that has a negative effect on how I feel later in the evening. Menopause has negatively affected my sleep, insomnia hasn't been a big issue for me with ME.

This study would apply to me regarding lowered immunity. Sometimes my brain gets stuck but it's not related to ME because it has a different feel, and not reliant on my limited energy production. I have been able to do some level of fitness since ME. Weight bearing low level leg lifts and light weights has been helpful for me in the last 3 years.

Both my sisters (one older and one younger than me) have noticed a lowered stamina level since starting menopause.
 
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Creekside said:
It's still not proven that the problem lies in the muscles. It could be in the signalling sent to or from the brain, or the processing of those signals in the brain.
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The cause is yet to be determined, but I am intrigued by the Locus Coeruleus hyperactivation and failure to produce norepinephrine. If confirmed this is possibly the smoking gun we have been looking for. Its probably linked to signals from overactive microglia. Its a specific molecular target, trying to fix the enzyme dopamine beta-hydroxylase. This impacts vasodilation, which impacts oxygen and nutrients to muscle and organs. The heritable problem with this enzyme has orthostatic intolerance as a core symptom. It will mess up sleep and the entire autonomic nervous system.

As for proving muscle issues, recently there was a study showing muscle oxygen diffusion is low. They are often hypoxic, especially if we make a demand on this. This may or may not apply to all patients, a much deeper discussion. The Perikles protocol (my term, not official) is based on the concept that our muscles are hypoxic, both in ME and LC. Taking that into account many of us can do careful resistance training.
 
alex3619 said:
I am not that worried about muscle loss with ME, if the ME is gone you can fix that with time and effort. I am much more worried about bone deconditioning from prolonged bed rest. That is much harder to fix.
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I've always been a big milk consumer and get through 6 liters a week. I hope this helps keep my bones as strong as possible. I have wondered about the impact of all the bed rest I have had to do the last three decades. But I would rather the bed rest and any impact of that than returning to very severe ME again. I never want to experience those years ever again so I will take whatever impact all the years of bed rest may have on me in the future.

I must say that when I got ME in my thirties I never thought I would live to see forty and then at forty I never thought I would get to fifty. Now here I am nearly 62 and I am not sure whether I will see 70. I am grateful to have got this far really. It has been surprising to have got this far.
 
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