Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Blog

Ive always had a favorable response to B12. It improves all of my symptoms, especially brain fog. I finally got to try my first Hydroxocobalamin B12 shot (after having to convince my Dr.) and within a couple hours my brain fog feels much improved. My genetic test results from amy yasko showed that i have a mutation in the gene MTRR that recycles b12.
So these shots may be very beneficial me.
From what i have read, b12 is very helpful to most cfs patients. The reasons that it might help is that b12 is a scavanger for the free radicals nitric oxide and peroxynitrite. Nitric oxide can caused decreased barin fuction and also can

Cymbalta is an antidepressant that blocks the reuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline. It was first used to treat depression, but also may help to reduce chronic pain. This week is was approved to treat fibromyalgia, but has been prescribed off label to FMS patients for a while now.

A paper out of the university of San Francisco says that noradrenaline is a key component in inhibiting pain. They have found that low levels of noradrenaline make the use of opiates less effective.

There is no shortage of theories about CFS. Doctors like Amy Yasko and Rich Van Konyenberg, believe that chronic fatigue patients may have defects in their methylation cycle. Six months ago i had a genetic test done to see how my methylation cycle was functioning.
My test results showed that i had a defect in sulfur metabolism. The gene SUOX S370S was +/-. I believe this means that my body converts sulfites into sulfates very quickly. And it may lead to a buildup of sulfates which are removed from the body by B12 and molybdenum.

A recent study shows that like Ritalin may improve cognitive function in CFS patients. This small study showed that there were positive results in concentration and memory when using immediate release methylphenidate (Ritalin).
Other stimulants like Provigil have also been used in CFS patients to improve symptoms. Provigil is most often used with diseases like narcolepsy and ADHD. This drug works by affecting the chemical glutamate and can have less side effects than other stimulants.
I have personally tried Ritalin, Adderall, and Provigil. Even though some people with CFS had improvements, for me they were very overstimulating. I didnt feel much improvement in cognitive function or memory. I also had alot of side effects, like insomnia, loss of appetite, and nervousness.