I have experienced PEM as well, several times. I have to limit myself to about two hours to go grocery shopping because if I go longer than that, I’m in bed for the next 3-4 hours resting. Once last year I took a 5 hour trip back and forth to my daughter’s place and afterwards spent the next two days in bed. So yeah, PEM sucks. Sounds like I have another kindred spirit out there in Freeper land.
I guess what happens with PEM is, if i understood it right, that ATP (which is the body’s energy source that feeds the mitochondria I guess, which ate the powerhouses of the body) get depleted or reduced, and do not recover or get replaced quickly like in normal people.
Normal folks can work hard for days on end, and their “inner battery” (or rather their stores of energy) get a bit tired, and get a good night’s sleep and be recharged @ 100% He next morning.
People with chronic fatigue always wake up with a “battery” that is only recharged about 1/4% no matter how much sleep they get. They go out and work, and that slips even lower than 1/4, and it takes days just to get back up tO the usual crappy feeling of being just 1/4 recharged.
It’s kind of like operating with a battery that is on itS last legs- it will only charge up just so much, and will drain very quickly, and takes a long time to recharge again.
I guess thouh the ATP replenishment is the key tO understanding the whole chronic fatigue. There are supplements that are supposed tO help “boost ATP production” but i have not found success with any of them. Very frustrating condition. Especially when you know that your body is in good shape otherwise, and ready to go, but can’t beczuse of the condition.