Recurring sleep problems and brain fog with ME/CFS, somewhat better after quitting sport
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 21 months
- Last post
- Aug 2026
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
So i adressed following problem i will just paste here and was told that it sounds like PEM
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
after several sessions my sleep deteriorates and fatigue/performance get worse
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
i quit sports because i feel better and can enjoy everday life again. But i can't play football with my friends anymore
In context ↗
Read from 1 of their posts and comments; links to the one this page draws on
Summary
An 18-year-old male had recurring sleep problems for 1.5 to 2 years, starting after an illness. Bad phases brought waking 2 to 5+ times a night, brain fog, fatigue and dizziness. Running, football and strength training reliably worsened his sleep 1 to 3 days later, while two to three weeks without sport improved it. He quit sport, felt better and could enjoy everyday life, but could no longer play football with friends.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Valerian · Helped
Valerian helps a bit
In context ↗ - other supplements · No change
Valerian helps a bit, other supplements do not help
In context ↗ - Running, football and strength training · Worse
Running, football and strength training consistently make my sleep worse.
In context ↗ - Quitting sports / prolonged rest · Helped
i quit sports because i feel better and can enjoy everday life again
In context ↗
Approaches: Pacing
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, in the order they describe; they don’t give enough times to place each step. Hover or tap a point. 1 step says too little to place on the scale and is only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| about 1.5–2 years before Aug 2026 | recurring sleep problems began after an illnessThey started after an illness, but they come in phases rather than being constant.In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| during bad phases, over the past 1.5–2 years | bad sleep phases with brain fog, fatigue and dizzinesssometimes i feel sluggish and lay on the floor for hoursIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| after 2–3 weeks without sports | stopping sport improved sleep significantlyAfter 2–3 weeks without sports, my sleep improves significantly (usually 7–8 hours though still wake up once or twice per night).In context ↗ | Mild | Pacing and the energy envelope |
| several sessions after restarting regular exercise | sleep deteriorated after restarting running, football and strength trainingWhen I start exercising regularly again, I initially feel fine, but after several sessions my sleep deteriorates and fatigue/performance get worse.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| at time of writing, Aug 2026 | quit sport, felt better but cannot play football with friendsi quit sports because i feel better and can enjoy everday life again. But i can't play football with my friends anymoreIn context ↗ | Mild |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Sleep problems
during bad phases I wake up 2–5+ times per night and sometimes struggle to fall back asleep
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
The effect can be delayed by 1–3 days and gets worse over time as i push through.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I can also get brain fog, fatigue and dizziness after several nights of poor sleep.
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
a tense/restless feeling, dizziness when standing
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
increased nighttime heart rate
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
then i'm weak and slow despite actually being athletic
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
I sometimes also experience prolonged muscle soreness
In context ↗
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