ME/CFS fatigue, brain fog, crashes, somewhat better with eating enough calories long term
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Jan 2026
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
Does this look like CFS and is the constant reduction of activities the only way forward?
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
Now, when I work from home, even if I work out twice a week with 50% capacity, I will crash at some point for sure
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
as my body got stronger I wanted to make my everyday experience more interesting ... That's what's helping me recently.
- Began after: stress or burnout
I've had pretty **stressful event** (breakup)
Read from 5 of their posts and comments; links to the 4 this page draws on
Summary
He had always needed extra sleep, and after a stressful 2015 he began falling ill more often, developing fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, brain fog, tinnitus and anxiety over about seven years. Pushing through with caffeine and gym sessions brought panic attacks, so he cut back to work, sleep and food. Workouts still triggered week-long crashes, and he thought COVID and three vaccines lowered his baseline; by early 2026 eating enough calories long term was helping.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- dozens of pricey supplements · Not said
taking dozens of pricey supplements
In context ↗ - gym sessions and bodyweight training · Worse
If I had a bit stronger bodyweight training session, I would crash 2 days later.
In context ↗ - cold showers and cold plunge · Helped
Sauna and cold plunge are awesome! They work the same way as workout for me.
In context ↗ - reducing activities to a bare minimum · Helped
I reduced all my activities to a bare minimum - basically work/sleep/eat ... as my body got stronger
In context ↗ - working on unresolved trauma · Not said
started working on my unresolved trauma
In context ↗ - pacing · Helped
I don't do exercise when I know I won't be in bed on time. I think that reduced the frequency of my crashes.
In context ↗ - eating enough calories · Helped
Enough calories over the long period of time. That's what's helping me recently.
In context ↗ - COVID vaccination as treatment · Worse
having 3 vaccines and catching a COVID after that also made my baseline lower I think. ... it looks like I'm more sensitive to exertions after it.
In context ↗
Approaches: Diet · Pacing · Radical rest
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, with time counted from when the illness began. Hover or tap a point. 3 steps have no time and sit in story order between the steps around them. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | started falling ill more often after a stressful breakup, while working and trainingBut I started noticing that I was getting sick a lot more.In context ↗ | Near normal | |
| — | panic attacks after pushing through with caffeine, cold showers and gym; cut activity to work, sleep and eatI was at my lowest point, mental health wise.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| — | body got stronger after cutting activities to a bare minimumas my body got stronger I wanted to make my everyday experience more interestingIn context ↗ | Mild | Radical rest |
| — | push/crash cycle from bodyweight trainingAt that moment I started realizing that I was in a **push/crash cycle**.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| December 2022 | smaller exertions now trigger crashes; more sensitive to exertion after COVID and vaccinessmaller and smaller exertions lead to crashesIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| January 2026 | says eating enough calories over the long term is helping recentlyEnough calories over the long period of time. That's what's helping me recently.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Cryotherapy and cold exposure, Hyperthermia and sauna“Sauna and cold plunge are awesome! They work the same way as workout for me. ... If I'm even slightly susceptible to crash - I will feel that something is off and eventually I would crash.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- COVID vaccination as treatment“having 3 vaccines and catching a COVID after that also made my baseline lower I think. ... it looks like I'm more sensitive to exertions after it.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
smaller and smaller exertions lead to crashes
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
unrestful & disturbed sleep (even after 10+ hours in bed)
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
jitteriness & anxiety
In context ↗
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