ME/CFS after a gut infection, still ill 11 years on, somewhat better with keto and fasting
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 11 years
- Last post
- Mar 2026
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I have been dealing with CFS/ME, partially recovered from it, and then blown right back into it via long covid, for 11 years.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I've had luck with submaximal work, full body, not going crazy with volume.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I have been dealing with CFS/ME, partially recovered from it, and then blown right back into it via long covid, for 11 years.
In context ↗ - Began after: a bacterial or tick-borne infection
My CFS originally started with a gut infection while traveling overseas
In context ↗
Read from 7 of their posts and comments; links to the 7 this page draws on
Summary
Sparrow 42162 fell ill with ME/CFS after a gut infection while travelling overseas and was still ill 11 years later; he partially recovered, then long COVID put him back into it. He credits a dairy-free ketogenic diet and fasting for easing a disabling symptom and keto for restoring energy, and also values mind-body work such as meditation and rest. He described four suicide attempts.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- keto diet · Helped
but for some reason keto unlocks my ability to recover energy
In context ↗ - gluten free · Helped
It doesn't make me feel better, but it keeps me from feeling a lot worse
In context ↗ - fasting · Helped
Fasting and keto makes this go away for me (day 4 of fasting or day 14 of dairy/gluten free keto).
In context ↗ - prioritizing real rest · Helped
prioritizing real rest (what do animals do when they rest and recover from illness?
In context ↗ - meditation · Helped
prioritizing activities that increase joy/fun, meditation, spiritual and emotional connection.
In context ↗ - submaximal work · Helped
I'm still working on it, but have had some success with submaximal work, which allows me to stay fresh and avoid overexertion.
In context ↗ - therapy · Not said
including healthy balanced diet with no refined carbs, therapy and other self-care, rest, meditation
In context ↗ - nofap · Helped
are nofap (highly stimulating and draining activity), avoiding screens/media, keto diet, removing stimulants
In context ↗ - avoiding screens/media · Helped
avoiding screens/media, keto diet, removing stimulants, prioritizing real rest
In context ↗ - removing stimulants · Helped
keto diet, removing stimulants, prioritizing real rest
In context ↗ - spiritual and emotional connection · Helped
meditation, spiritual and emotional connection.
In context ↗ - recovery program for long covid · Not said
The recovery program I'm in for long covid takes this approach.
In context ↗
Approaches: Diet · Mind-body practices · 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. The chart starts 11.8 years after onset: the story doesn’t say how ill they were before that. 5 steps say too little to place on the scale and are only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were |
|---|---|---|
| onset | ME/CFS began with a gut infection while travelling overseasMy CFS originally started with a gut infection while traveling overseasIn context ↗ | Not stated |
| 5 years into illness | still not better after five years; suicide attempt5 years came, and I wasn't better.In context ↗ | Not stated |
| after the five-year mark | partial recovery from ME/CFSI wasn't better at 5 years, but I did get better.In context ↗ | Not stated |
| — | long COVID put him back into ME/CFSblown right back into it via long covidIn context ↗ | Not stated |
| 2024-01-18 | keto restored his ability to recover energyketo unlocks my ability to recover energyIn context ↗ | Not stated |
| 2024-09-03 | able to train with weights using autoregulated submaximal routinesI've had luck with submaximal work, full body, not going crazy with volumeIn context ↗ | Mild |
| 2026-03-03 | fasting and dairy-free keto clear his head pressureFasting and keto makes this go away for meIn context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Keto and low-carb diets“I've done it with dairy and it basically did nothing except make me more miserable.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Brain fog
I've dealt with intense brain fog
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I've tried to commit suicide four separate times.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
Fasting and keto makes this go away for me
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
I've tried 'optimal' routines, and they very often send me into a crash.
In context ↗
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