Today I had what feels like a major crash after eating a large breakfast and now I'm stuck in bed, totally wiped out and spaced out, like I might pass out from sheer exhaustion. I can't believe this is my reality. I was finally starting to turn things around with my health before getting sick over a month ago. I've been overweight most of my life but I had begun moving more, building endurance, and keeping a steady routine that left me feeling stronger. Then the illness hit and all that progress feels gone. Now everything is falling apart and nothing I try—rest, supplements, water, or the doctor's suggestions—seems to help. I miss doing normal things with my partner instead of ER visits or lying in bed stressed about my health. I miss being close with him. I miss video games and going for walks.
Vent Post: I Just want my life back
Why am I crashing with extreme fatigue and brain fog after eating following a viral illness, and how do I get my life and health back while doctors dismiss me?
The original poster describes sudden debilitating fatigue, post-meal crashes, dizziness on exertion, and loss of prior fitness after a viral illness more than a month earlier. Community members offer empathy, suggest asking for social work support or specialist referrals, share similar experiences with ME/CFS or POTS, and recommend strict elimination diets. The thread ends with the poster receiving a POTS diagnosis and starting fludrocortisone while continuing to seek answers.
What this discussion establishes- Viral illness triggered sudden loss of stamina and daily function despite prior high fitness levels
- Bloodwork often normal, leading some doctors to dismiss symptoms
- Supportive partners help secure referrals when patients feel unheard
- Keto helped somewhat but crashes still occur; stricter elimination diets suggested by some
- POTS diagnosis reached via tilt-table test after cardiology referral
Whether a depressive component is contributing to or resulting from the physical symptoms
Still openFull cause of symptoms beyond POTS and whether complete recovery is possible
Nothing here is advice.
Chronic illness drains you and leaves you feeling cut off. I'm sorry you're dealing with this. Sometimes patients get connected with social workers who can guide them through services and the system. Not sure if that only applies after hospital stays. I'd ask my primary doctor about extra support options. You deserve that help.
I've been in that spot and it really sucks. Keep pushing your doctor to investigate and provide real help. Hoping you get some answers soon.
What you're describing sounds incredibly heavy and it makes total sense that you're worn down. Anyone would feel overwhelmed by this. You haven't lost the person you were—you're just trapped in a tough stretch that's taking everything out of you. Grieving the old routines, time with your partner, and hobbies is valid. It doesn't make you a burden; it makes you human. Glad you have those appointments coming up—even small steps count toward getting answers. You deserve clarity and relief. You're not alone. We're here with you and you don't have to carry it all yourself.
Thanks for the kind words. I'm just trying to get through one day at a time but some days knock me down hard. My PCP doesn't seem to care much and only suggests graded exercise. I used to be pretty fit even with some extra weight—I biked across China over the Tibetan Plateau into Lhasa right before the pandemic, rode daily, did pilates, and danced. Now even basic cardio or yoga leaves me dizzy. Pushing through just brings a massive crash. I feel like I've lost muscle even though I'm trying to keep training as much as I can. I'll look into what's available. My partner is great and speaks up for me when doctors brush off what I say. Blood panels keep coming back normal so some act like I'm imagining things. Having someone there who sees the real effects has been the only way I've gotten more referrals. Thanks. Some of these doctors make me wonder how they made it through school.
Some of the symptoms you're describing sound familiar. Lots of different things can trigger this, but there's a real chance lifestyle adjustments could ease things or at least give you more function while you hunt for root causes. Many doctors focus on lab numbers rather than how your body is actually struggling. Depending on your case they may hand out meds or send you home without grasping the real issue. In their training doctors spend less than one percent of hours on nutrition. How can they understand body function without knowing what fuels it or how food affects the system? Your crashes and feeling sick after meals match what I went through, along with other digestive troubles. Most of mine improved with diet changes, though it took time because I wasn't making changes in a structured way.
I'm on keto after trying FODMAP and elimination diets. Lots of veggies and carb-heavy foods hit me hard now. I've felt better on keto than I have in ages and hadn't eaten anything carb-rich except a 10g net carb keto tortilla that never bothered me before. This time it was just eggs, sugar-free sauces, and bacon—the same meal I've had without issues. I take methylated vitamin complexes to cover what I'm missing. Fasting actually feels best. I've been on keto three months and dropped 30 pounds without any glp meds.
I'm really sorry you're dealing with this. Chronic illness is the worst. Any advice I'd offer would probably be unqualified and unhelpful, but you did the right thing posting here. Reaching out from that low point takes real strength and courage, and that alone makes me believe you can get through it. You have my empathy and my respect. Sending good thoughts and wishes your way.
Keto is probably a solid starting point but you may need to adjust it further for full results. I tried several low-carb and keto versions before landing where I am now—not perfect but generally manageable. People can react to so many things and have various digestive problems. You might need the strictest elimination approach: just beef, salt, and water for a month or two, then add items back one at a time slowly. Plenty of so-called keto products contain ingredients that can cause trouble. Vegetables carry pesticides and natural defenses that some bodies don't handle well. Eggs can bother people because of the albumin. Different fats affect people differently too. Even supplements or meds can be an issue due to fillers. I get how desperate this feels—I went through it myself—but I know you can get through it.
It reminds me exactly of the issues my mother faced. She suffered from chronic fatigue immune dysfunction, and it required a long time to locate a physician focused on that area who offered some relief. Few things provided relief, yet the presence of a knowledgeable expert in her specific illness made a difference. I would become quite frustrated whenever people ignored her complaints. I felt helpless since there was little I could actually do to assist her.
Being sick is awful. I've dealt with recurring depression and an autoimmune condition so I know how frustrating it is to feel unwell with no answers or helpful treatment. Sometimes health issues are just difficult to pin down and there's no quick diagnosis—you have to keep watching, testing, and waiting for clarity. One possibility that comes to mind is a depressive illness either driving things or adding to them, though I could be way off with so little information. It might be worth considering, especially if it's happened before. It could also simply be understandable stress from being sick without answers.
I'm so sorry this is happening to you and your partner. I know how hard it is to watch someone suffer while doctors have no idea what's going on or how to treat it. I don't have any informed advice. Have you checked out patient spaces for ME/CFS? A friend's mother had a strange set of symptoms after a virus and found some helpful ideas there. She never got back to 100 percent but she accepted that and became functional again.
I have a couple friends diagnosed with ME/CFS and their quality of life seems worse than mine right now. I've avoided digging deeper into resources or symptoms with them because I was hoping for solid info from the cardiology and neurology appointments first. I just checked MyChart and saw the tilt test for POTS is finally this week, which gives me some hope either way.
I'm really sorry you're going through this—it sounds completely overwhelming. The crash, fatigue, brain fog, plus the anxiety and frustration all at once is a huge load. It makes sense that you're grieving your old life; that part really got to me. I could be totally off, so take this as just one person's thought, but some of what you're describing reminds me of times when physical symptoms and low mood started feeding each other. Not in an "it's all in your head" way, but more like your body is struggling and your mind is coping with something tough, making everything feel heavier. Working gently on both sides with patience and no rush to fix it all helped me. The waiting is exhausting but you're doing everything possible right now. You're not alone even when it feels that way.
Thanks for the kind words. My usual state isn't depressive so I don't think there's a psychosomatic piece and neither does my partner. It just gets tough when you hit dead ends. I have a lot of testing this week so I'm actually feeling hopeful about ruling things out or finally getting a useful diagnosis. Today is the cardiology tilt table test!
It's a good sign that your baseline isn't depressive—glad you clarified. I understand how frustrating the dead ends are. Having tests scheduled is helpful though; it moves things from uncertainty to actually looking for answers. Fingers crossed for today's tilt table test, I'm really hoping for the best.
Officially diagnosed with POTS. Got a prescription for fludrocortisone and I'm a bit worried about possible interactions with the tirz I've been taking. I looked through the forum and saw a thread saying there shouldn't be an issue, but if anyone knows something else please let me know.
I relate to those feelings so much and I'm sorry you're struggling too. My own serious chronic health problems started when I was only 22. A lot of my days are spent stuck inside because moving hurts. I don't get a normal life either and it really sucks. I feel for you.
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