Can I start by saying how thankful I am to anyone who will reply to my post as this comes from a place of sincere struggle, with both mind and body.

I am due to see a TCM doctor tomorrow in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

However I wanted to get the opinion of any experts willing to donate their time to me.

I’m a 28 year old man but feel more like a 68 year old. I’ve been through so many emotions over the past 6 months. I had to stop working. I couldn’t see friends anymore. I stoped all my usually exercise. I hated myself, I was ashamed. I felt weak. I worried about being able to have a family with my Fiancé and not being able to provide. I had no energy to look after myself, never mind kids. But now, I’m only focused on the present and I’m willing to change everything about me if it means being well again.

I was diagnosed with CFS around August 2023. January 2023 is when I first started visiting the doctor (Chinese doctor but western clinic) complaining of swollen armpits, neck and shoulder pain, headaches that were generally always there, unrefreshed sleep and fatigue. Getting flue like symptoms and calling in sick to work fairly often.

My blood tests showed that I have contracted E.B.V, C.M.V and Glandular Fever at some point. My white blood cell neutrophil was measured at 1.8 (1.9 is normal). Thyroid - low to normal range. Everything else was normal, no vitamin deficiencies showed up, and I had 3 seperate blood tests over different levels of sickness periods.

I contracted Covid in May 2022 and possibly Glandular fever around the same time, it went un-diagnosed as I was bed ridden. I was in a high stress job at this time( I quit January 2023). I’m now fully aware that I hadn’t recovered fully from the sickness in May 2022, but I thought I had at the time. I was playing football during the week and climbing mountains on weekends, drinking on weekends, going camping and staying up late and generally being very active. But not very mindful.

I even travelled from New Zealand to Scotland for 6 weeks where I spent almost every day catching up with friends, drinking most days as was expected, as I hadn’t been home for a long time.

I also visited home from NZ June 2023. I have subsequently read that time zone change can be particularly harmful to the body.

Fast forward to now, I am currently in Chiang Mai and not working. Which is giving me time to research methods on how to cure my mind and body. I believe the weather here (sunny everyday) is helping my chronic pain. I have started seeing a therapist, I have started my Qigong journey, and my diet is almost entirely consists of healthy unprocessed food. It’s well balanced with carbs, veggies and protein. Alcohol is no longer part of my life 👋🥃🙏 and I’m continually trying to cut out other inflammatory foods (gluten, trans fats e.c.t) I’m more aware of prebiotics and probiotics, gut health and antioxidants. I take vit b12 , magnesium, iron, vit D, and vit C supplements, I also take melatonin to sleep.

Now - I almost don’t suffer from any body pain anymore , just general stiffness. I feel much less angry at myself and I’m learning to love myself (yes I actually said that 😂). Brain fog can still be a slight issue. Fatigue is now the biggest issue for me, I may have 5-7 days feeling great, followed by 3-4 days of feeling shit. And building up stamina seems impossible.

I’ve heard most people recover after roughly 6 months. Is there anything blatantly obvious I should be doing? Am I being impatient? I just want to be able to climb hills and be more spontaneous again. I’ll never got back to my old life though, I have even considered learning mandarin and studying TCM, I find it absolutely fascinating. I appreciate that there are people who are much worse off than me with CFS and I feel for you if you’re are reading this. ❤️