I never used to get sick, but if I’m unwell, it generally relates to a CFS flare-up.

CFS

Back in 2018, I got quite a nasty dose of pneumonia that saw me admitted to hospital. After recovering, I developed a range of weird fatigue-based symptoms that just wouldn’t go away and that were eventually diagnosed by doctors to be chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). This sequence is not uncommon, but I had no idea I’d still be dealing with it in 2025. It can last for a lot longer 🙁

This thing is a real doozy, and I can’t overstate the tedium of the symptoms and their results. I can feel good for months, and then just slightly overdo it and be wiped out by fatigue, stomach problems, phantom smells, and body-wide joint pain. These bouts can last for weeks, and at their worst, literally prevent me from working.

For those who might think, “Ha, I get tired too, what’s the problem?”, I’ll say this: As a former high-school science teacher and marathon runner, I understand feeling tired better than most. CFS is like normal ‘tiredness’, x 10, with malaise and pain, that lasts for weeks, without doing anything.

I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

Arthritic Pain

The other thing that sometimes bothers me is my back, and my hips and knees are often sore. A lifetime of cross-country and road distance running has likely taken its toll here, or maybe this all would have happened anyway, who knows.

Lifting heavy amplifiers can trigger it, as can working on the car or a weird movement. Either way, age, wear and tear have combined to cause me some significant pain these days, and I have to be a bit careful. This, combined with the CFS mean that I just have to watch my energy and exertion.