Olympic sprinter forced into early retirement

Beth Dobbin, a former 200-meter sprinter and Great Britain Olympian from Tokyo 2021, has shared details about her recent ME/CFS diagnosis and its profound effects. The condition began affecting her in early 2022, following a Covid infection and subsequent bout of glandular fever within months.

Beth’s condition worsened when she returned to training after an international competition season, and she eventually retired from professional track and field in April this year. She revealed that her life has been “pretty much destroyed” since her diagnosis, saying she is in bed 22 hours a day and has left the house only five times this year.

Understanding ME/CFS

Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS, is a long-term condition that can affect different parts of the body, according to the NHS. The most common symptom is extreme tiredness that does not improve with rest. Beth noted that a diagnostic test is lacking, and the condition is often misunderstood as being “all in the mind.”

ME/CFS affects an estimated 1.35 million people in the UK. Beth described how the condition can vary significantly in severity, with some people experiencing mild symptoms and others being severely affected, often requiring tube feeding due to a lack of energy to digest food.

Living with ME/CFS

Beth explained that even basic tasks can be difficult to carry out due to the energy required to process them. She said that watching TV, for example, can be exhausting because of the energy needed to process what she is watching. This is a stark contrast to her previous routine as an athlete, when she would spend five hours a day at the track.

Beth has also experienced other health issues, including epilepsy, which she has spoken about publicly. She previously took medication for her epilepsy, which caused fatigue and concentration issues, but she was able to wean herself off the treatment and noticed an improvement.

Symptoms and Treatment

According to the NHS and Cleveland Clinic, the seven main symptoms of ME/CFS are: feeling extremely tired all the time, sleep problems, problems with thinking and concentration, symptoms getting worse after physical or mental activity, headaches, joint pain, and muscle aches. Other symptoms can include dizziness, chills, and mood swings.

While there is currently no cure for ME/CFS, people living with the condition may need to adapt their routines and lifestyles over the long term. The NHS advises energy management, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medicine to control symptoms such as pain and sleeping problems.

Beth is calling for more research and funding into ME/CFS, having sent a letter to the Prime Minister asking him to meet her. Over 350 sportspeople have signed the letter, including Keely Hodgkinson, Tom Daley, and Dina Asher-Smith. Beth expressed frustration at the lack of specialist care, noting that it can take years to get a diagnosis on the NHS.