Fred Rossi
@darthfoo.bsky.social
My passions: Lightsabers, tech, books, comics, graphic novels, and the sweet sound of a Penguins goal horn. 🚨 My not-so-secret villain: #LongCovid #MECFS. Still here, still nerdy! #LetsGoPens
https://darthfoo.substack.com
https://darthfoo.substack.com
This is post-exertional malaise #PEM. This is what Johns Hopkins describes as “a delayed worsening of symptoms…after minimal physical or mental activity.” This is the reality where “the malaise & other symptoms experienced are not in proportion to the amount of activity that has been done.”
January 15, 2026 at 10:59 PM
This is post-exertional malaise #PEM. This is what Johns Hopkins describes as “a delayed worsening of symptoms…after minimal physical or mental activity.” This is the reality where “the malaise & other symptoms experienced are not in proportion to the amount of activity that has been done.”
A quote from my new piece, The Accounting Error.
“The post-holiday crash hit exactly as expected. The brutal economics of chronic illness don’t lie. You spend energy you don’t have on celebrations and gatherings, and the body presents its bill with interest.”
substack.com/home/post/p-...
“The post-holiday crash hit exactly as expected. The brutal economics of chronic illness don’t lie. You spend energy you don’t have on celebrations and gatherings, and the body presents its bill with interest.”
substack.com/home/post/p-...
The Accounting Error
When Chronic Illness Doesn’t Follow the Script
substack.com
January 14, 2026 at 4:28 PM
A quote from my new piece, The Accounting Error.
“The post-holiday crash hit exactly as expected. The brutal economics of chronic illness don’t lie. You spend energy you don’t have on celebrations and gatherings, and the body presents its bill with interest.”
substack.com/home/post/p-...
“The post-holiday crash hit exactly as expected. The brutal economics of chronic illness don’t lie. You spend energy you don’t have on celebrations and gatherings, and the body presents its bill with interest.”
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Post-holiday crash hit hard. Walked to the end of the driveway for trash cans & now can’t stay upright. This is post-exertional malaise in action: seemingly minor tasks stealing days of function. I wrote about why I can’t just meet for dinner:
#PEM #MECFS #LongCOVID
substack.com/@darthfoo/p-...
#PEM #MECFS #LongCOVID
substack.com/@darthfoo/p-...
Why I Can’t Just Meet You for Dinner
The Reality of Post-Exertional Malaise
substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Post-holiday crash hit hard. Walked to the end of the driveway for trash cans & now can’t stay upright. This is post-exertional malaise in action: seemingly minor tasks stealing days of function. I wrote about why I can’t just meet for dinner:
#PEM #MECFS #LongCOVID
substack.com/@darthfoo/p-...
#PEM #MECFS #LongCOVID
substack.com/@darthfoo/p-...
Post-holiday crash is real. “Energy budget” on family time & now I’m paying the interest. That’s post-exertional malaise. Not tired. Not lazy. Physiologically incapable of producing energy my body needs.
This is what I mean when I say I can’t just meet you for dinner:
substack.com/@darthfoo/p-...
This is what I mean when I say I can’t just meet you for dinner:
substack.com/@darthfoo/p-...
Why I Can’t Just Meet You for Dinner
The Reality of Post-Exertional Malaise
substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:30 AM
Post-holiday crash is real. “Energy budget” on family time & now I’m paying the interest. That’s post-exertional malaise. Not tired. Not lazy. Physiologically incapable of producing energy my body needs.
This is what I mean when I say I can’t just meet you for dinner:
substack.com/@darthfoo/p-...
This is what I mean when I say I can’t just meet you for dinner:
substack.com/@darthfoo/p-...
A quote from my new piece, “Those Who Were Already Here.” About my gratitude to the Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). #MECFS #LongCOVID #ChronicIllness
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
December 28, 2025 at 5:22 PM
A quote from my new piece, “Those Who Were Already Here.” About my gratitude to the Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). #MECFS #LongCOVID #ChronicIllness
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
A quote from my recent piece about my gratitude to the Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) community, Those Who Were Already Here. Please check it out and let me know your thoughts. #LongCovid #MECFS
December 26, 2025 at 2:31 PM
A quote from my recent piece about my gratitude to the Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) community, Those Who Were Already Here. Please check it out and let me know your thoughts. #LongCovid #MECFS
Reposted by Fred Rossi
1 of 9
My #SevereME Christmas
* All day mostly alone
* No TV, music or twinkly lights due to extreme sensory sensitivities
* I won’t be able to see anyone except my husband (also my caregiver) as I don’t have enough energy to interact with them. We’ll mostly sign for the things I need …
My #SevereME Christmas
* All day mostly alone
* No TV, music or twinkly lights due to extreme sensory sensitivities
* I won’t be able to see anyone except my husband (also my caregiver) as I don’t have enough energy to interact with them. We’ll mostly sign for the things I need …
December 25, 2025 at 1:51 PM
1 of 9
My #SevereME Christmas
* All day mostly alone
* No TV, music or twinkly lights due to extreme sensory sensitivities
* I won’t be able to see anyone except my husband (also my caregiver) as I don’t have enough energy to interact with them. We’ll mostly sign for the things I need …
My #SevereME Christmas
* All day mostly alone
* No TV, music or twinkly lights due to extreme sensory sensitivities
* I won’t be able to see anyone except my husband (also my caregiver) as I don’t have enough energy to interact with them. We’ll mostly sign for the things I need …
A quote from my new piece, Those Who Were Already Here. Words can’t begin to express my gratitude to members of the ME/CFS community.
“The people who live with #MECFS did not greet #LongCOVID with surprise. They greeted it with recognition.”
substack.com/home/post/p-...
“The people who live with #MECFS did not greet #LongCOVID with surprise. They greeted it with recognition.”
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Those Who Were Already Here
Learning to Live Inside a History I Did Not Choose
substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:53 PM
A quote from my new piece, Those Who Were Already Here. Words can’t begin to express my gratitude to members of the ME/CFS community.
“The people who live with #MECFS did not greet #LongCOVID with surprise. They greeted it with recognition.”
substack.com/home/post/p-...
“The people who live with #MECFS did not greet #LongCOVID with surprise. They greeted it with recognition.”
substack.com/home/post/p-...
A quote from my recent piece, “The Holiday Tax.” #LongCovid #MECFS #ChronicIllness #Holidays #Disablility
“The guilt compounds like the PEM itself. Every invitation I decline, every gathering I miss, every moment I can’t be present for feels like I’m failing the people who matter most.”
“The guilt compounds like the PEM itself. Every invitation I decline, every gathering I miss, every moment I can’t be present for feels like I’m failing the people who matter most.”
December 22, 2025 at 2:26 PM
A quote from my recent piece, “The Holiday Tax.” #LongCovid #MECFS #ChronicIllness #Holidays #Disablility
“The guilt compounds like the PEM itself. Every invitation I decline, every gathering I miss, every moment I can’t be present for feels like I’m failing the people who matter most.”
“The guilt compounds like the PEM itself. Every invitation I decline, every gathering I miss, every moment I can’t be present for feels like I’m failing the people who matter most.”
Finished my shift at 5pm. Should’ve been home by 6pm.
Instead, I sat in my car in the parking lot for 90 minutes because the migraine hit hard enough that driving wasn’t an option. Light sensitivity, vision blurred to hell, dizzy enough that operating a vehicle would’ve been criminally stupid.
Instead, I sat in my car in the parking lot for 90 minutes because the migraine hit hard enough that driving wasn’t an option. Light sensitivity, vision blurred to hell, dizzy enough that operating a vehicle would’ve been criminally stupid.
December 18, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Finished my shift at 5pm. Should’ve been home by 6pm.
Instead, I sat in my car in the parking lot for 90 minutes because the migraine hit hard enough that driving wasn’t an option. Light sensitivity, vision blurred to hell, dizzy enough that operating a vehicle would’ve been criminally stupid.
Instead, I sat in my car in the parking lot for 90 minutes because the migraine hit hard enough that driving wasn’t an option. Light sensitivity, vision blurred to hell, dizzy enough that operating a vehicle would’ve been criminally stupid.
Here’s a quote from my new piece, The Holiday Tax.
“Here’s the thing about the holiday season when you have PEM: it’s not just one event. It’s weeks of compounding demands. Thanksgiving wasn’t an isolated cost. It’s still being paid. Christmas won’t be either. And then there’s New Year’s.”
“Here’s the thing about the holiday season when you have PEM: it’s not just one event. It’s weeks of compounding demands. Thanksgiving wasn’t an isolated cost. It’s still being paid. Christmas won’t be either. And then there’s New Year’s.”
December 17, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Here’s a quote from my new piece, The Holiday Tax.
“Here’s the thing about the holiday season when you have PEM: it’s not just one event. It’s weeks of compounding demands. Thanksgiving wasn’t an isolated cost. It’s still being paid. Christmas won’t be either. And then there’s New Year’s.”
“Here’s the thing about the holiday season when you have PEM: it’s not just one event. It’s weeks of compounding demands. Thanksgiving wasn’t an isolated cost. It’s still being paid. Christmas won’t be either. And then there’s New Year’s.”
Reposted by Fred Rossi
"Some may be navigating how to ask for precautions from reluctant family members in order to attend holiday gatherings, while some may be experiencing dread around turning down invitations to events they're not comfortable attending."
www.oliviabelknaptherapy.com/post/navigat...
www.oliviabelknaptherapy.com/post/navigat...
Navigating Holidays While COVID Conscious
Phrases for the COVID conscious community to use when navigating precautions for holiday gatherings
www.oliviabelknaptherapy.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:26 AM
"Some may be navigating how to ask for precautions from reluctant family members in order to attend holiday gatherings, while some may be experiencing dread around turning down invitations to events they're not comfortable attending."
www.oliviabelknaptherapy.com/post/navigat...
www.oliviabelknaptherapy.com/post/navigat...
The math: 8 hours of work yesterday = today I can’t stay upright long enough to eat the bagel I just made. #LongCovid #MECFS #PEM
substack.com/@darthfoo/p-...
substack.com/@darthfoo/p-...
Why I Can’t Just Meet You for Dinner
The Reality of Post-Exertional Malaise
substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:52 PM
The math: 8 hours of work yesterday = today I can’t stay upright long enough to eat the bagel I just made. #LongCovid #MECFS #PEM
substack.com/@darthfoo/p-...
substack.com/@darthfoo/p-...
“Healthy people optimize their lives through addition: more experiences, more connections, more accomplishments. I’m optimizing through subtraction. And the clarity that comes from extreme constraint is something I never expected to value.” #LongCovid #MECFS
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
The Small Life
Calculating Worth with Diminished Returns
substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 1:10 AM
“Healthy people optimize their lives through addition: more experiences, more connections, more accomplishments. I’m optimizing through subtraction. And the clarity that comes from extreme constraint is something I never expected to value.” #LongCovid #MECFS
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
I’m excited to share my latest work, “The Small Life.” It explores the little things that still bring me joy as I navigate #LongCovid and #MECFS. #ChronicIllness
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
The Small Life
Calculating Worth with Diminished Returns
substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I’m excited to share my latest work, “The Small Life.” It explores the little things that still bring me joy as I navigate #LongCovid and #MECFS. #ChronicIllness
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Massive win by the @penguinsnhl.bsky.social tonight!!
November 29, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Massive win by the @penguinsnhl.bsky.social tonight!!
I’ve been working on a new piece, here’s a quote:
“People talk about #disability like it is a single moment. One day you are fine, the next you are not. But in reality it is more like a shoreline that slowly breaks apart. A gradual unmaking instead of a sudden collapse.” #PEM #LongCovid #MECFS
“People talk about #disability like it is a single moment. One day you are fine, the next you are not. But in reality it is more like a shoreline that slowly breaks apart. A gradual unmaking instead of a sudden collapse.” #PEM #LongCovid #MECFS
November 28, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I’ve been working on a new piece, here’s a quote:
“People talk about #disability like it is a single moment. One day you are fine, the next you are not. But in reality it is more like a shoreline that slowly breaks apart. A gradual unmaking instead of a sudden collapse.” #PEM #LongCovid #MECFS
“People talk about #disability like it is a single moment. One day you are fine, the next you are not. But in reality it is more like a shoreline that slowly breaks apart. A gradual unmaking instead of a sudden collapse.” #PEM #LongCovid #MECFS
Just finished an 8-hour shift. Traveling to family for the holiday tomorrow, 3-hours round trip, we’ll be gone all day. That leaves me only 2 days to recover for my 8-hour shift on Sunday. My #PEMCrash will worsen next week. 🤦♂️ #PEM #LongCovid #MECFS
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Why I Can’t Just Meet You for Dinner
The Reality of Post-Exertional Malaise
substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Just finished an 8-hour shift. Traveling to family for the holiday tomorrow, 3-hours round trip, we’ll be gone all day. That leaves me only 2 days to recover for my 8-hour shift on Sunday. My #PEMCrash will worsen next week. 🤦♂️ #PEM #LongCovid #MECFS
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
I wrote recently about my experience with post-exertional malaise #PEM. Last year, I tried graded exercise therapy and it put me into a #PEMCrash that lasted for months. The physical therapist that “has worked with many #LongCovid #MECFS patients” had this mindset.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
November 24, 2025 at 11:30 PM
I wrote recently about my experience with post-exertional malaise #PEM. Last year, I tried graded exercise therapy and it put me into a #PEMCrash that lasted for months. The physical therapist that “has worked with many #LongCovid #MECFS patients” had this mindset.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reposted by Fred Rossi
The majority of Long COVID research investigating exercise benefits completely ignores post-exertional malaise (PEM) - one of the core symptoms of #LongCOVID.
An analysis by @thesicktimes.org showed that less than 20% of Long COVID trials involving exercise even mention PEM.
An analysis by @thesicktimes.org showed that less than 20% of Long COVID trials involving exercise even mention PEM.
November 24, 2025 at 10:12 PM
The majority of Long COVID research investigating exercise benefits completely ignores post-exertional malaise (PEM) - one of the core symptoms of #LongCOVID.
An analysis by @thesicktimes.org showed that less than 20% of Long COVID trials involving exercise even mention PEM.
An analysis by @thesicktimes.org showed that less than 20% of Long COVID trials involving exercise even mention PEM.
Back from work after an 8-hour shift! I’ll be resting on my back until I start another 8-hour shift on Wednesday. This is what life looks like with #LongCovid & #MECFS. Sending lots of good thoughts to everyone dealing with this tough illness. Fingers crossed for brighter days ahead for all of us!
November 23, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Back from work after an 8-hour shift! I’ll be resting on my back until I start another 8-hour shift on Wednesday. This is what life looks like with #LongCovid & #MECFS. Sending lots of good thoughts to everyone dealing with this tough illness. Fingers crossed for brighter days ahead for all of us!
Here’s a quote from my piece, Why I Can’t Just Meet You for Dinner, about post-exertional malaise. This is after work while I’m in the middle of a PEM crash. #PEM #MECFS #LongCovid #ChronicIllness #Disabled
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
November 17, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Here’s a quote from my piece, Why I Can’t Just Meet You for Dinner, about post-exertional malaise. This is after work while I’m in the middle of a PEM crash. #PEM #MECFS #LongCovid #ChronicIllness #Disabled
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
It’s refreshing to be part of a party that can stand up for their principles. 🤦♂️ #Democrats
November 10, 2025 at 5:54 AM
It’s refreshing to be part of a party that can stand up for their principles. 🤦♂️ #Democrats
My recent piece on the impact of post-exertional malaise. #PEM #LongCovid #MECFS #Disability #ChronicIllness
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Why I Can’t Just Meet You for Dinner
The Reality of Post-Exertional Malaise
substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:04 PM
My recent piece on the impact of post-exertional malaise. #PEM #LongCovid #MECFS #Disability #ChronicIllness
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...