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‘Feels Like I’m A Few Days From Death’: Olympic Sprinter Beth Dobbin Says She Is Bedbound 22 Hours A Day

Beth Dobbin, who represented Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, now spends more than 22 hours a day in bed.

The 32-year-old retired from athletics in April 2026, describing her illness as “serious” and “life-changing.” She was later diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a chronic condition with no known cure or specific treatment.

Dobbin reached the 200m semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympics and won bronze in the 4x200m relay with Scotland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

“It's life-decimating like I can't even put into words,” she said. “I feel like I've lost everything.”

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/dr-rachna-shroff-indian-american-cancer-researcher-who-turned-her-diagnosis-into-advocacy-article-156349587" data-type="tilCustomLink">Dr Rachna Shroff: Indian-American Cancer Researcher Who Turned Her Diagnosis Into Advocacy</a>

Dobbin’s health began deteriorating after back-to-back COVID-19 and glandular fever infections in the winter of 2021-22, the BBC 

She experienced worsening fatigue, slower running times and soreness in the glands in her neck and armpits. Initial tests by British Athletics doctors failed to identify the cause.

Despite her symptoms, she continued training in 2022. At the European Championships, she false-started after losing all feeling in her legs while in the starting blocks.

Her condition subsequently worsened. She struggled to stand and spent most of her time in bed. After consulting four or five specialists, she was diagnosed with ME.

Dobbin has been confined to her house and bed since then. She gets out of bed only to eat and use the bathroom. Even conversations, bright lights or loud sounds can trigger a “crash” lasting days or, in severe cases, months. She has left the house just five times this year, the report said.

She now leaves home mainly for medical appointments and blood tests. Even conversations, bright lights and loud sounds can trigger a “crash” that lasts days or, in severe cases, months. She has left home just five times this year, according to the report.

Read More: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/3-time-colon-cancer-survivor-reveals-first-symptom-she-noticed-at-14-article-156333708" data-type="tilCustomLink">3-Time Colon Cancer Survivor Reveals First Symptom She Noticed At 14</a>

ME, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), is a complex, chronic illness that can cause severe fatigue, pain, sleep disturbances and problems with thinking and memory. Symptoms do not improve simply with rest, and there is no established cure.

Dobbin rejects the term “chronic fatigue syndrome” because she believes it understates the severity of the condition.

“I wish it was just fatigue, that would be a walk in the park,” she said. “It's so much more than that. If I thought of fatigue in my top 20 symptoms it might just make the cut.”

She described the illness as feeling as though her entire body “is shutting down; it feels like you are a few days from death”.

More than 400,000 people in the UK are thought to have ME, although some estimates put the number above one million. The illness varies in severity, with some people continuing to work or study while others require extensive care.

Dobbin’s illness has also taken an emotional toll on her family.

“I'm just so desperate to help her but I can't because there is nothing. I'd take her anywhere, I'd take her to America if I had to, but there's nothing,” her father, Jim, said.

<h2>Beth Dobbin Aims To Raise ME Awareness</h2>

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Dobbin describes her future as “very bleak” but hopes that greater awareness will lead to better treatment options.

The emergence of long COVID, which shares some symptoms with ME, has brought renewed attention to the illness and increased research funding.

She also wants to highlight the experiences of patients who are dismissed or disbelieved.

“A lot of people that have this illness that I've spoken to have said to me 'I don't get believed, people think I'm lazy'. I've never experienced one person that doesn't believe me and that's because, why would an athlete just suddenly stop after 20 years?”

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Beth Dobbin, who represented Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, now spends more than 22 hours a day in bed.The 32-year-old retired from athletics in April 2026, describing her illness as “serious” and “life-changing.” She was later diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a chronic condition with no known cure or specific treatment.Dobbin reached the 200m semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympics and won bronze in the 4x200m relay with Scotland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.“It's life-decimating like I can't even put into words,” she said. “I feel like I've lost everything.”Beth Dobbin's Diagnosis with MEAlso read: Dr Rachna Shroff: Indian-American Cancer Researcher Who Turned Her Diagnosis Into AdvocacyDobbin’s health began deteriorating after back-to-back COVID-19 and glandular fever infections in the winter of 2021-22, the BBC reported.She experienced worsening fatigue, slower running times and soreness in the glands in her neck and armpits. Initial tests by British Athletics doctors failed to identify the cause.Despite her symptoms, she continued training in 2022. At the European Championships, she false-started after losing all feeling in her legs while in the starting blocks.Her condition subsequently worsened. She struggled to stand and spent most of her time in bed. After consulting four or five specialists, she was diagnosed with ME.Dobbin has been confined to her house and bed since then. She gets out of bed only to eat and use the bathroom. Even conversations, bright lights or loud sounds can trigger a “crash” lasting days or, in severe cases, months. She has left the house just five times this year, the report said.She now leaves home mainly for medical appointments and blood tests. Even conversations, bright lights and loud sounds can trigger a “crash” that lasts days or, in severe cases, months. She has left home just five times this year, according to the report.What Is ME?Read More: 3-Time Colon Cancer Survivor Reveals First Symptom She Noticed At 14 ME, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), is a complex, chronic illness that can cause severe fatigue, pain, sleep disturbances and problems with thinking and memory. Symptoms do not improve simply with rest, and there is no established cure.Dobbin rejects the term “chronic fatigue syndrome” because she believes it understates the severity of the condition.“I wish it was just fatigue, that would be a walk in the park,” she said. “It's so much more than that. If I thought of fatigue in my top 20 symptoms it might just make the cut.”She described the illness as feeling as though her entire body “is shutting down; it feels like you are a few days from death”.More than 400,000 people in the UK are thought to have ME, although some estimates put the number above one million. The illness varies in severity, with some people continuing to work or study while others require extensive care.Dobbin’s illness has also taken an emotional toll on her family.“I'm just so desperate to help her but I can't because there is nothing. I'd take her anywhere, I'd take her to America if I had to, but there's nothing,” her father, Jim, said.Beth Dobbin Aims To Raise ME Awareness      Dobbin describes her future as “very bleak” but hopes that greater awareness will lead to better treatment options.The emergence of long COVID, which shares some symptoms with ME, has brought renewed attention to the illness and increased research funding.She also wants to highlight the experiences of patients who are dismissed or disbelieved.“A lot of people that have this illness that I've spoken to have said to me 'I don't get believed, people think I'm lazy'. I've never experienced one person that doesn't believe me and that's because, why would an athlete just suddenly stop after 20 years?”

‘feels like i’m a few days from death’: olympic sprinter beth dobbin is bedbound 22 hours a day

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Health Conditions A-Z

‘Feels Like I’m A Few Days From Death’: Olympic Sprinter Beth Dobbin Says She Is Bedbound 22 Hours A Day

Ultra-Processed Foods Linked To 40% Higher Odds Of Brain Damage; Women More At Risk, Finds Study

Teen Girls in US Have Lower Heart Health Scores Than Boys: CDC Study