Tiffiny Hall says her battle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is like being ‘encased in cement’

Tiffiny Hall spoke about her crippling battle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME and POTS on Wednesday’s episode of A Current Affair.

The 36-year-old former Biggest Loser trainer revealed she had been admitted to hospital ‘multiple times’ as she battled the debilitating illness.

At one stage, Tiffiny confessed she was in such poor health that her mother and a friend had to move in with her and her husband of seven years, comedian Ed Kavalee, to help care for the couple’s three-year-old son, Arnold. 

Struggling: Tiffiny Hall spoke about her crippling battle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME and POTS on Wednesday’s episode of A Current Affair

Tiff said she initially thought she had ‘burnout’, and described the fatigue as feeling as though ‘your body is encased in cement’.

‘It is horrendous, absolutely hideous… I mean, I was a gladiator. I have done some amazing things with my physical body. Yet this is going to be my biggest battle yet,’ she confessed.

The celebrity fitness trainer said her goal is to just ‘get back to being a good mum’, and revealed she still relies on Ed, 41, to drive her places.

Poor health: The 36-year-old former Biggest Loser trainer revealed she had been admitted to hospital 'multiple times' as she battled the debilitating illness

Poor health: The 36-year-old former Biggest Loser trainer revealed she had been admitted to hospital ‘multiple times’ as she battled the debilitating illness

Back to normal: Tiff said she's looking forward to being well enough to run around with her son at the park again, rather than just sitting on a bench and watching him

Back to normal: Tiff said she’s looking forward to being well enough to run around with her son at the park again, rather than just sitting on a bench and watching him

Tiff said she’s looking forward to being well enough to run around with Arnold at the park again, rather than just sitting on a bench and watching him. 

‘The problem with chronic fatigue is it won’t kill you, but it will ruin your life… I was smiling on camera and dying behind the scenes,’ she revealed.  

Tiff first revealed her private battle with the debilitating genetic illness last week.   

'The problem with chronic fatigue is it won't kill you, but it will ruin your life... I was smiling on camera and dying behind the scenes,' she revealed

‘The problem with chronic fatigue is it won’t kill you, but it will ruin your life… I was smiling on camera and dying behind the scenes,’ she revealed

'It can ruin your life': Tiff shared an emotional update on her long-term health battle to Instagram on Tuesday

‘It can ruin your life’: Tiff shared an emotional update on her long-term health battle to Instagram on Tuesday

Tiffiny thanked her loyal fans for their unwavering support and kind messages in an emotional update on Instagram on Tuesday.  

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / ME (myalgic Encephalomyelitis) is a disease characterised by extreme exhaustion, sleep abnormalities and, in some cases, pain.

POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) is an illness that affects the flow of blood to the top of the body, with symptoms including lightheadedness, fainting and rapid heartbeat.    

'I'm resting up, feeling positive and ready to take this on!' Tiffiny planned to use her pillars of TIFFXO (movement, mindfulness and nutrition) to get her through her health battle

‘I’m resting up, feeling positive and ready to take this on!’ Tiffiny planned to use her pillars of TIFFXO (movement, mindfulness and nutrition) to get her through her health battle

‘It’s complex, its hard to understand, you may look fine and present well, but it really can ruin your life, unless you take some time out to recover properly… I’m resting up, feeling positive and ready to take this on!’ Tiffiny said. 

‘The real root of the problem, for me, was removing some stress in my life, removing insults to the nervous system, and focusing on those pillars of TIFFXO; movement, mindfulness and nutrition. They are the cornerstones of my recovery.

‘I have to re-look at the way I do things, because CFS does seem to affect a lot of athletes and target people who have type-A personalities. You have to look at your priorities and they way you do things, so it’s a bit of reset. 

‘I have to re-look at the way I do things’: Tiffiny said she had to ‘reset’ her life, her priorities and they way she does things

Posting to Instagram last week, Tiffiny revealed she’d undergone ‘a gazillion tests to figure out what could be wrong’ before finally being diagnosed with two genetic blood pressure conditions known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME and POTS. 

In her caption, Tiffiny wrote: ‘Okay, deep breath. I’ve decided to share something very personal with you today. For some time now I’ve been battling a little with my health. A lot actually.’ 

Tiffiny admitted she’s struggled to accept her condition, and has ‘felt like she’s hit rock bottom at times’. 

'I've decided to share something very personal with you today': The Biggest Loser trainer Tiffiny Hall, 36, (pictured) lifted the lid on her long-term battle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME and POTS in an Instagram post last week

‘I’ve decided to share something very personal with you today’: The Biggest Loser trainer Tiffiny Hall, 36, (pictured) lifted the lid on her long-term battle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME and POTS in an Instagram post last week

‘While I’m staying positive, recovery is tough and will mean taking a break for a little while to get well again,’ she continued. 

‘This is one of the hardest decisions, but I have to practise what I teach. For now, I’m prioritising recovery and family, and hopefully will be back in no time.’ 

The personal trainer assured her fans that her online fitness community TIFFXO would still run in future, but that her social media engagement may be ‘less frequent’. 

Diagnosis: Tiffiny said she'd undergone 'a gazillion tests to figure out what could be wrong' before finally being diagnosed with the genetic blood pressure conditions

Diagnosis: Tiffiny said she’d undergone ‘a gazillion tests to figure out what could be wrong’ before finally being diagnosed with the genetic blood pressure conditions

‘Coaching you is a great privilege that I never take for granted, so TIFFXO will keep kicking with fun new workouts I shot recently hitting the planner soon (perfect timing!), fabulous trainers (another newbie on the way), and Team Tiff standing by,’ she wrote.  

‘Sure, 2021 has had a bit of the 2020’s about it for me so far, but I’m looking forward to getting on top of this and being able to give 110% again.’ 

The mother-of-one also spoke to News.com.au about her condition last week, revealing that she first experienced symptoms of Chronic Fatigue in high school.

'For now, I'm prioritising recovery and family': The personal trainer assured fans that her online fitness community TIFFXO would still run in future, but that her social media engagement may be 'less frequent'. Pictured with husband Ed Kavalee, 41, and their son Arnold, three

‘For now, I’m prioritising recovery and family’: The personal trainer assured fans that her online fitness community TIFFXO would still run in future, but that her social media engagement may be ‘less frequent’. Pictured with husband Ed Kavalee, 41, and their son Arnold, three

Reaching out: Tiffiny also shared this Instagram Story post last week, thanking her fans for their support and encouraging them to share their personal experiences with the disease

Reaching out: Tiffiny also shared this Instagram Story post last week, thanking her fans for their support and encouraging them to share their personal experiences with the disease  

‘It’s very common for CFS to re-present itself over time, but after being in remission for over 20 years up until now, I’m confident I can beat it again,’ she vowed. 

Tiffiny also said she’s received an overwhelmingly positive response to her initial Instagram post.

‘I’m feeling truly grateful for all of the support and love I’ve received since sharing this very sensitive news,’ she said.   

'After being in remission for over 20 years up until now, I'm confident I can beat it again': The mother-of-one also spoke to News.com.au about her condition, revealing that she first experienced symptoms of Chronic Fatigue in high school

‘After being in remission for over 20 years up until now, I’m confident I can beat it again’: The mother-of-one also spoke to News.com.au about her condition, revealing that she first experienced symptoms of Chronic Fatigue in high school

What is Chronic Fatigue/ ME and POTS? 

Chronic Fatigue   

Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME (myalgic Encephalomyelitis) causes extreme fatigue. 

Doctors are yet to understand the causes of the illness. There is currently no cure for the debilitating illness but there are treatments which could help the symptoms.

One of the most common symptoms is unexplained and overwhelming tiredness despite minimal physical or mental effort 

Other symptoms include headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, sore throat, loss of memory or poor concentration, not feeling refreshed after being asleep, enlarged lymph nodes and unusual tiredness after exercise. 

POTS  

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system, causing blood vessels not to respond efficiently to the signal to tighten. 

When a patient with POTS is upright, blood pools in the lower half of the body, and not enough returns to the brain.

This can cause a variety of symptoms including increased heart rate, shakiness, lightheadedness, fainting, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, intolerance of exercise, headache, blurry vision, palpitations, excessive sweating, and nausea. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk