The claimant in this short-term disability case became disabled following a vacation to Dubai. While in Dubai, the claimant contracted a serious upper respiratory infection, thought to be viral in nature. As a consequence, he began suffering from severe fatigue and insomnia, as well as dizziness, shortness of breath, pain, weakness and inability to focus. His symptoms did not resolve when he returned home. In fact, they got worse.
Over the course of three years and while still working, the claimant underwent extensive and invasive medical testing in an attempt to figure out what was wrong with him and to return to his former high level of activity. He was diagnosed with mononucleosis, fibromyalgia, and eventually Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). In short, he was given multiple diagnoses by specialists and sub-specialists from across the country, but none of his doctors could determine exactly what was wrong with him. One thing was clear, however, he was suffering from a form of severe and chronic, but intermittent, fatigue. His symptoms came and went, but his ability to work was destroyed.