Illness/fatigue: cancel summer expedition?

Hello, happy fourth of July everyone! I am a 44yo male, I live in Colorado. I have 7 years of structured training history, following the plan in the book. I have used it for success on un-guided climbs of Denali in 2019, Manaslu in 2021 (no summit), Aconcagua earlier this year, many winter 14ers and 50-100km races, etc. I have done my training plans on my own, except a call or two with Scott a few years ago (thanks so much for offering this service!). I have a very demanding job (50 hours per week on average) and a family with 3 young kids.

For 3 straight years I have planned expeditions in July to Central Asia for Snow Leopard peaks. For 3 straight years I got sick in June and ended up cancelling, fearing I lost too much fitness right before the expedition. I am confused and frustrated, I historically always get sick in the winter and then I am clear for the year, but recently every June it seems one of the kids brings something nasty home and I’m in my peak training phase and I get wrecked.

For this year, I am at a month now feeling ill. Prior to getting ill I averaged 14 hours a week of training for 24 weeks, which is less training than a few years ago when I went for Denali and an 8000m peak. I’ve been trying to nudge myself back with easy hikes and low volume and its not working. I tried my easy training hike this morning and had 20bpm above average, feeling tired and slow and still a bit ill, no better off than 2 weeks ago. I still struggle getting through the day without a nap. My flight to Tajikistan is in 2 weeks.

I had some very high stress at work and on the home front this last June before getting ill. I usually recover from illness within 2 weeks, but its not happening this time.

For reference, I did Aconcagua in Feb earlier this year while being sick for 2 weeks right before I left. It went well, felt rested and recovered, and very easy compared to training climbs around Christmas up tough winter 14er outings.

I had my blood tested recently nothing came back alarming. I hope to hear from the Doctor next week to take a second look given my fatigue symptoms.

My questions are:

1.) Am I crazy still holding out hope for my expedition in 2 weeks, given a month of being ill with sub-optimal training (no ME), and not improving? I am thinking of one last ditch effort to rest completely for 4-7 days, and then try to nudge fitness back together in the last week.

2.) I am afraid if I stop my easy hikes I’ll lose all my fitness. Or alternatively, at this point should I just go all-in and rest completely?

If I cancel my Tajikistan expedition I have hope for Nepal in the Fall. 2025 is THE year for me to take a month off from work and family obligations – I am getting older, not sure I’ll get this window again so I am very motivated to kick this and do something big.