Glandular Fever / Post Viral Malaise - Other people suck

Hello friends!

I hope you're feeling amazing! (or at least not completely terrible).

Today's post is about how people suck. And to be clear, this is not all people. Some people are amazing. But it only takes a few negative people to mess up your head or upset you.

The problem with people is they don't know what they don't know. I understand that's an obvious comment to make, but it's true. If you've never had glandular fever or post viral malaise or any other invisible illness it's easy to be ignorant.

Here are a few of the comments that used to - and occasionally still do - get to me the most.

"My friend/relative had glandular fever and after 6 weeks they were fine."

"You're just being lazy."

"Why aren't you trying harder?"

"Well, you made it to the gym yesterday. Are you sure you're not faking it?"

These, amongst many other comments I've not included, only happen because of ignorance. Simply because people do not understand. 

Rather than getting annoyed with people I'm now trying to take this as an opportunity to educate people (and myself). 

If you find that you're struggling to explain why your energy levels deplete so rapidly, my go to is always spoon theory It's a great tool.

If you're playing and competing in a sport like I am, make your teammates aware of what's going on with you! It's better that they know you're not smashing endurance drills so you can last to the end of training, not because your fitness has dropped. Try your best to answer any questions individuals might have about it.

The most important (and sometimes most challenging) thing is to trust yourself. Remember that you know what's best for your body. If someone accuses you of being lazy, forget about it. You know you're not. Not everyone's 100% is the same.

Remember friends, stay smiling! 

As before, if you need someone to rant to, cry to, shout at, feel free to send me an email jezilynmartyn@gmail.com.

Stay strong fellow sickies!

Glandular fever / Post viral malaise - set backs

Hello friends!

This week I got cocky.  This week I let everyone know that I'd gone just over a month without a new episode of glandular fever.

Naturally,  within 12 hours of this conversation my glands were back up and I was exhausted and feeling like I was dying again.  (Dramatic,  but I'm sure you understand).

Setbacks suck. You feel like all your careful planning and scheduling was for nothing.  You feel like allowing recovery days was pointless.  But sometimes it can't be helped.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I can now see that I've had this set back because I went out on Saturday night expecting a relaxed start to the week to recover.  I then had 2 stressful days at work combined with committee meetings and training so here I am!

It's easy to be dramatic -  "oh I can never go out again,  it'll make me sick".  But that's not true.  I just needed to organise my schedule with more rest points -  something I've now learnt.

Remember,  every set back is a lesson.  You're learning about what your body needs and how to get the best out of it.  That's never a bad thing.  You can take the skill with you long after your symptoms are faded.

Stay strong and stay happy fellow sickies!