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!

Glandular fever / Post Viral Malaise - Getting back into exercise

A little bit about me -

I was diagnosed with glandular fever around a month ago after several months of feeling exhausted, depressed and falling asleep for no real reason. It turns out I had my first episode in November but it hadn't knocked me back as much as it does for most people because I was so fit and healthy (and stubborn). Before glandular fever I was working out 4-5 times a week (weight training and cardio), skating 4-6 hours a week and pole dancing 1-2 hours a week.

As well as feeling tired all the time, around once a month I would have an episode where my glands and throat became swollen, I'd vomit on and off for 24 hours and then have to spend the next day or two resting to recover. Since speaking with a doctor I now understand that this is because I was overdoing it when I felt better (returning to my usual routine) and this was causing my body to go into panic mode and the glandular fever would re-emerge. It ran on pretty much a 4 weekly cycle.

1) Be sick, feel terrible.
2) Still feel tired and horrid but resume normal responsibilities.
3) Feel much better, hit the gym, force my way through the tiredness.
4) Start feeling lethargic and like I have a cold coming but still pushing myself to go to the gym.

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

My doctor has recommended exercise (in moderation) as this should help me recover quicker. (Previous recommendations of complete bed rest have since been found to make symptoms last longer).

So what is my advice to someone in a similar situation?

• Don't be too hard on yourself! It's okay if you need to rest. It's okay to not finish everything you planned to. Your health comes first.

• Talk to your friends and family, make them aware of what's going on. Call them out if they're disrespectful about what you're going through. Don't stand for someone telling you that you're just lazy. You're not lazy, you're ill.

• Start slowly. For me, light cardio and stretching is best. Activating your muscles but not putting them under great strain is good for getting the blood pumping and recommencing your old routine without ruining yourself for the day.

• Plan ahead. If you play a sport that requires that you give 100% (mine is roller derby) try and plan a rest day after. I also recommend having a day that is as restful as possible leading up to the event. If you need to book a day off work, do it. 

• Prepare for the payback day. Make sure you're aware of what you're letting yourself in for. If I overdo it, my payback day is awful. My body feels like a deadweight, my muscles ache and twitch by themselves, I can't moderate my body temperature and I'm an emotional wreck. Ask yourself if what you're doing is worth the misery. For me, skating gives me a sense of normalcy. It's an adrenaline heavy sport it makes me feel like I'm back to full health. For me, it's worth it. But if you have something that isn't going to bring you any joy. Cancel. Focus on what makes you happy.

• If you weight train, only train at 50%. It can be frustrating when you know you can squat 90kg to only squat 45kg. But your body will thank you for it in the long run. It means less payback and that you might be able to make it through the rest of the day without napping or lying in your bed crying about baby pandas. 

• Eat well. Now is not the time to diet*, you need to fuel your body so it can heal itself. Sometimes post viral malaise develops into chronic fatigue syndrome. It's worth having a few extra lbs right now to know that this will pass in the next year or two and you won't have to live it every day. (*this is not an excuse to eat cake everyday, even though you desperately want to).

• Stay away from stress! I find that stress and anxiety are the biggest drains on my energy levels. I can have a day sitting in the office, but if something stressful is happening, that's more tiring than walking four miles. Do what you can to eliminate stress. Don't get involved in other people's drama. 

• Listen to your body! Your friend had glandular fever and was back to normal in a month? Who cares?! Everyone is different, you need to listen to what your body is telling you and do what it asks.

• Stay positive! It's hard. I know that it's hard. But try and look on the bright side! Do little things that make you feel happy. Laugh with your friends. The right mental attitude will get you through. 

I know that if any of you are suffering with this and having a bad day that this will seem like the biggest pile of crap you've ever read. But the good days feel so much better when you have the bad days to look back on. They make you appreciate the days you can just get out of bed and not worry you won't have the energy to make breakfast.

So what fitness am I doing now? I'm skating at least 4 hours a week. Some weeks a little longer. I'm back at the gym 2 or 3 times a week. Not for as long, but enough to make me feel normal. 100% isn't the same for everyone, so don't feel ashamed of slowly plodding on the cross trainer whilst people are working like dogs around you. They don't know your story.

If anyone needs someone to rant about it to, feel free to contact me on my social media or email me - jezilynmartyn@gmail.com. Us sickies have to stick together!

I hope this was helpful!!!

Jez