Aeshnidae Flips the Bird at Being Sick

[aeshnidae]

Aeshnidae Flips the Bird at Being Sick

 

 

Intro: This is my third challenge as a Ranger and fourth challenge overall. I’ve been going to the gym for a long time (at least 3 days per week) and I was about 7 months into a heavy lifting program when I got slammed by bronchitis and then pneumonia, all of which exacerbated my fibromyalgia and has left me super fatigued.

 

Main Quest: To get back into fighting shape after being so sick, without pushing myself too hard and relapsing.

 

Mission 1: Improve sleep quality/decrease feelings of fatigue, or at least create a list that I can take to my doctor.

 

Mission 1.1. Track fibro symptoms and any other symptoms (like illness) daily. +2 CON

 

Mission 1.2. Track quality of sleep and what I did to prepare for sleep (including taking my sleep meds) so that I can continue to improve my sleep habits. +2 CHA

 

Mission 1.3. Practice meditation for 10 minutes at least 3 times per week using Calm.com (or something similar). +2 WIS

 

Mission 2: Continue building strength and balance. I’ve been heavy lifting for many months now and I still love it. Last time I tried to incorporate handstands but my whole challenge was thrown off by illness. I also realized that I hate being upside down, so I think I’ll revert to my planks and push-ups on medicine balls for  balance.

 

Mission 2.1. Perform at least 3 heavy lifting sessions per week, lifting in the 4-6 rep range for 3 sets per exercise. +3 STR

 

Mission 2.2. Perform at least 1 minute of plank on medicine balls 4 times per week. +3 DEX

 

Mission 3: Get back on the cardio wagon, but in a way that won’t interfere with recovering from pneumonia. Do at least 15 minutes of cardio 3 times per week. +3 STA

[Brekketechie]

Subbd! Here for cheers and moral support

 

[aeshnidae]

Thanks, Brekke! I revamped my challenge so that I'm more focused on fighting fatigue and staying healthy. I think it's time to start meditating! 

[shaar]

YEAH there you are!  Double YEAH for sassy Spike!

 

Good on you for knowing you need to take it slow and take care of yourself... I love this challenge, and you'll be back up to epic speed in no time!

[Amdhiel]

I like that your challenge is setup to help you keep recovering. I know you'll be up and running again soon!

[Glass]

Nice goal setting! Good to be in the same group as you

[aeshnidae]

Mission 1 is a success thus far. I'm up to date on all the tracking and I've been using Calm.com to meditate (or at least sit quietly and be aware of my body) for 5 minutes at a time.

 

Missions 2 and 3....ugh. I've only been able to work out once this week thus far. I've been having SERIOUS post-exercise fatigue, unlike anything I've ever had before (and I've been working out at least 3 times per week, usually more, for a loooooong time unless I'm actively sick). Normally I workout, I feel energized, and while I've got some DOMS here and there, it's no big thing. For the past 2 weeks, I've been utterly wiped after the few strength workouts I've managed to complete, like wiped for 2 or 3 days. And I'm in pain, and it's definitely not DOMS. Because I work at a university, we were closed between Christmas and New Years, so I had 11 days off, and I slept for most of that time. (Not in the "oh yay, sleep!" way but in the way that made my wife worry about me because it's the first time she's seen me nap daily and it's the first time she's seen me sleep in past 9:30 am.) At first I assumed it was just part of the recovery from pneumonia, but now I don't know. I've got a doctor's appointment scheduled, but not until later in the month. I'm really hoping this is not a new fibromyalgia symptom, because I rely on exercise (especially lifting weights) to keep my fibro pain in check. If I exercise regularly, I don't have to take a lot of prescription pain killers.

 

Because I've had a 2 day break since my last lifting session, I'm hoping to get home from work a little early and do some lifting today. It's back and biceps day, which is my absolute favorite lifting day. I'd like to at least do a few sets with lighter weights because I <3 my EZ Curl bar.

[aeshnidae]

 

Okay. Time to hit the reset button and change my frame of mind. I can totally do cardio. I can't do MY normal version of cardio, which is 165-175 bpm craziness. I can cycle at a lazy Sunday bike ride pace and consider that a step forward towards Mission 3. I can still do planks, so Mission 2.2 is still a go. I don't yet have a solution to the heavy lifting, which is still bumming me out, but I'm trying to see this from a more optimistic point of view, which does make me feel better about it. 

 

Thanks, random breakthrough thoughts that occur while brushing my teeth.

[shaar]

Adaptability! Yeah!! Great revelation

[Amdhiel]

I don't yet have a solution to the heavy lifting, which is still bumming me out, but I'm trying to see this from a more optimistic point of view, which does make me feel better about it. 

 

Possibly silly question but have you tried deloading? 

[Sulinar]

Subbing because I'm trying to get over illness too (not to the extent of yours, thankfully). I empathise with the discovery that you can't do cardio in your normal way. I'm managing a 10 minute walk in the morning and - if I'm lucky - half an hour walking very slowly on the treadmill in the evening, and that's it. The key is a) do what you can and don't feel guilty because you're only doing that much.

I reckon you're right and the sleep thing may just be your body still trying to recover after the pneumonia. It can take a while.

[Shello]

Possibly silly question but have you tried deloading? 

 

I was going to ask the same thing.  maybe you can apply that same cardio mentality to your strength training?   or since this challenge is all about recovery maybe you could try some bodyweight workouts.  It can keep you moving but not put so much stress on your body that clearly isn't ready for it.  Wishing you luck!

[aeshnidae]

Possibly silly question but have you tried deloading? 

 

Yes, but I need to deload more. I wasn't able to lift yesterday (I wound up working late) but I did get in a session today. My left wrist has been really bothering me so I wasn't able to do my normal barbell curls. Instead I just used the bar itself (25 lbs), which is too easy even for a deload but just going through the motions felt good. 

 

I also, frankly, need to not be so freaking hard on myself. I know this is something that a lot of us struggle with, but I definitely say stuff to myself that I would never, ever say to another person. I don't think mean things about other people (um, usually) and even if I did, I certainly wouldn't SAY mean things to another person, so I shouldn't be saying that stuff to myself. 

 

Subbing because I'm trying to get over illness too (not to the extent of yours, thankfully). I empathise with the discovery that you can't do cardio in your normal way. I'm managing a 10 minute walk in the morning and - if I'm lucky - half an hour walking very slowly on the treadmill in the evening, and that's it. The key is a) do what you can and don't feel guilty because you're only doing that much.

I reckon you're right and the sleep thing may just be your body still trying to recover after the pneumonia. It can take a while.

 

Hi, Sulinar! I'm sorry that you're also getting over an illness. Thanks for subbing; I think it'll really help to hear from someone in a similar situation! You're right, I need to not feel guilty. That will be part of the "not being so hard on myself" thing. =)

[Amdhiel]

Yes, but I need to deload more. I wasn't able to lift yesterday (I wound up working late) but I did get in a session today. My left wrist has been really bothering me so I wasn't able to do my normal barbell curls. Instead I just used the bar itself (25 lbs), which is too easy even for a deload but just going through the motions felt good.

I also, frankly, need to not be so freaking hard on myself. I know this is something that a lot of us struggle with, but I definitely say stuff to myself that I would never, ever say to another person. I don't think mean things about other people (um, usually) and even if I did, I certainly wouldn't SAY mean things to another person, so I shouldn't be saying that stuff to myself.

I find that being gentle and loving to myself can be a really big challenge and I know you can figure out how to treat yourself better. I know you don't want to but cut yourself some slack. You were on the bench for a decent chunk of time and are dealing with new issues. Sending you all the hugs!!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Brekketechie]

Hello illness buddy. Remember to be gentle to yourself as you heal. You got to your high numbers before and you will again.

 

We'll go one step at a time known that all forward movement is still progress. GO TEAM! Don't give up the ship!

 

[Amdhiel]

How'd your week 1 pan out? Learn anything new about your symptoms?

[shaar]

Stopping by to check in with big hugs!  <3

[aeshnidae]

Hi guys! I was hoping to dive into Week 2 with gusto, but my wrist is still nagging me, so I'm being smart and resting it and I think that's helping. I've been good about tracking everything and meditating, and I should definitely meet my cardio goals for Week 2. The intense fatigue is still here (worse when I exercise) and I finally realized that the random pain I'm having in my underarms and the area where my legs attach to my pelvis are inflamed lymph nodes. I guess they want to get in on the action? My doctor's appointment isn't for another 2 weeks. She's new (to me), so she's probably going to think I'm an insane person, coming in with a list of symptoms that I've been tracking! 

[Brekketechie]

Oh friend! So sorry to hear that you're still feeling so under the weather.

 

Lighting a candle & sending you good juju!

 

[aeshnidae]

Whatever I did to my wrist (and I'm fairly certain what I did was hold a heavy cast iron pan awkwardly while it was blazing hot and I was trying to clean it with scalding hot water without burning myself, leading to the most absurd wrist injury ever) is really interfering with my ability to hold plank position. I can't have my palms flat on the floor and my wrists bent, as required for plank and push-ups. So this morning I thought, let me try to hold plank position on my fists. Two things: (1) it doesn't hurt my wrist to plank this way, and (2) HOLY CRAP THAT'S HARD! I didn't expect it to be that much harder than regular plank on my palms but wow, it sure is! Here's what I'm talking about:

 

 

I think I'm going to practice holding plank like this from now on because regular plank has become not-terribly-challenging, where plank on my fists...I was sweating after 30 seconds. 

[shaar]

Whatever I did to my wrist (and I'm fairly certain what I did was hold a heavy cast iron pan awkwardly while it was blazing hot and I was trying to clean it with scalding hot water without burning myself, leading to the most absurd wrist injury ever) 

 

 

Sooooo I do this WAY MORE than I should and you're totally not alone.  Trying to hold a giant wok (awkwardly) filled with stir fry with my non dominant hand and portion it out onto plates, yup, wrist soreness the next day. 

 

I do a lot of planks on my fists because too many of them give me wrist soreness (I need to do more wrist stretching too), it is a whole new (difficult) ballgame!

[Amdhiel]

I hope your wrist starts feeling better soon!! It's never fun when you have issues with your wrists/hands >.<. I have to find some plank variations as well because apparently the whole keep your core engaged while doing other stuff really does work to strength it.

[Sulinar]

Sorry to hear the wrist is still a problem (though I'm impressed that you're planking on your hands like that!) Have you tried wearing a compression bandage on it? One of those ones with velcro to keep it in place? Always helps for mine, probably just because it keeps your wrist more rigid so you don't keep flopping it about and making the injury worse.

[aeshnidae]

So...I have a hairline fracture of my left wrist. I've been wearing a compression bandage and today I'm graduating to an air cast. I'm not allowed to do any type of exercise involving my hands, wrists, or forearms. <sigh> I'm actually not even supposed to type, but since I'm an attorney and a professor, typing all day is basically what I do to get paid. In addition to the wrist issue, I was able to get in to see a doctor on an emergency basis and she's really concerned that I'm in adrenal failure (hence the extreme post-workout fatigue). So I'm also not allowed to do any form of exercise until at least January 29th, when I have a more comprehensive appointment. <double sigh> 

 

And speaking of work...it's been tremendously, frantically, unrelentingly busy. I'm technically an attorney, but really I'm also a crisis manager, but without Olivia Pope's crew to help me clean up the (metaphorical) bodies. Additionally, I'm teaching for my old university. I agreed to teach 1 online class. They signed me up for 2 classes (one undergrad, one graduate) and didn't tell me until the last minute, at which point they begged me to teach the class. I agreed, as an enormous favor. THEN I found out they more than doubled the enrollment. So instead of 20 students in my undergrad and 12 in my master's class, I have 43 undergrads and 28 grad students. 

 

My current state of mind: 

 

[DaemonCorax]

Hi!  I'm really late checking in on your challenge.  I'm really sorry to hear about the adrenal failure worries.  That's no good.

 

I totally understand what you're going through recovering from being sick.  I use exercise as a way of avoiding meds too - for a rather major sleep disorder in my case.  Back when I had tonsils (side note, adult tonsil removal is no fun) I had years of chronic bronchitis.  One of the frequent suggestions was "exercise outside less".  I also had people trying to diagnose me with allergies and asthma that I didn't have, but that's another story.

 

In short:  I feel for you.  Try (if you haven't already) working a little bodyweight work into your meditation time and keep up that good quality sleep.  Adrenal failure is actually pretty hard to get, so I wouldn't let yourself get thrown into that camp without some serious time spent by your doctor paying attention to you.  A huge progesterone imbalance, a wiped out immune system, all sorts of things could be messing with you right now.  "stop everything" has never been the right answer for me, as someone that exercises to avoid medication.  It may be what you need right now, but unless this doctor really knows you, I would play it by ear a little. 

 

I hope the new doc listens and spends time with you.