CFS? Hypo-thyroid? Post-viral fatigue?
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hi Everyone,
I am on month eleven of this nasty virus and suddenly this past week I have been extremely fatigued again with that almost breathless feeling. I am not talking about muscle weakness-which I also had with this virus. I mean genuine fatigue that even a full-night's sleep doesn't shake off. I was still having some random and annoying symptoms these past few months, but overall my energy levels seemed to be back up to normal for many months. The only thing I can think is that a couple weeks ago I started working out again, just 30 minutes on the treadmill every other night. I can push through this just fine, but perhaps my body is not ready or it is taking up too much of my energy. My heart has also randomly been beating hard, not fast, just hard where I am always aware of it.
Has anyone else randomly gotten super fatigued again at eleven months? Or had a similar experience when trying to reintroduce exercise? I also wondered if perhaps my thyroid has become under active, which I know can happen with this virus. CFS is now also something I am concerned about.
0 likes, 27 replies
willis42 olivia30213
Posted
hey olivia,
sorry to hear the fatigue came back. i know how frustrating and discouraging that can be.
this actually just happened to me recently. after 6 months it seems i've turned a corner energy-wise in this last month. feeling close to normal most days, completely normal some, with the occassional (but rare) 'f*** everything' kind of day every now and then. 3 days ago I had on one of my 'completely normal' days and decided to go to the gym. did about 30 minutes of cycling and felt fine during the exercise, but by the time i got home, i was a complete wreck. 3 days later and i still feel like i haven't fully recovered.
before i got mono i did 40 minutes of weightlifting 4 days a week and 20-30 minutes of pretty intense cardio 7 days a week. so getting destroyed by 30 minutes of light cycling was a huge bummer.
i messaged my doctor about what happened and he told me to keep exercise very light at first (start with 5-10 minutes) and work up very slowly. its tricky with the virus because the right level of exercise helps the immune system but too much takes away from it. there's a sweet spot somewhere, you just need to find it by starting very low and building up from there. its a struggle for me because i tend to think like an athlete--i welcome resistance, feeling weak but pushing through. the mentality just has to be different while we recover from the virus. if you feel uncomfortable in any way or like you're "pushing through" at all, its too much.
id recommend taking a week off from all activity. rest as much as possible and i'm sure you'll get your energy back. consider replacing exercise with meditation, or even just spend that extra 30 minutes every other night preparing a healthy meal for yourself.
just try not to panic, which i know is really difficult during a relapse. its understandable and expected that you are fearful of something more serious or long term, but just know that it's most likely not, and that a bout of anxiety is like running a marathon.
I hope you feel better soon.
olivia30213 willis42
Posted
Thank you so much Willis. I too used to welcome resistance. I used to run seven days a week, I was always pushing myself.
But the strange this is, I have been getting though my work outs (just 30 minutes of fast walking at the max incline on the treadmill) just fine. It's just seems like since I started this up all of a sudden I am so much more fatigued in general, but I don't really notice any problems during my work out. I don't feel like I am struggling to get through it so it's confusing.
willis42 olivia30213
Posted
it was the same way for me. i felt great during the workout and the hell came later. i guess thats why they call it POST-exertional malaise. its very frustrating. but now you know that 30 minutes on the treadmill every other day gives you fatigue, so after you've rested and recovered for some time, maybe try something like 10 minutes every 3 days and work up from there by paying close attention to how your body responds. a health/mood journal can help you keep track (i use Daylio) so you can figure out what works for you.
we'll get our strength back some day!
KCF olivia30213
Posted
Hi Olivia:
I can relate to much of what you shared with Matthew. I am 47. was dx September 2019 with EBV however was showing symptoms long before that. I’m better than I was but have a long way to go.... From end of June till September I saw primary, ENT, neuro, and rheumatology. Hundred+ blood draws, brain/spine MRI, CT, EMG, ultrasound/biopsy on thyroid... it was madness. At this point I have symptoms everyday but they change. Currently it’s a zig zag between sore throat (still very very red), head/ear pressure, burning/itching in and on ears, internal twitches/pulsing/electrical waves, toes numb, sore spots throughout body, sound sentivity, very low energy....I too wondered about perimenopuasue....I was having terrible anxiety and sadness. That still remains but significantly better than a couple months ago.
I have not reintroduced any form of exercise. I was very active prior...running, weights, yoga, swim, bike....
I’m doing a ton of suppliments...have been on the full protocol a month now. I think they are helping. It’s hard to imagine this will ever end. Madness!
olivia30213 KCF
Posted
Hi KCF,
Thank you for reading and sharing. I empathize with your frustration. I am irritated about what a large hospital bill I racked up and how many months I went without answers. I kept being sent to different specialists to address different symptoms even though I kept saying that I didn't think I randomly developed ten different conditions that manifested at the same time. I knew it was one thing causing all the symptoms. I too had lots of lab work done and multiple ultra-sounds.
I'm actually feeling a bit less fatigued as of yesterday so I am hoping it was maybe just fatigue from the migraine I had last weekend lingering.
The strangest thing is, this entire year I have not gotten even one cold yet-knock on wood. I am not sure if that's because I started taking supplements and drinking teas and washing my hands obsessively or if my immune system is too busy dealing with EBV. 😉
KCF olivia30213
Posted
oh my gosh, I completely understand! i kept saying "it feels viral"....I found it hard to believe I was developing MS, Parkinson's, lupus, Sjogren's ..
Interestingly I was just saying to a friend the exact same thing about getting sick! The last cold I had was 6 months ago. I was wondering the same thing about supplements, immune system busy with EBV, or lysol wiping/spraying like a crazy woman!!!!!
Guest olivia30213
Posted
Hello
I am interested in what supplements your are taking and what teas.
I seem to be chasing symptoms all over my body at the moment. Main pain is in lumbar spine ( which must be the weak point in my body. This alongside fatigue.
I am an outdoor instructor (Ski, Bike, Climb, Mountaineering). This Virus have been struggling with (unknowingly) for up to 12 months.
I have an obsession with healthy eating, so was deeply frustrated that when trying to lead a perfectly healthy life, I came down with Mono/ EBV.
I have had every examination imaginable as the doctors were trying to rule out certain things.
I initially presented to the doctors with left uper abdominal side pain (roughly where spleen/ pancreas is), constant fatigue, Jaundice, unexplained weight loss and abnormal muscle weakness (i.e. climbing one flight of stairs was too much)
I am looking for a natural way of healing my body rather than relying on "Big Pharma" to cure it fast.
Can you give me any advice?
olivia30213 Guest
Posted
Hi Bon,
I empathize. I still have random bouts of fatigue and aches and pains. I feel like this virus permanently ruined by body or something. I take vitamin b12, probiotics, vitamin d3, vitamin c drops, licorice root teas and every morning I drink a cold pressed organic juice made of blood orange, elderberry, tumeric, ginger and black pepper. This year I also started washing my hands A LOT. Legit have not one cold yet, which is pretty surprising given the circumstances.
KCF Guest
Posted
Hi Bon:
I take reishi mushroom, probiotic, two broad spectrum blends (mixture of different herbs), omega 3, mixture of B vitamins, digestive aid (herbal mix), glutamine, and magnesium. I am partnering with a functional medicine doctor who suggested this as a first step for repairing immune system. It's been about 6 weeks on it. I do think it is helping however I have a long way to go!
lori939 olivia30213
Posted
i am at month 20 and have been stable for many months now. i was working out too long walks stairs and light weights . still loads of rest but so much better.
i went out last sunday night and have relapsed bad ! agh!!!!!! also i have gained a LOT of weight and my TSH hormone is soooooo low! im seeing an Endo next week .
its all a BIG MESS... not only do i feel awful but look awful now too ! This virus is a B***h!!!!!
matthew02554 lori939
Posted
did you drink last night? what is the tsh hormone responsible for