A new type of Saturday

I am writing this morning because I don't know what else to do.

Normal Saturday routine: Morning Long Swim with Masters Magnolia, Followed by Long Bike, and possibly recovery run.

New Saturday Routine: Watching Today show, Drinking Tea. Maybe attempting a short 30 minute workout. Straight up Resting.

Why? Yes, all athletes know this. Its typical for an athlete to take a rest day every once and while but this is actually an extended rest period. The last 4 weeks, most of you know I Have been battling something and  could not seem to get a doctors answer. Well after 4 doctors attempts (yes I would not quit until I got an answer), results came back positive for EBV virus, aka, MONO (even though my mono spot test came back negative!)

This is what came up when I googled "Mono". So why not? haha

I was elated to finally have an answer. I Immediately put the brakes on what I was doing and came to an astonishing stop. My friends and families support has been great. Theres nothing like a community full of positive folks to remind me that I will be just fine as long as I take the proper rest.

The biggest issue with Mono, is that if you don't let it kill its self off (though antibodies will remain in your body forever), it can re-occur and come back to haunt you. The next biggest problem being an endurance athlete, is that some days you can all the sudden start to feel good and push it too hard and right back on your ass the next day. It can turn into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) for the rest of my life if I don't take this time now.  This. rest. is. a. necessity.

I actually think its pretty gross to think about how I contracted this silent but killer disease. I swear I am not a gross person! Extremely healthy and clean. In fact, I am one of those who tends to hold their breaths in an airport if someone sneezes because its straight up gross. But, sometimes the body is so broken down that it cant help but become ill.
_________________________________________________________________________________

It all started 4 weeks ago when I came down with strep. The # 1 sickness that is a dead give away to potentially getting mono. We rested, got an antibiotic (which I HATE to do!), and then I seemed to be fine for a few days knocking out my normal workouts and going about with life. I got to the end of the week where I felt deep pressure in my chest and felt like my throat was burning. This continued for days and my heart rate began to race. I found myself next in the ER. Several hours of testing later, and nothing. "You have great vitals", just go home and rest. I even got diagnosed with "acid reflux" because of my "burning sensation". Doctor, this is not acid reflux! That's just great!

I caught a flight the next day to FL for my first race of the season. Stupid? Who knows. Sometimes the body comes around. In a typical short term virus, my body would have fought the killer and I would have woke up Sunday to race just fine. Instead, I pushed through, didnt have a spectacular race, but didn't feel like I was going to die. So I thought nothing of it and figured my body was on the rebound.

I returned back to TX, still taking things light, and bam that weekend I was sleeping 12 hours a night, barely able to run errands without getting sleepy. I complained to my boyfriend we needed to go home because "I was tired". I sound pathetic don't I? I wasn't lying though....to find the results 3 days later that gave me a brightness to the situation.

So how do I physically feel? Just in case anyone reads this and feels the same:
To be honest I never felt tired until 3 weeks in. They say with mono you are extremely fatigued. But maybe my sense of fatigue is different being that I am an athlete. I have a very stiff neck that has not gone away, and my lymph nodes are swollen in different places on different days. I also noted that I was very sore and achy for longer then usually. An occasional headache too. For the most part I feel normal until I attempt a workout. Running is out the door as I feel "anemic", with that heavy leg feeling. Swimming feels the best, but I would fade immediately if I attempted any top end speed.

Other then that, I feel fairly normal. I might get tired if I run errands and keep busy for a few hours at a time. But who doesn't?

How do I emotionally feel?
Lame. (Sorry- Cant go out! Sorry, Cant drink. Sorry, I'm tired!)
Depressed. (How long will this take!?)
Frustrated.
Tired.
Scared.
Spent. How could my body let me down like this! I had 5 months of the best training behind me, was ready to start the season, and probably race better then I ever have. Now the perspective is changed.

My training log over 4 weeks. Blue = positive stress with levels back to almost where I was in Dec, Sigh.

Now honestly, working out is not everything. In fact, racing a triathlon is not the end of the world. But to an endurance athlete, you certainly feel like it is! Thats why I am even writing this blog, because I am not working out!!

My protocol for the next two weeks is to take things very lightly. I am allowed to get in 30 minutes of active recovery. In fact, I am even smiling and it keeps me sane if I can get in a 30 minute workout without coming to exhaustion. They say that its actually good to get some blood flowing to help the immune system. As long as its not TOO much. I have noticed in the last couple days that I have continued to feel BETTER after a 30 minute very easy workout (usually swim). Plus, the beautiful sunny days right now in TX help!

*I am also using this time to be extremely healthy and its almost like a detox! I am like an 80 year old taking 20 some supplements and vitamins to boost my immunity.

*I am trying to only eat whole and healthy foods. Limit processed. No sugar.

*I cut out caffeine originally because of the heart issues (they say EBV can eventually inflame the heart which is why I felt the chest pains). I am also not going to drink alcohol because it will only stress the body more.

*Additionally with my extra time I am spending more time my athletes, house hunting, catching up with friends (phone!), and working on odd jobs for OutRival. Theres always a positive to everything, right?

Its really amazing how in tune with your body you can be. As an athlete, you know your body so well and I knew something wasn't right. You are also what you eat. So eating healthy and taking all these vitamins, I hope will fight this situation quicker then many.

I have to remember that even when I am cleared to train again, it must be very easy. I have to listen to my body constantly and know that some days I may feel that bout of fatigue set in and just know its OK to rest. Hell some days I am so tired, I dont even care....

I hope this blog helps anyone who is looking for answers, and hopefully I come back in a few weeks, stronger, faster, and healthier. This bump in the road will not derail my season, it just changes the road we travel slightly.

Until next time....