HEALTH MYSTERIES:
As someone who is rarely unwell, I have to say that when one of those strange viruses hit, it really packs a punch.
I normally don`t discuss illnesses much, as I feel the negative energy which surrounds them, only attracts further negative energy.
I prefer to concentrate on the wellness side of things and promote a more positive spin.
However, to justify my absence from my blogs, I have to admit that I was suffering from a fairly severe post viral fatigue.
My body was unable to summon up the energy required, and more significantly, my brain had almost ceased to tick over.
The most simple things became major challenges.
Since Covid, fatigue seems to be a common denominator in a variety of viral disorders that have sprung up, and it is incredibly debilitating.
Being tired and lacking in energy is one thing, and can normally be overcome by a good push to the mindset and usually enough reserve is found to complete a task.
POST VIRAL FATIGUE:
Fatigue is different. It is all consuming and I can only compare it to perhaps trying to run a car on petrol fumes rather than petrol. You know what you want your body to do, but the fuel is just not there.
I won`t go in to the symptoms of what I had, suffice to say flu like in nature, and were reasonable enough to deal with, but I will take a bit of time to look at why suffering from post viral fatigue is so common, and more importantly what we can do to improve things.
COLDS and FLU:
It seems not so long ago, winter ailments consisted of the common cold and perhaps every few years a flu.
Families knew how to cope with both.
A cold was a miserable thing to have, as involved sneezing, perhaps a sore throat, headache and a slight temperature.
The cure was simple. Bed rest for 24 hours if possible. Plenty of fluids and something to ease the nasal and throat congestion such as lemon or honey.
Passing a cold on to others was not welcome, so keeping out of the way of friends and family for a day or two, and keeping warm usually did the trick and a full recovery was rapid and uneventful.
A flu was slightly more serious. Joints and muscles became sore and aching. Temperatures could become quite high with a general feeling of not being well.
Normally this could last for several days, with sleep playing a major part of recovery.
The elderly and those with an underlying chronic health condition, were more at risk.
Every few years a bad flu strain would hit the country resulting in many hospital admissions.
This prompted the introduction of the "flu jab" in the late 1960`s, which is a yearly vaccination offered to elderly and compromised people.
However, there have been some very odd illnesses appearing over the last few years, and most noticeably since Covid.
BACTERIA or VIRUS?
There is often confusion between a bacterial infection and a viral one.
Simply put, an infection producing bacteria is a cell which can live inside or outside the body and can multiply on its own. It can cause common ailments such as throat, ear and urine infections which if required, can be treated with antibiotics.
An infection producing virus, is smaller than bacteria. It is not a cell and cannot reproduce, but needs to be inside the body to feed itself on the healthy cells of the host.
Antibiotic therapy does not work on viral infections, so a sample or swab may be necessary to make correct identification.
Common viral infections are cold / flu, bronchitis and most recently Covid.
The next thing to identify is fatigue.
The definition is extreme tiredness due to exertion or following illness, and affects daily life. It may or may not not be helped by sleep.
This begs the question as to what is so different with the new strains of viruses that they can result in a post viral fatigue lasting for weeks or months.
The actual viral episode may not be long lasting or give particularly nasty symptoms, as in my own case, but the resulting fatigue seems disproportionate and severe.
IMMUNE SYSTEM:
With infections of all kinds, our in built barrier known as the immune system kicks in.
The immune system is yet another wonder of the human body.
It consists of many parts, but the most significant are white blood cells which are part of the lymphatic system and are responsible for finding and fighting harmful bacteria or viruses.
The resulting inflammatory response is usually redness, swelling, discomfort and temperature elevation, which unless severe, should resolve itself.
A good strong immune system should be able to ward of most of the harmful bacteria and viruses which present themselves to a healthy body.
We know our immune systems are working when we develop a temperature.
It is natures way of collecting all the white cells together and attacking the intruder.
The redness and inflammation of the throat which collects when harmful bacteria enters the oral cavity is another sign our immune system is at work.
We may feel uncomfortable and not very well, but if the immune system has done its job effectively, the temperature will drop and the throat inflammation will subside.
This process does not necessarily require antibiotic therapy or temperature reducing medication, or result in body fatigue.
It would seem that there is perhaps something else going on with the immune system?
MEDICATIONS:
For many years we have been taking antibiotics when they were not necessary, creating an effectiveness resistance.
Could there be a link?
We also take paracetamol or ibuprofen whenever we have a temperature elevation.
It will bring down the temperature, but the reason for the temperature was the immune system fighting the infection naturally.
Perhaps by intervening with medications, we have been confusing and weakening the immune response by it treating what would have been a simple infection by over reaction as if more serious than it was? This might result in a more severe post viral depletion of the immune system.
POSSIBLE LINKS BETWEEN IMMUNE SYSTEM and CHRONIC FATIGUE:
A King`s College London study has found that an exaggerated immune response can trigger long lasting fatigue. This has had a bearing on how Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is diagnosed, and is an in depth biological investigation into the relationship between the immune system and fatigue.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome came to prominence in the late 1980`s and 90`s when it was finally taken seriously as a recognized disability. Up until then it was thought to be of a psychological nature, with the person being suitably vague about symptoms, and using it as an avoidance tactic. It was often referred to as Yuppie Flu.
The cause was and still is unknown, but the evidence seems to suggest that having an initial severe viral illness, such as glandular fever or Epstein - Barr Virus, somehow over stimulated the immune system resulting in severe and long lasting fatigue.
Not only is it debilitating, but by being so fatigued, it generates a huge feeling of frustration and uselessness often leading to depression.
Outsiders cannot see what the problem is as there is nothing visible, so it is not difficult to understand why some people question if it is a genuine illness.
Under normal circumstances the person may have been extremely active and healthy, often playing sport, so the induced inactivity is completely foreign to them.
As undertaking small tasks is so exhausting, it is hard to imagine resuming normal life again, which brings with it worries of loss of employment and financial instability.
It therefore impacts greatly on mental health.
There are huge variations of course.
Some episodes of fatigue disappear fairly quickly only to return once the person is back to work or sport.
At the lesser end of the scale, someone may feel constantly exhausted and washed out, with low motivation, but able to get through a working day.
At the other end of the scale, it may be a struggle to get out of bed, and navigate the tasks of daily living.
There seems to be no particular time frame, but thinking one is feeling reasonably normal and resuming daily activities, often brings back the symptoms.
Because post viral fatigue is so widespread and a relatively new phenomena, there is very little current research evidence.
MY OWN PERSONAL TREATMENT PLAN:
I have evolved my own treatment plan which to date appears to be working, but it is a slow process...no quick fixes, and no one size fits all.
I have worked out that the body and the brain need rest. Sleep is good, but rest is key.
This means at a physical and mental level.
Keeping the body moving but not enough to exhaust it. Setting out realistic goals.
Some may be easily achievable, others may need to be worked at as the body improves, but not to be discouraged.
Mentally, all technological stimulus switched off. The brain needs to recover slowly and not be stimulated by airwaves, and colours.
Keeping everything, including tasks and goals simple.
Surround yourself with positive things. They needn`t be expensive, just things that make you feel comfortable with good associations.
Gradually try to do things which make you feel good.
Diet, as so important in our healthy daily lives, is even more significant when it comes to healing mental and physical health.
There are many variables. Some people have allergies, so what suits one may not suit someone else.
The aim of food in this instance is to heal and nourish the immune system, which has clearly taken a huge hit, and restore it to an acceptable level of health and efficiency.
Whilst the immune system is compromised, other systems in the body will be affected too, along with the brain, which will not be processing and sending out signals as it should.
CONCLUSION:
There is light at the end of the tunnel, but as with everything else in life, we should do our own research and try and find out the "why`s" and how we can help ourselves.
We seem to be a country obsessed by ill health.
Listen to any discussion on a train or bus, or even amongst a group of friends, and within minutes the subject will be illness. Very rarely will it be about promoting wellness and good health.
I have touched on a few aspects of the mystery of fatigue, and will later discuss some positive markers to aspire towards.
Wishing everyone a time of reflection and creating positive mind sets as one year ends and another begins.
DISCLAIMER:
The blog refers to my own personal journey through a viral infection which resulted in post viral fatigue.
Although common, there seems little research into the reasons why there should be such a debilitating end to an infection which may have passed unremarkably.
Management of the symptoms vary from G.P.s to other health professionals.
I drew up my own treatment plan through a mixture of reading about similar scenarios, and common sense, and as it is of a personal nature, it is not intended for general use.
It will not be suitable for everyone, although some aspects may give helpful guidelines.
