So I arrived back from Bali last Wednesday late evening. I felt more jet lagged on this trip than when I have previously travelled back from the U.K and this really surprised me…
Then came Saturday and I understood what had been going on. I got ill. Very ill. I was unwell all day and developed a fever by 10pm that evening.
I had been bitten by mosquitoes relentlessly in Bali (they must love Scottish blood) and I was really worried I had contracted something nasty. An instagram friend of mine came back with Dengue so naturally I was worried.
So when midnight came and my fever spiked, hubby and I called Healthline and they advised us to go to the Emergency room.
We were there for over 12 hours (a great lesson in patience) as I had blood cultures taken and all other kinds of samples taken (I won’t give you the gory details).
I then had 2 litres of fluids and was told I could go home or stay in hospital for the day as I was still pretty weak and looked just peachy…Nah actually, I was as ‘white as a sheet’ (my mother’s saying).
I opted for home and thought that this would all be over the next day. However, the next day came and not only was I nauseous from the antibiotics that they had put me on but I had a chronic headache as my body withdrew from my one-a-day coffee addiction.
In short, I felt like I had been thrown under a bus and that my head would at any minute explode!
So, why am I telling you all of this?
Well, I once worked for a Not-For-Profit, which dealt with people living with blood cancers and conditions. One of the main topics I discussed (being a support person for these people) was fatigue and the change of pace when living with cancer.
Now, let me stress that my fatigue is nothing compared with their fatigue. I’m simply highlighting that when we get ill or tired, either through stress, illness or whatever, we often end up beating ourselves up.
We worry that we can’t do what we used to do.
I run my own business so in essence, I am the business. I have had to cancel clients and I have been lying in bed for days now. Not fun for someone who usually works out daily and has a ton of energy at her disposal.
So what can we learn from this?
When your body is stressed out and tired:
Don’t
Do
We only get one body and yet most of us treat it so badly. The next time you get sick or stressed and your body is giving you the signals that it has had enough.
Listen
Then came Saturday and I understood what had been going on. I got ill. Very ill. I was unwell all day and developed a fever by 10pm that evening.
I had been bitten by mosquitoes relentlessly in Bali (they must love Scottish blood) and I was really worried I had contracted something nasty. An instagram friend of mine came back with Dengue so naturally I was worried.
So when midnight came and my fever spiked, hubby and I called Healthline and they advised us to go to the Emergency room.
We were there for over 12 hours (a great lesson in patience) as I had blood cultures taken and all other kinds of samples taken (I won’t give you the gory details).
I then had 2 litres of fluids and was told I could go home or stay in hospital for the day as I was still pretty weak and looked just peachy…Nah actually, I was as ‘white as a sheet’ (my mother’s saying).
I opted for home and thought that this would all be over the next day. However, the next day came and not only was I nauseous from the antibiotics that they had put me on but I had a chronic headache as my body withdrew from my one-a-day coffee addiction.
In short, I felt like I had been thrown under a bus and that my head would at any minute explode!
So, why am I telling you all of this?
Well, I once worked for a Not-For-Profit, which dealt with people living with blood cancers and conditions. One of the main topics I discussed (being a support person for these people) was fatigue and the change of pace when living with cancer.
Now, let me stress that my fatigue is nothing compared with their fatigue. I’m simply highlighting that when we get ill or tired, either through stress, illness or whatever, we often end up beating ourselves up.
We worry that we can’t do what we used to do.
I run my own business so in essence, I am the business. I have had to cancel clients and I have been lying in bed for days now. Not fun for someone who usually works out daily and has a ton of energy at her disposal.
So what can we learn from this?
When your body is stressed out and tired:
Don’t
- Beat up your mind as well as your body
- Take on too much
- Run before you can walk
- Berate yourself
- Get angry
- Complain
- Take it out on those around you
- Minimize it
- Feel you have to ‘get over it’
- Focus on it
- Feel disempowered by it
- Deny it
Do
- Get hugs (as long as you're not infectious)
- Be gentle on yourself
- Conserve what energy you do have
- Little things at a time
- Rest & relax (as much as you can)
- Ask for support from friends & family
- Meditate
- Delegate
- Feel that the rest is needed (because in all honesty- it is)
- Feel empowered that you are taking care of yourself
- Nourish your body with proper food and fluids
- Use the time to read that stack of books that have been piling up by your bed
- Listen to a favourite album
We only get one body and yet most of us treat it so badly. The next time you get sick or stressed and your body is giving you the signals that it has had enough.
Listen
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