My health

[ina]

Mostly I think the problems start when people get up and run about too early after a spell of sickness. A friend of mine did that last year, when he started doing his usual sports (he's very active and fit) too early, and got heart trouble for his pains... A colleague of mine has just been told strictly by his GP to stay at home for a month after he returned to work too early and was left with absolutely no energy at all. It's difficult when it's your own kids that "force" you to be active too soon.

[Shirley]

Ina... I think you are absolutely right there. We have to recognise our limits. It is hard to do that when you have children though. If you've got family around you to help with the kids when you are recovering then take advantage of that... we don't... they are all miles away.

[hedgewizard]

Yup. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (aka ME or "yuppie flu") is reckoned to start when someone does not allow themselves enough recovery time after viral attack.

[ina]

Hedgie - if I could ask you to leave your professional hat on for a moment - is there such a thing as a "mild" case of ME? I always seem to be more tired than any lack of sleep (I get enough!) seems to justify, and have been tested for just about everything anybody could think of (iron, thyroid, bloodsugar - everything perfect). It's not that I don't have any energy at all, just not a lot, and seem to tire very quickly. And that's been going on for decades.

Probably just ordinary laziness... That's what my mum would have said, anyway.

[woolcraft]

Hi Tigz, Sorry you're not feeling the best.

A lot of years ago I had four little ones under the age of six. The middle two were boys both woke at different times on three or four occasions every night!! (For about 1 year). Kids really are individuals the younger one was sleeping through eventually, but his older brother was still waking up - for a bottle - when he was 2 and a half to 3. I gradually diluted the bottle with more and more water and this seemed to work - however, I didn't really get on top of it until I started 'lifting' him to use the toilet before we went to bed - not usually until 11.30 to 12.00 midnight - then he stopped waking in the night. This seemed to make a real difference. Don't know if you do this already, but maybe it's worth a try. You have my sympathy as it is so easy to become run down.

For an energy boost from veggies and herbs etc. you need lots!!! And I mean lots!!! You could try V8 Veggie Juice and drink a couple of litres a day - 150 ml = 1 veg portion, on top of mainly veggie meals. This will make you feel better and boost your immune system.

Hope you feel better soon. Sue

[Tigerhair]

Thanks for you input woolcraft, I am feeling a lot better now...and Josh has been sleeping a lot better recently - he is actually refusing milk at night for the last couple of weeks - so perhaps this could be the end of it...

He has got a cold though which he always finds hard to deal with - as he normally breathes with his mouth closed when he is asleep...

I CANNOT imagine more than one little monster! Brave girl, you!

[Chickenlady]

Vitamin C 1000mg every day. I know the use of supplements is controversial, but I have taken this for years, and I just don't get colds. When all around me have them, I don't.

Also, I am a yoga teacher, and I am fairly positive that a regular practice boosts the immune system. It keeps the body flexible, releases tension in the muscles, relaxes you physically and mentally. A class is nice, but if you can't make one, get a good book (Tara Fraser is good) and try to do a bit a few times a week, even if only for 10 minutes or so.

I know it has been discussed in some detail, but broken sleep over a long period is a real killer. My eldest was a terrible sleeper and the other two weren't that good. I reckon I didn't have an unbroken night for 7 years, and that is a time when I did go down with a lot of bugs. The sleep training is hard on you physically and emotionally and I admit I didn't crack it until I got to number 3, and was so knackered I finally got tough. If you do it with conviction, you will win!! And if you can't face it, see if you can work in a regular daytime nap for you and your little angel!

I hope the sunshine makes you feel better soon!

[hedgewizard]

Ina, yes CFS can vary in severity but there are physical markers that can be spotted if you know what to look for. Take a look at this pageand the link to a fibromyalgia page at the bottom. If that doesn't sound like you it might be worth taking a more wholistic view of your illness.

[*stuffed*]

I know how you feel. Either my son picks bugs up from school or my husband picks them up at work. Either way we all get sick.
Being nearly five my son sleeps fine, the only exception to this is when he is poorly usually waking because he can't breathe or something.
Of course when he is ill is usually when I am ill so the latest cold in the house is lasting weeks due to a general lack of rest. If I don't wake because of Josh then it's because I can't breathe or start coughing, or the other half waking me up for the same reason.
I had flu at xmas and since have had bugs most of the time maybe a week here or there in between. I can't remember what it felt like to be healthy.
I try and carry on as normal now as no amount of 'taking it easy' seemed to help, but I get tired pretty quickly. This cold does seem to be on it's way out now but I'm sure it won't be long before something else rears it's ugly head.

[Tigerhair]

Stuffed.. do you have a "Josh" too!? Sorry you've been feeling low too...

I am delighted to report that my Josh has slept through for the last couple of weeks. By "slept through" I mean he's not wanted a bottle except for 1 night at 3am and he has only woken two other times because he's got stuck against the wall or tangled up in his blanket...!!!!!!!!

We are sooooo tired because of all the sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, I certainly feel more 'rested'...

[*stuffed*]

I do have a Josh too.
Actually I took him to the park today and I heard so many people calling "Josh" I wondered how the kids didn't all get completly confused
Ah well at least he's the only one in his class at school.

Glad to hear your getting more sleep, you'll soon get used to it

[Tigerhair]

I know, I LOVE the name, but it's pretty popular at the moment... He loves it too! He likes gardening too, but he's a little "rough" with the plants!