I'm sick. Now what?

[shewhobikes]

Well, this just sucks. I did my first week goal of increased base mileage last week (I'm a newbie, so was proud of 75 miles), now I have a butt-kicking sinus infection with low-grade fever. I went to my ENT who I love a lot, and he's given me the full tilt boogy attack on this thing. I'm just SOOOOO disappointed. It's a beyoootiful week of weather here and I'm down for the count!!!

So you know what I'm going to ask....how do you decide when to get back on the bike when you've been ill? My thoughts at this point are to take it slow, hydrate properly, start out maybe day after tomorrow (after the meds kick in) with a "recovery" ride and take it from there depending on how I'm feeling.

Being sick in winter is one thing. Being sick when it's 75-80 degrees and low humidity in Alabama means you're missing some of your best times, says Dale, pouting. :(

I know. I should not be griping over such small a thing. Forgive me.

[Veronica]

Listen to your body. If you feel up to a ride - ride. Don't overdo it. Listen to your body. :p

V.

[spazzdog]

THink of it this way... if you feel up to a little light riding, with that sinus infection you can practice and perfect that whole blowing your nose out the side thing :eek:

Learn a new skill AND save on kleenex.

spazz who hopes you feel better soon

[xeney]

Everyone is different, but I will tell you my experience with sinus infections. I have chronic sinus infections, have had them for years. I used to get active infections that would last for eight-ten months at a time, and the whole time I would be going through all the medical hoops, with little relief, and I would just kind of shut down and not do anything until it all finally went away.

After a couple of years of that (this all started when I was about 25 and has been pretty constant ever since, and I am 35) I kind of snapped and realized exactly how much of my life was I was literally wasting being stuck in the house with a headache. I wasn't just bellyaching; the headaches are pretty debilitating. The thing is, rest has never helped me. Not once. Lying on the sofa with a cold compress has never given more than a tiny bit of relief. I might as well have a headache while I'm doing something that I enjoy, which might even take my mind off the problem.

Lo and behold, exercise does help. Between extreme hydration when I have an active infection (drink a big glass of water every hour), OTC stuff like Claritin and the grossly-named Mucinex, and regular aerobic exercise, I'm much better off than I used to be. I still get the infections but I can mostly shake them off or live with them. (My doctor doesn't want to give me antibiotics anymore because I've taken so many of them to no effect over the last ten years.)

The times I do rest: when I have a significant fever, when I am just plain exhausted, and when I am having dizzy spells. If you're dizzy from all the inner ear stuff it's best not to do anything that's going to hurt if you fall down.

[Barb]

Once you are over the worst of the infection, you may find that a ride will get your sinuses flowing! That will feel great (I know it's gross but man it's worse when it's all in your head!) It's the whole "better out than in" thing.

[singletrackmind]

oooh Spazz-
SNOT ROCKETS!!! :D

found out about those the hard way....thought the guy ahead of me was coughing up a lung or something and then.......... :eek: :eek: :eek:

[slinkedog]

A well-executed snot rocket is a work of art, imho. JUST KIDDING! I've never tried to do one. I just sniff and snuff and snort my way through snotty rides.

[CorsairMac]

Just don't overdo Shew - the bike will still be there and so will the weather. It's better to take some extra time then too push too hard too soon and lose even more in the end!

(did that just make sense?? I have GOT to stop signing on here when I should be heading off to bed!)

[nuthatch]

I second Xeney's advice. And V's. Listen to your body but, riding, even on a trainer, somehow seems to ramp up your immune system once you're a bit out of the woods or you've turned the corner on the worst of the infection. Getting things to flow is such a relief!

[doc]

Oh, I can really empathize. I planned on 2 2-hour rides this weekend. Local viruses had a different opinion. I spent the weekend in bed, dizzy, coughing and piling tissues to the ceiling. It sucks. Plus the weather here was 65-70 and sunny. I am just turning the corner, so its; start out slow. I rode a stationary bike at the gym for 30 minutes. It felt good but I could tell I wasn't really up to speed. My heart rate was racing, yet my legs were just in average effort mode. As above - listen to your body. Good thing I wasn't out on the road. Today I'll try spin. If it works, tomorrow the road. Good luck to you.

[singletrackmind]

Get well soon!!

Our best family cure all-Matzo Ball soup and tunafish sandwiches...
Or chocolate, which fixes anything from a broken fingernail to a broken love affair.

[shewhobikes]

Feeling some better today though not well enough to go to work...surely tomorrow!

Spazz, ewwwwweeee, snot rockets! Ha!

Doc, I hope you're feeling better. Let's try Singletrackmind's soup and tuna fish!

[doc]

I am getting better too, but went to spin class today. Almost fell off the bike. I guess no road ride for me tomorrow. It would be more like a visit to the various ditches in my state.

Saturday is passover so I will in fact be having matzo ball soup. Yea!

If it's any consolation, my office is absolutely bursting at the seams with sick kids. It's as if winter has come back. Ugh.

[shewhobikes]

When I saw you said you'd try spin class first I thought, wow, she's tough! I've sometimes worked harder in spin than on the road.

I think I'll try an easy ride around the 'hood tomorrow afternoon as a first go, and if that goes OK, maybe the Thursday night ladies' ride (altho it's a looong way and they are all faster than me, but the leader is great and very patient and means business when she says no one is dropped.)

Forgot passover is this weekend. Thanks for reminding me! (My boss celebrates and I try to mark on the calendar because she's the greatest.)

Let's keep getting well!!!

[doc]

Let's keep getting well!!!

'nuf said!!

[LBTC]

I sympathize with you ladies!

I've had very low grumpy achey energy since Sunday. I might have overdone it with the ashtanga (should be spelled torture) yoga class on Saturday....made my hamstrings and shoulders ache, but I don't think that's what caused the things in my throat to swell up.

Saw a doc, brought stuff to a lab and they took blood. maybe they'll figure out that it is something and give me drugs.

Today was an all-out stressor of a day at work. I rode to work and home (less than 20minute round trip), which was very nice, but it didn't shed the work-yuks. So I did my home version of nicey-nice yoga and lo-and-behold, that sure helped a lot! I got a good 2 hours of feeling like a normal human with some after work energy before I started to drop off.

what am I trying to say? it sucks to be sick. a lot or a little. but I do think that your favourite exercise, in small, steady doses, is really really helpful. Those endorphins really increase the happy bits in your brain!! :D

now...back to those stressful things

namaste,
~T~

[shewhobikes]

Feeling better today. Hope Doc is, too. Tomorrow I hope to do an easy 15 mile ride with a friendly local group. Hoping Saturday to do my normal 35 if all is well. I just hated missing a whole week of riding in this beautiful weather we've got right now. It gets hot and humid early in Alabama!

[doc]

I'm slowly getting there too. Glad to hear you're getting better. Enjoy the beautiful outdoors this weekend. Whether it's 35 miles or another easy one to get back into things, it will feel great.

[shewhobikes]

After a WHOLE WEEK off the bike, which drove me nuts, I at least got out this afternoon for a 15-mile solo ride around the 'hood. Thank goodness! Doc, hope you are all better and out and about. Thanks, everyone, for helping me thru my pity party! :D