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.

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

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!!!

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