I'm sick. Now what?

[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..........

[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.