I feel better now

Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Permalink

Years ago an Australian health insurance company had a series of ads and “I feel better now,” was the tagline.

The jingle came to mind as I wrote this post because – as it happens – I actually DO feel better now. (Not necessarily mentally, but that’s a whole other story!)

Almost two months ago I had a sore throat. It came and went for a week or two before settling-in to stay. I had a cough, stitch in my side and bizarre rash. I felt miserable but assumed my immune system would kick in and I’d just get better. It was three weeks before I went to the doctor, which is when I discovered I had some virus which required a variety of drugs. It took a while for me to improve and I got a sore ear in the interim. On top of the general malaise and miserableness the antihistamines I was on for the rash kept me sleepy and lethargic. But finally… almost two months after getting sick, last week I realised that I was actually feeling better.

The discovery was actually quite sudden. I’d been wallowing for weeks…. you know the feeling – when you are so sick, it’s almost impossible to remember what it’s like to feel well.

I was sitting on my balcony with my mother on the weekend when I realised that I actually felt okay. Even WELL. Finally I had no excuses ailments rendering me apathetic or lethargic.

On Sunday I rose early and went for a walk. Something I haven’t done in ages. I’ve been doing a thong (leisurely) walk a couple of times a week and last week even walked on the beach on a couple of occasions. (A habit temporarily on hold cos I cut my foot on some coral when kayaking.)

Did you notice how I slipped that in…? That I went kayaking?! My Facebook fans are already aware of this achievement as I shared this pic below on the day of the event (I’m the red blob!).

feeling better now

A friend’s partner has a double kayak and suggested I join them to try it out. Which I did… initially with one of his boys and then alone. And I enjoyed it. Naturally I kept worrying I wasn’t paddling as perfectly as one should and querying EXACTLY where to hold my hands, how deep to dunk the paddle and so forth, but… I did it!

We didn’t paddle for long but my hands were sore and slippery, so first on the agenda will be some gloves of some sort, as well as some surf shoes given the coral cuts. Oh, and a bloody kayak and paddle probably need to be added to the “To Buy” list as well.

I’m excited about the idea of a new healthy hobby. Of course I’m finding it hard to justify the purchase of a kayak at this moment in time, but perhaps once I find a job it will be added to the ‘Must Have’ list!

Although it pains me to say it, I’m actually thinking of heading back to the Golden Oldies Zumba class this week. I haven’t been for a couple of months and suspect my fitness has suffered. I know I said the new (and more zen) me wouldn’t stress about fitness, but while I’m not forcing myself to the gym I figured I’d take in the occasional Zumba class.

And, as it happens, my break from hard-core exercise seems to be working… in that I’ve thought I may well join a gym again when I eventually get a job. Working will add some structure to my life and will make going-to-the-gym seem less of an anomaly. If that makes sense.

So… back to the point of this mostly-pointless post: I’m feeling better. I’ve realised that the extreme apathy I struggled with for quite some time WAS predominantly due to the fact I felt like crap. And now… no not-living-my-life-to-the-full excuses, cos I really do feel better now!

Do you sometimes wonder if you’re REALLY sick, or just skiving off?
Have you had sickness that’s just hung on and on and on?
Do you want to buy me a kayak? No? Well, hmph! 

 

16 Comments
  • Aroha @ Colours of Sunset
    April 30, 2013

    I’m so glad you’re feeling better – weeks of being sick does NOT sound fun! But I know what you mean – you forget what it’s like to feel well and it takes some adjusting to actually feeling normal again! I’d love to try kyaking! -Aroha (#teamIBOT)

    • Debbish
      April 30, 2013

      Hi Aroha and thanks for dropping by. Kayaking WAS fun. I really had no idea what to expect. I rowed very briefly while at University (and mostly remember the blisters I got on my hands!).

      I’m a bit the same when it’s THAT time of the month… I forget what it’s like to NOT have cramps or feel like crap!

  • Char
    April 30, 2013

    Isn’t it wonderful to feel normal?? I spent the last couple of years wondering how much of feeling yuck was due to hypochondria and was I just a wuss that finding out there was something really wrong and it explained every single one of my symptoms was a relief.

    And isn’t kayaking fun?? I’ve done it a couple of times now and enjoyed it thoroughly. It was so much fun that it didn’t even seem like exercise which, ironically, makes it the perfect type of exercise.

    • Debbish
      April 30, 2013

      I tend to err on the side of anti-hypochondria when it comes to illness. I assume my immune system will kick in so leave it for a while. I was quite sick around the time I moved last October and by the time I saw a doctor my bronchitis was pretty bad and she thought I had whooping cough!

      And yes, kayaking would be great exercise-that-isn’t-exactly-exercise!

  • Kim
    April 30, 2013

    I hurt my shoulder a number of years ago and for about 6 months i was in pain – physio, acupuncture – i did everything to try and heal it. Then, one day it was miraculously better.

    I think exercise is a huge cleanser for aches and pains but as they say … if pain persists see the doc. most of the time i think we just need a bit of blood flowing through the veins to get things feeling good again. Love your kayaking – i also went kayaking last week. I woke up stiff the next day – i thought it was the flu – then i remembered id used muscles i hadn’t in years.

    • Debbish
      April 30, 2013

      Oh Kim, I suspect my kayaking wasn’t as gruelling as yours. I did expect to be sore, but really probably did 15mins in total and that’s it. If I go ‘properly’ myself and spend a while out there I guess I’ll be sore. I’m just hoping I don’t find it boring or tedious. Perhaps I should use a borrowed / hired kayak a while longer before buying!

  • Mrs BC
    April 30, 2013

    My husband bought a second hand kayak before Christmas and he LOVES it! He goes out almost every second day to go fishing. Apparently it’s called ‘Yakfishing’ whatever..I’m glad he is having fun and keeping fit.
    xx

    • Debbish
      April 30, 2013

      Oh yes, I see heaps of people fishing off kayaks here. In fact when I googled kayaks and looked at options for sale, heaps have a thing on them to hold your fishing rods.

      I don’t actually fish cos that would require… umm… touching bait and fish and stuff (yes, I am such a girl sometimes!) but the sense of drifting about with your fishing line does seem vaguely appealing!

      Deb

  • EssentiallyJess
    April 30, 2013

    Hooray for feeling better!!!!
    We did some kayaking over Christmas, and it was awesome! Great exercise, but it also just feels so nice to be outside and enjoying the beach.

    • Debbish
      May 1, 2013

      Very true Jess! It always looked very zen when I saw people gliding across the ocean… and it’s nice to know it feels a bit that way when you’re out there as well!

  • Jess
    May 1, 2013

    Awesome you’re feeling better! It sucks to be sick constantly, it really gets you down. And good job on the sly little slip in on the kayaking! I hope to hear more about your kayaking adventures! Sorry to hear about the coral cut though, coral can be a pain.

    • Debbish
      May 1, 2013

      Yes, in a previous job I visited some Pacific Islands and I recall hearing horror stories about coral cuts getting infected. Mine wasn’t (isn’t) too bad but is in an awkward place under my foot! I’m hoping it’s healed soon as I don’t want to lose my willingness-to-walk-on-the-beach mojo!

  • Me
    May 2, 2013

    This has happened to me recently as well. I had been extremely tired sleeping 14-16hrs a day on the weekends and barely making it through the day at work during the week. I had tests and found out I was hypoglycemic and suffering from adrenal fatigue. I changed my eating habits and got some medication for the adrenal fatigue and the other day realised that I was feeling heaps better and hadn’t even had a day time nap even though it was the weekend !!!
    My husband would love to give kayaking a go – me, I’m not so sure but he is trying hard to convince me !
    Have the best day !
    Me
    #IBOT visitor

    • Debbish
      May 2, 2013

      Oh, I had the test for adrenal fatigue a couple of years ago cos of constant tiredness (peeing in a container all day!). Made me realise how much I pee!!!! I had to return the container early as I (ahem) ran out of space!

      Glad the medication worked for you!!!

      Re the kayaking – I was worried, but did it in a fairly deserted place and felt better about that!

      Deb

  • KCLAnderson (Karen)
    May 3, 2013

    I’m SO glad you’re feeling better and I know exactly what you mean…it’s like the absence of noise. That’s what happened when I had Lyme disease and didn’t know it. I slowly felt worse and worse and thought it was all in my head (fat and old) and then, once it was treated and I started to feel better, I was like, “Whoa! I feel great!”

    BTW, I love kayaking. Tim’s company owns a couple and we’re allowed to use them!

    • Debbish
      May 3, 2013

      Yes, the sudden realisation that you’re well is a most-welcome one. It makes you realise how much you can take it for granted most of the time!

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