Post viral fatigue

Caught slap cheek syndrome off my kids back in April (prior to this hip issues have been present for the last three years, dramatically reducing time on the bike and exercise in general) It felt like someone had unplugged me, no energy whatsoever. This lasted for three months. Doctor diagnosed PVF and told me to got sit on a beach for 6 weeks. Yeah, fat chance! I’ve got a business to run.Right in the lowpoint of the fatigue I found it hard to cope with the pressure of running a business and the need to recover ASAP. This pressure wasn’t helping one bit. Something had to give, the wheels well n truly came of the cart. Never in my life had I felt so vulnerable. When sick in the past I’ve always chosen to MTFU. But this time MTFU was not going to work.

I went to cognitive behaviour therapy and took up meditation. Both allowed me to accept being unwell and immediately released a great deal of the pressure. Accepting PVF was a massive turning point. I’d learnt to ‘bend like the willow’ instead of standing firm like a stubborn old oak.

Now I’m definitely on the mend, taking one day a time to rebuild physically. All of which is bolstered by the continuing focus on developing mindfulness.

Looking back PVF was one of the most positive experiences in my life.

Well, that’s a most profound statement you ended your post with! Certainly sounds as though you’ve been through the mill but you’re sounding most positive about your recovery.

This ‘mindfulness’ – have seen it mentioned a few times in different places so shall have a little dig around.

Good luck and hope you continue making good progress. 🙂

Looking back PVF was one of the most positive experiences in my life.

Illness has a strange habit of doing that sometimes.

Hey everyone, been having some problems recently and think it might be PVF having read up on it (this thread is great btw!). What’s the general consensus on my situation below:

Keen roadie (don’t hold it against me though, I used to mtb loads when I was ahem…heavier :D), training ready for new race season, great winter (well over 15hrs per week base training every week without illness). About 6 weeks ago started feeling a bit ‘odd’, just a bit spaced out, dizzy and tired, plus my legs were just in pieces. Every time I’d try to ride hard, even for a few mins, fatigue would set in straight away into my legs. Resting HR was around 63-65 (usually 53-55).

Went to docs, said its probably a low level virus, and to rest. So I rested for about 10 days, thought I felt a bit better (although hard to tell, as exercise is what brings on the main symptoms), but thought I’d try riding. Stupidly rode hard for 5 mins without warming up on way home from work, and managed to get a chest infection. Took antibiotics, and rested for another 10 days and infection went away.

RHR went back down too during that time too, thought I was fine, but then tried to cycle again, and same thing happens with my legs, it also increases my RHR for a couple of days after attempting to cycle. It leaves me completely exhausted, totally drained. I’m sat here at work after an easy 10 mile cycle in, and can barely focus on work at home I’m so tired. My legs are aching with twitching muscles! I can pedal at a certain level without the leg fatigue, it’s just as soon as I ‘push’at all that causes the leg fatigue/tiredness. I’m sleeping fine at night, but don’t feel refreshed in the morning either.

Pretty gutted after having to pull out of 5 races so far, such a waste of a good winter! Also have put on 4KG in the last 6 weeks which is annoying 😕 Was thinking it could be PVF? Sound similar to what you guys had?

Although I guess it could be overtraining too, although I only slowly increased my efforts, and duration actually dropped after winter so I don’t think it would be that.

Any advice would be greatly received! The whole thing is started to get to me now, and it sounds stupid in the grand scheme of things, but it’s quite upsetting after being so active 😳

Hmmm, that doesn’t sound good. 🙁 Have any blood tests been done?

I can’t remember if I posted on this thread, but re the biking:

When I worked in Bristol for 10 weeks or so I decidd to cycle there and back from Cardiff, to get some good base miles in. First week I took it a bit hard, and got tired, but managed to ride in 2-4 times a week mostly. It was about the time bird flu was going around – it had been spotted in my office. Apparently though many people would just get mild or no symptoms.

I suspect I might’ve caught it and been asymptomatic, because I got profoundly tired and I couldn’t ride properly at all. I had periods of several weeks rest, and I felt ok, but I’d completely crash after about 20 mins of exertion. This lasted for almost 18 months, and I only got better when I did no exercise at all for like four months.

Based on that, if I were you I’d sacrifice a season for the sake of your health and future seasons.

Thanks for the input guys 🙂 , got a docs appointment on 10th May (have to wait to see the ‘nice’ GP who won’t just dismiss me outright!).

Molgrips: sounds very similar to what’s happening to me 🙁 Did manage 60miles on Saturday, but that was after 4 days rest, and I was last up the hills! Guess I’ve got two problems if I do bin the next few months: The bus is £7 return to work every day, don’t think I can afford that, so would need to cycle probably still 😕 , and I started racing for a shop race team this year who kinda expect you to do races to advertise the shop. Bit worried they won’t be very happy if I turn round and tell them I can’t do anything.

It’s a really strange feeling at the moment, I’m pretty upset that I can’t cycle properly, but also finding that cycling isn’t the be all and end all, and have had time to do loads of different things, and spend more time with my wife doing stuff. Probably just need to maybe adjust my diet somewhat to account for not burning off an extra 1000 calories every day!

Bit worried they won’t be very happy if I turn round and tell them I can’t do anything.

It’s got nothing to do with what you tell them. Not telling them won’t make the problem go away! What’s your alternative? Turn in sub standard results and possibly do yourself even more damage? If you don’t fix this you could be struggling for years.

I started racing for a shop race team this year who kinda expect you to do races to advertise the shop.

I wouldn’t expect my riders to race for me if they were ill!

How far is your commute? If you take it really easy it wouldn’t be a problem I’d imagine (not a doctor though).

I don’t think it will be a problem for them, I think I’ve just built it up in my head that it would be! I’m hardly a decent rider for them anyway! Commute is 10 miles each way and is flat, so probably ok if i just pootle along at 15mph or something.

I had PVF a couple of years back and posted on the thread at the time – so this is just a wee update really.
Docs weren’t great after initial blood tests, and just said ‘rest’.
Looking back I had PVF and an element of stress – very busy at work and training for an Ironman through the period I had the virus and PVF. It wiped me out for 8 months in 2011. In addition to that I have two young kids and generally burn the candle at both ends.
I was feeling fine from the start of last year, but just thought I’d have a chilled year with no massive targets fitness-wise. Did a couple of 80m+ sportives and the 3 peaks cyclo cross race, and was happy with that.
I think the thing I learnt most was to listen to my body and be more mindfull of how I was feeling – mental and physical.
So when I undertook a 7 month academic course in addition to my normal busy work (Oct 2012-April 2013) I backed off fitness plans, as I didn’t want to overload with stress. Now that’s out the way I’m mad keen to get back into some fitness.
Generally I try and get more sleep, and I’m mindful that things like coffee and too much bread can make me feel a bit yuck. The virus had an impact on my liver function and I was given some supplements to help me with that.
Anyway, all good at the moment, and hope you all are too.