Managing post exertional malaise

Posted by Athena Atkins @athenaatkins, Feb 14 7:14pm

It’s been about five weeks since I got Covid, and I am struggling with the push-crash cycle of post exertional malaise. I was feeling good over the weekend and foolishly pushed my body too far with a 45 minute walk in the woods. Three days later I am still almost completely incapacitated by fatigue and plagued by muscle aches and headaches. My husband wants me to push myself a bit through the fatigue by getting back into our normal routine of walking the dogs for 15 minutes in the morning (which I had been tolerating), but I am not sure if that is a good thing to do while I am in the crash recovery phase.

I would like to get some advice on whether I should strictly rest until the fatigue subsides, or if it is better to add some light exercise into the mix so I don’t decondition even more. Honestly, I am terrified that I might do something that will prolong the fatigue, because it is having such a negative impact on my ability to work.

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@margaretamada

I can’t let myself get excited—the excitement for me can cause PEM just as easily as too much physical effort.

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This happened to me yesterday so it’s helpful to read your reply. I was talking with my family including grandkids as they were en route to an amusement. I was animated during the call and suffered for hours afterwards. Thank you for sharing your experience.

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@bodiegirl

This happened to me yesterday so it’s helpful to read your reply. I was talking with my family including grandkids as they were en route to an amusement. I was animated during the call and suffered for hours afterwards. Thank you for sharing your experience.

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Check our this website. It's full of VERY helpful advice.
https://batemanhornecenter.org/merc/

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@welchllb

Check our this website. It's full of VERY helpful advice.
https://batemanhornecenter.org/merc/

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Thank you for providing that link to the Bateman Horne Center website. I found a variety of useful information, especially about PEM and how to use Pacing to manage it

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