next »

[marginalia]

In the last two years I've been under a lot of stress - getting the job, relocating to TT-ville, negotiating two departments, constant new preps, service, publishing, helping my husband find a job... And the crown of it all, 2 months before relocating to TT-ville, my son was diagnosed with autism.

I'm not depressed - in fact I am hopeful and [mostly] energetic. However, I'm sick a lot. Last semester I had flu, cold, and finally swine flu. Now I have a cold. I also twisted my ankle in November, and it developed into tendonitis - it still hurts. I gained a lot of weight since my son was diagnosed - I think upwards of 50lbs. I never weighed this much, even when I was pregnant! And yet I cannot quite force myself to diet.

When I am not down with something, I still feel slightly sick - not horribly so, but just never feel good in my body anymore. I don't sleep well, either. Let me reiterate that I am not depressed, but I'd like to feel healthy or at least healthier.

My immune system has always been weak, ever since I was a child - but in AlmaMater-ville I felt great due to a combination of healthy diet, aerobic exercise, and Qi Gong. There's no Qi Gong in TT-state! And I cannot do the aerobic exercise right now because of my ankle.

Any advice, suggestions for natural remedies etc much appreciated. I am currently not taking anything except vitamin D.

[mended_drum]

What about yoga?  Even with your ankle, you can probably do it, and it's worked wonders for a friend of mine who seems to be out of whack for a couple of years.

[marginalia]

What about yoga?  Even with your ankle, you can probably do it, and it's worked wonders for a friend of mine who seems to be out of whack for a couple of years.

I did yoga from time to time in graduate school and never managed to enjoy it, on the other hand I always loved Tai Chi and Qi Gong. However, since I can't find either here, I might have to resort to yoga... I might be too fat for yoga :(

I don't know much about natural remedies, so I can't comment on that. Based on what you've said, it does seem odd that you would be feeling sick all of the time. I'd suggest getting a full workup with a good physician--a real physical, with blood work. Ask around for a doctor who comes highly recommended for persistence in dealing with problems without obvious answers.

And, even though I believe you when you say you're not depressed, it might not hurt to find a good counselor--just someone to talk with about everything that's going on in your life. Stress can cause lots of other problems, so anything you can do (like talking about it) that could help cut back on your stress might be helpful.

I'm thinking good thoughts for you.

Hi Lizzy, thanks for your comment. I actually did a full check-up in August for this very reason. My dr. thought it might be the thyroid (I even have a history of thyroid problems in my family), but the bloodwork came back normal. My dr. wasn't one of those persistent doctors, though - she said "well, it's psychosomatic then." Like a good girl, I went to the psychologist, only to get a verdict of "not depressed". I've been depressed a couple of times in graduate school (and saw a therapist), so I know how depression feels like - this is not it. When I was depressed I felt completely indifferent to what was going on. Not now - I am engaged, productive and hopeful. My job's rewarding, research is going great, my family's very together and I'm enjoying my son immensely, despite his disability. Sure, I am dealing with some difficult circumstances, but not everybody in difficult circumstances is depressed. There's a lot of stress though since I need to get things accomplished. However, in the summer, when I was much less stressed, I did not feel physically better.

[outlier]

Marginalia, wow, that is a lot of stress--it's no wonder you're feeling "off." I second the suggestions to get a physical and consider yoga, and I'll add the suggestion to take a multi-vitamin and perhaps extra B vitamins, calcium and magnesium. Bloodwork might tell you if you're very low in any or all of those. In addition to or instead of yoga, consider strength training. If you haven't done it before, maybe start with a trainer to help set up a workout for you. If you don't have time to go to a gym, there's a lot you can do with a couple of ten pound free weights. Once you have some kind of exercise routine, the weight loss and better health may very well follow without too much extra effort. Good luck.

[glowdart]

If I may be blunt, get a new doc.  Anyone who decides "it might be psychosomatic" is not worth your time.

Somewhere on the fora there's a thread where we were tossing out possible reasons for exhaustion, and any of those could be a factor here, even though you're not yet exhausted.   

I hope you get to feeling better.  

[msmicrobe]

I'd go back to the doctor and press for a more thorough analysis. Maybe the "standard blood profile" and thyroid were okay, but there are other things to check, too. And don't take no for an answer. It's not all in your head. Seeing a therapist is great if that's what is wrong, but it sounds like it is not depression for you. Maybe it's mono, or Lyme disease, or another low-grade infection of some sort.

Does your University have a pool you can work in? I know swimming laps is out with a sore ankle, but I know there are other exercises you can do in the pool that will help your whole body. If you put one of those noodles across your chest, under arms, for example, you can practice different arm strokes at a leisurely pace and let the tender ankle trail behind. Kick with your good leg if you want. Talk to a trainer about what you can do in the pool. Lots of stretching and strength building in the low resistance environment may be just what you need. And there may be modified kicks that use only one leg the would let you get some aerobic exercise in, too.

Exercise may help the sleep, which boosts your immune system, which can help with everything else. But start with your doctor and a trainer. Don't take no for an answer!

Good luck to you.

[dr_prephd]

Hmmm... I'm wondering if it could be environmental.

Is there old, funky carpet in your new house? Or is your new office in a damp, musty building? When I've been in environments like that, it's been hard for me to stay healthy. (Carpet, especially, seems to make me ill when it's in an old rental house... I mean tons of colds / flu / sinus infections / respiratory stuff, etc.)

Also, how old is your child and does he attend group care? If he didn't before, you could be bringing home a lot more germs... germs that he's developed resistance to and you haven't.

Vitamins (especially C), yoga, walking during lunch breaks, sunshine, keeping windows cracked for fresh air, washing hands frequently (but not over-washing) and eating well keeps me healthy. As does living in a house with hardwood floors and keeping fans running at work when I can't open windows.

Good luck.

[marginalia]

Is there old, funky carpet in your new house? Or is your new office in a damp, musty building? When I've been in environments like that, it's been hard for me to stay healthy. (Carpet, especially, seems to make me ill when it's in an old rental house... I mean tons of colds / flu / sinus infections / respiratory stuff, etc.)

We bought our house complete with an ancient orange shag rug, but we ripped it out immediately - now there are hardwoods throughout the house. There is, however, a slightly moldy smell coming from somewhere, which I am currently investigating. It has no obvious source. Someone is coming next week to look for the source (we already had a plumber come out and had the bath tiles re-caulked). This might be it, since I do have a dust/mold allergy - but where the smell's coming from is a mystery.

Also, how old is your child and does he attend group care? If he didn't before, you could be bringing home a lot more germs... germs that he's developed resistance to and you haven't.

yes, he's in group care, with all that implies... It's not something new though.

[history_grrrl]

Somewhere on the fora there's a thread where we were tossing out possible reasons for exhaustion, and any of those could be a factor here, even though you're not yet exhausted.   

This one?

http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,66127.0.html

[collegekidsmom]

If you can actually smell that mold, I would wonder if it's behind the walls. Do you still feel ill when you are away from the house for a while?

[spectacle]

marginalia,  I felt utterly rotten last semester - and I had nowhere near the stress that you're going through. 

This semester, I am getting up every morning that I possibly can and going for an extremely easy-going jog.  That might be too much for you with your tendonitis, but do you think you might be able to do even a brisk walk?

I can't tell you how much better I feel even with this extremely low level of exercise and fresh air.  I'm not losing any weight - it's not enough exercise for that, but it does help to clear my head, make me feel more alert, and I've stopped getting weird colds and sinus infections. 

[marigolds]

I gained a lot of weight after the kid was born, and it definitely made me feel just generally sluggish and gross.  I wonder if it's not illness so much as the low-grade exhaustion borne of carrying around 50 more pounds than your body is used to?  Imagine carrying around a 50 lb backpack all day every day!

(This is not snark - I hope I made it clear that I'm in the same boat. Just a general malaise, and I really think it's because I'm not getting enough exercise and am tired all the time from lugging around my own ass.) 

[marginalia]

I gained a lot of weight after the kid was born, and it definitely made me feel just generally sluggish and gross.  I wonder if it's not illness so much as the low-grade exhaustion borne of carrying around 50 more pounds than your body is used to?  Imagine carrying around a 50 lb backpack all day every day!

(This is not snark - I hope I made it clear that I'm in the same boat. Just a general malaise, and I really think it's because I'm not getting enough exercise and am tired all the time from lugging around my own ass.) 

Very possible it's the weight - but how to lose it? *sigh* I really don't feel like I can add weight loss to my list of must-dos, I might actually get depressed!
I'll try to figure the exercise component.
I love to walk generally but everything is covered with snow, and we don't have sidewalks everywhere in this town :(

[marigolds]

I gained a lot of weight after the kid was born, and it definitely made me feel just generally sluggish and gross.  I wonder if it's not illness so much as the low-grade exhaustion borne of carrying around 50 more pounds than your body is used to?  Imagine carrying around a 50 lb backpack all day every day!

(This is not snark - I hope I made it clear that I'm in the same boat. Just a general malaise, and I really think it's because I'm not getting enough exercise and am tired all the time from lugging around my own ass.) 

Very possible it's the weight - but how to lose it? *sigh* I really don't feel like I can add weight loss to my list of must-dos, I might actually get depressed!
I'll try to figure the exercise component.
I love to walk generally but everything is covered with snow, and we don't have sidewalks everywhere in this town :(

I'll start trying to fit in a walk/jog most days if you will!  We can have a pact. 

I'm thinking I should walk back and forth to campus (30-45 min for me) at least one way every weekday unless the weather is horrible.  It would cut into my working time, but I keep telling myself that if I carve out that time it will really pay dividends in my mental health and make me *more* productive in the long run, not less. 

And perhaps you could think of it as the oxygen-mask-in-the-plane scenario: you must take care of yourself first so that you can take care of everyone else that needs you? 

[spectacle]

I gained a lot of weight after the kid was born, and it definitely made me feel just generally sluggish and gross.  I wonder if it's not illness so much as the low-grade exhaustion borne of carrying around 50 more pounds than your body is used to?  Imagine carrying around a 50 lb backpack all day every day!

(This is not snark - I hope I made it clear that I'm in the same boat. Just a general malaise, and I really think it's because I'm not getting enough exercise and am tired all the time from lugging around my own ass.) 

Very possible it's the weight - but how to lose it? *sigh* I really don't feel like I can add weight loss to my list of must-dos, I might actually get depressed!
I'll try to figure the exercise component.
I love to walk generally but everything is covered with snow, and we don't have sidewalks everywhere in this town :(

I'll start trying to fit in a walk/jog most days if you will!  We can have a pact. 

I'm thinking I should walk back and forth to campus (30-45 min for me) at least one way every weekday unless the weather is horrible.  It would cut into my working time, but I keep telling myself that if I carve out that time it will really pay dividends in my mental health and make me *more* productive in the long run, not less. 

And perhaps you could think of it as the oxygen-mask-in-the-plane scenario: you must take care of yourself first so that you can take care of everyone else that needs you? 

Oh, I wish I could walk to campus.  I'm totally jealous. 

marginalia, I promised myself 20 minutes a day.  I can't possibly commit any more time than that.

I'm hoping that once I get used to getting my heart rate up and stretching, I'll feel more capable of actually trying to lose some weight.