Well, 2 years & 7 months later & I feel so much stronger!

Well it appears that I am finally returning to the energetic person I was. There are definitely signs of my old self coming back. As the weeks pass, even though it is 18 months since I had RHS I can still see changes & improvements not only in my face but also in my physical ability. I am able to do more exercise but just have to be sensible about it & try listen to my body & ensure I rest afterwards. It is particularly important to rest after a hard day at work.

Well here we are, 16 months down the line. Well actually I am feeling much better. Yes I still get very tired some days after work, particularly towards the end of term. On the whole I think I am stronger physically, which means I am able to at least try doing activities I used to do. However I’m quite a way from having the energy I did have. I went to a water sports centre last weekend & although I was completely exhausted afterwards, it was really uplifting to do something sporty as I’ve really missed all that.

It is now over 12 months ago that I first had RHS. I have made significant progress since those first few weeks but it really has been incredibly slow. Being back at work has really taken its toll and I am still a long way from feeling my normal self. I go through phases of feeling very positive but frequently very frustrated & tired. However I know I will get there in the end!

Recently I have realised that I need to make some important decisions in order to improve my rate of recovery.

It took a while to get back into the swing of things after the Oct. half term with a lot of extras on at school plus I was starting to put pressure on myself. I was very tired to begin with but the second week back was a big improvement. I was not feeling so desperately tired at the end of the day. No “groggy head” or “jelly legs” for a while now. Great! What I have noticed more towards the end of term and now during the holidays is just how much my muscles ache after a walk. The aching doesn’t just disappear after a rest either.

Although still very tired some days after work, other days have been much better and I have coped well. I don’t seem to collapse in a heap quite so much after work. Am going to bed about 9-9:30pm most nights with only the occasional early night, which is better than the last few weeks when I frequently went to bed at 8pm.

The last 3 weeks has been very long indeed! I have been finding school extremely tiring both mentally & physically. My legs feel like jelly most days and I still have to wait until the weekends to cope with a walk. So much for thinking I’d be back at the gym (possibly at the weekends.) No chance!

After school, some days my head feels like a lead weight, my legs are all over the place and I just need to get home and lie down for an hour, in order to feel relatively normal.

I have finally returned to work and it is really good to be back! I am finding it very tiring at times and have forgotten how draining children can be. As for my colleagues... well? (Just kidding!!)

I seem to have turned a corner & genuinely feel on top of the world at the moment. The tiredness no longer seems to be running my life. The last few weeks has seen a big improvement not only in my facial movement but also in energy levels. I am feeling more like my old self & boy does it feel good! Da-na na-na na-na!! …Uh oh!

Being back at work will be the real test! But I am looking forward to it with only a slight apprehension.

Have still felt extremely tired at times early on in the week. I think the emotions from the previous week & the long drive back caught up with me. Head has felt muzzy & groggy when I’m over doing it! I can’t seem to shake of the weariness, whether I rest or whether I try to be more active either way. But it’s not all doom & gloom read on!