Changing Schedules Seasonally Means More Fatigue

I’ve been back to work at a high school for just over two weeks, and it feels strange. Everyone is wearing masks, keeping far apart, and cleaning everything they touch. I’m lucky to have my own office, where I can close the door and remove my mask for a while to decompress. Teachers aren’t so lucky, and students won’t be either when they return to school next week.

Every fall when I return to work after a two-month break, I readjust to a different lifestyle and schedule. During the summer, I’m active all day, from early morning until evening, which is good for me. I go to bed early, at about 9:30 p.m.

When summer is over, however, I work at my desk or somewhere else around the school until 4:30 p.m. Then I go to the barn and start riding at 5:30 p.m. I arrive home at 8:30 p.m. and still need to have dinner, shower, and prep for the next day.

As I’ve previously mentioned, I manage my soreness with a lot of physical activity. But when I’m at work, my schedule changes so much that physical activity becomes difficult. I’ll go from moving about for most of the day to spending a lot of time sitting, and then having a burst of heavy activity for a few hours in the evening. It’s a big adjustment for my body that usually takes a few weeks. In the interim, I’m often sore.

Although everyone with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is different, moving around seems to help prevent my muscles from becoming stiff and sore. My sudden change in routine messes that up. I’m glad I was able to get a massage two weeks ago, and I have another one scheduled for this week.

After that, to accommodate a reduced schedule due to COVID-19 protocols, I’ll be on a monthly rather than biweekly massage schedule. I’ll take it, though, as it’s certainly better than not having one for months.

Readjusting to my school year schedule is exhausting. I frequently discuss how chronic fatigue from EDS is one of my toughest adversaries, and it’s definitely wearing me out now. My body usually readjusts to a new schedule after a few weeks, but in the meantime, I’m always tired.

At least I’ve got my after-lunch coffee!

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