Are fatigue, pain, and soreness an EDS flare-up or a winter illness?
The remedies are often the same — more sleep and less exertion
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It’s that time of year when it seems as if everyone is getting sick with something, especially at school.
Kids are out with colds, the flu, COVID-19, strep throat, and more. Some days it feels like we’re living in a petri dish, as we teachers douse ourselves with hand sanitizer and wipe desks and doorknobs with Clorox wipes in an effort to stay healthy. Up to a quarter of my class has been out at the same time recently due to illness.
I meet regularly with students to help them with their college searches, so I get exposed to just about everything, no matter how hard I try not to be.
There are some days when it’s hard to tell if my exhaustion and achy body are me getting sick or if it’s the cold weather causing my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) to flare up.
EDS or the flu?
EDS-related chronic fatigue is a constant battle. I’m used to being tired, but winter also means extra farm chores, and it’s not surprising that I may be extra tired this time of year. I also tend to experience body pain, soreness, and stiffness with EDS.
But being tired can also be a symptom of an illness, such as the flu, and so can the other symptoms I just mentioned — the pain, stiffness, and soreness.
Whether it’s EDS flaring up or a cold or flu, the remedy is to make sure I get more sleep and not overdo it during the day. My daily plan is the same either way.
The difference is that if I’m coming down with the flu, I’m going to want to self-isolate and not “share the fun” with anyone else. I usually also try to make sure to wash my hands regularly and wear a mask when it’s necessary. Otherwise, there’s not a whole lot more I can do. Being exposed to illnesses is part of being a teacher, and dealing with fatigue and soreness is part of living with EDS.
Note: Ehlers-Danlos News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Ehlers-Danlos News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Ehlers-Danlos.
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