With the UK Government`s recent Welfare Reform bill targeting benefits for those on low incomes, and those unable to work due to health issues, it has created a huge subject for debate.
Such was the furore, that the prime minister had to U turn on the original bill, and put forward a much watered down version for the vote to pass.
With an increasing number of people being unable to work, it begs the question, why?
There are many reasons put forward such as chronic illness, job shortages, post Covid disabilities, and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
At the moment the system seems to favour a particular format, which undoubtedly and unfortunately has been sussed out by those who may be rather economical with the true facts of their circumstances, whilst other very deserving applicants may be turned down due to not understanding how to tick the relevant boxes in a particular way.
VIRAL SYMPTOMS:
THE TROUBLEMAKERS:
I can only speak from a post viral point of view, as I was unlucky enough to experience a viral episode some time ago.
The symptoms were fairly predictable, a temperature, headache, sore muscles and feeling generally unwell, and lasted two or three days.
As normally I am very healthy with a no nonsense, busy approach to life, I figured a day or so in bed, and another two indoors so that I would not pass on any infection, and I would have fully recovered.
How wrong I was. Whilst the initial symptoms cleared away as expected, I started to experience an overwhelming fatigue.
OVERWHELMING FATIGUE:
Thinking it was the after effects of the virus, I decided to take the opportunity to sleep whilst I could, as I reckoned my body was telling me to do so.
Sleep I did, for hours and hours, and feeling no better on waking.
I had no headache, but my brain felt as if it was just slowly ticking over. Nothing was clear and everything required a huge effort. The term "brain fog" is a very accurate one.
Moving physically was a struggle. Everything took so long, and after a task I was exhausted. It was like cycling through thick mud on a bicycle.
The exhaustion was not just a physical tiredness that one experiences after working hard, but an overpowering feeling which I couldn`t fight. I would have to sit down before moving on to something else.
In many ways it felt as if I was drugged, and was unable to organize my mind and body to function and co ordinate.
After two weeks, the feeling showed no sign of lessening and became quite frightening.
It affected my life in so many ways.
I am normally a busy person and seen as a "worker", so this feeling was quite new and unacceptable to me.
I don`t normally frequent my GP surgery, but felt I had to have the symptoms investigated in case I had an underlying condition. (I might add that the journey there and back left me completely floored for the entire day).
The GP response was pretty much as I expected, as he indicated that I was not the first with such symptoms and would not be the last. However I had a general case history and bloods taken, and was sent on my way, after being told it may last a few weeks but there was no treatment as such, and eventually it should disappear.
The blood results did not reveal any concerns, so I decided to start monitoring myself and see if I could piece together anything that could have triggered my symptoms.
Normally my take on health is not to discuss it at great length as I often think that by talking of nothing but one`s health issues attracts more of the same.
I considered this to be a bit different and decided to turn it into a "project".
My usual mind set would have enjoyed doing such an investigation, and would have set up various charts and bits of information and research, but this also became an enormous effort and I just couldn`t concentrate to process what I needed to do. My brain just jangled and didn`t seem to know what was required.
I began to panic a bit, as I wondered if I would be like this on a permanent basis? Would I ever be able to do the things I was used to doing?
I could see that it could play games with my mental health and depression could easily kick in.
As my brain wasn`t really responding to my plan, I decided just to abandon it and start with some very small things.
CHANGES:
Rest was important rather than sleep which didn`t improve the situation.
It meant cutting out stimulants, the biggest one being the internet.
I felt that although incredibly helpful, and where I would find much of my research, I could almost feel the airwaves disrupting my brain.
Bright colours, reading, loud music and anything that overloaded my senses were cut out initially.
Each day a small goal was set, such as showering, making my bed, finding something pretty to wear, or preparing food. Rest was taken regularly and especially after completing a goal.
I found that certain things lifted my mood, such as having flowers in my room and around the house, wearing something new, or using attractive dishes at mealtimes.
That may sound a bit simplistic but it was visually pleasing to my senses without any effort.
HEALTHY DIET IS KEY:
Probably the most important aspect was my diet.
I realized that my immune system was clearly not working as it should, so it was important that beneficial food was eaten.
Sadly, like so many other things, most food is processed and chemicals are added in the form of preservatives, flavours and enhancers, so finding good organic unadulterated produce is easier said than done.
Initially my diet consisted largely of wholegrains, especially rough oatmeal which I would cook in some olive oil with some seasoning, or make a porridge with added fruit.
Protein in the form of oily fish, turkey, some cheese and eggs, with lots of uncooked vegetables made into salads, as cooking destroys the nutrients.
I drank plenty of water as suspected tea and coffee were not as pure as advertised.
Alcohol was cut out, although I did have the occasional brandy or whisky. They are both pretty pure spirits with no additives to speak of and didn`t seem to do any harm, indeed were a bit of a boost in an otherwise fairly flat existence.
After a couple of months I began to feel a bit better. I was able to tackle more ambitious goals and didn`t feel quite so exhausted.
WALKS CLOSE TO NATURE:
I started doing some small spells of exercise such as going for short walks in the countryside and by the sea.
I found this to be very beneficial as visually the surroundings were calming and beautiful and also the sound of birdsong and the waves on the shore made me feel alive again.
Alongside the exercise I meditated a lot. This was something I had done on an occasional basis, but I found that the more I did, the better I became at it, and the more my mental health improved, as it gave me a feeling of calmness, focus and peace.
Bit by bit I set more ambitious goals, but didn`t force myself to always achieve them straight away.
I stuck to the eating plan which I really liked, and added things like almonds and walnuts, mushrooms and plenty of good quality olive oil.
I found that my mood was lifting and I began to enjoy things again, and although still fatigued at times, I was having to rest for less time.
Gradually I introduced a bit of internet as I was keen now to research my project. This was done very slowly as I was aware that the airwaves could act as a trigger and undo all the progress I had achieved.
RESULTS:
Two years have passed and I can say I am well again, but feel that I could possibly go back the way if I was to return to my previous lifestyle.
I would also be a bit apprehensive if I should develop a viral infection again.
I still have to have plenty of rest. Looking back, I realized how little rest I gave my poor body which was always working at something.
My eating plan has remained much the same as I really enjoy it, and it is easy to stick to.
I have the occasional wine, but have decided that I am not particularly keen on it any longer, so stick to my chosen spirits.
Exercise is key. It needn`t be drastic, just simple things which activate your body and use your muscles and nerves, making sure your heart is promoting good circulation to supply your organs with the necessary nutrients.
An added but important bonus is to include nature wherever possible. I can`t over emphasize how important it is to get out into the natural world and appreciate what it has to offer. It costs nothing, but gives us so much positive energy.
KEEPING TRACK:
Throughout my journey I have tried to keep a journal.
In the early days, I could not have thought to do that, but as time has gone on, I have managed to record the highs and lows of my progress, and it is very interesting and helpful to look back on.
Research suggests that there could be a number of things which have affected the normal efficiency of the immune system which is more or less the police service for the body.
Any invaders such as bacteria or viruses, are rounded up by white blood cells. Inflammation results and may be successful in warding off an infection by an area becoming red, painful and perhaps generating a temperature which is natures way of indicating that infection is setting in.
Wonderful as antibiotics are at fighting infection, they have been rather too liberally prescribed when often not necessary. This has resulted in mixed messages to the immune system which is not sure whether it is fighting the infection or is it the antibiotic?
In reality, antibiotics work on bacteria, but not on viruses, so perhaps further misunderstandings.
It has been suggested that this has thrown immune systems into confusion, by over reacting, which may be the reason that fatigue symptoms are so widespread following viral infections.
For some people, Covid has left a legacy of some very severe disabilities known as Long Covid, which in many cases have not shown any improvement, so it will be interesting to see research results from current studies.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I decided to write this blog to give a personal view of how many people must feel when affected by so called mystery viruses with follow on fatigue.
Undoubtedly, they have added to the huge numbers applying for financial assistance if going back to work is not an option either on a temporary or permanent basis.
Unpleasant and debilitating as these "hidden" disabilities are, they must be monitored, as many individuals will be able to return to work at some stage if proper management is undertaken.
Therein lies the question, what is proper management?
There is much information out there, but if someone is exhausted and depressed, they may not be able or want to access it, and there seems to be only a limited amount of advice and support from GPs.
If I had not taken my situation into my own hands, I might still be an exhausted, depressed wreck, staring down a long bleak road, but I had to try and understand what had happened to my body, how my body works and how to rebuild it slowly without using drugs or chemicals.
It was a bit of trial and error, but in the end something worked.
It is not particularly easy to understand why your brain is not working properly and your body is practically shutting down because it is suffering from some toxicity, and it requires quite a bit of dedication and will power to choose an alternative route.
The easy option is to give in to it and sit and watch Netflix and continue with a poor diet.
These mystery illnesses and disabilities will remain unless some direction and encouragement is given as to how best to manage them.
Unless we take a pro active approach to some of the millions of people who are suffering from these "hidden" disabilities, the numbers will increase, and our annual welfare budget will require to keep up.
Unfortunately there is no magic cure. Probably no two people will be the same, but our bodies and immune systems are similar, and they have been under enormous stress between Covid, and all sorts of infections plus the amount of chemicals ingested from medications and food.
It is no wonder they are not working as well as they should, and until we recognize that fact, and reverse the situation, we will no doubt continue to suffer.
DISCLAIMER:
My account of how a post viral episode affected me is a personal one.
Treating the debilitating symptoms was my own choice.
I did not use medication, either over the counter or g.p. prescribed.
I am not advocating my choices as a treatment for others, but it may be of interest and something that readers may want to investigate further.
I didn`t request financial assistance, as I was able to manage without, although I had not anticipated the length of time it took to be fully well again.
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