Coxsackie Virus

[ChrisF]

Tham-Tham welcome to the Hub.

 

 

HANG IN THERE !!

 

 

Understandable the bulk of posts on the Hub is about nice bike and better rides ....

 

But many of us are finding a balance between health, meds and staying active ....  Many of us wont ever again be "competetive riders", but we stay in the saddle as much as our health allows.

 

 

We pray yours is but a temporary setback, and that you may soon enough be back to your old miles and times. 

[EYEMAN]

This virus is not always bad news,Contracted it in December last year,could hardly get around, terrible fatigue.

It lasted for about 6 weeks,I had no treatment, but complete rest, started training training and racing in Feb.,Podium finishes in my first two races,no symptoms since then.Hang in there ,you will recover, its self limiting in most cases.as mine was

[V12man]

I have just been diagnosed with Coxsackie B3 & B6 virus and I must say finding this forum has just made me realise I need to stop wallowing in self-pity and start getting help to deal with my depressed state of my mind, as it seems the recovery process is going to be a very long and challenging journey. Past few weeks I have been living with false hope telling myself I should be fine in a couple of weeks and should be able to get back on the bike and train for 947, DC, a few tours I was planning to join etc. but thank goodness I found this forum, it just saved me from spending money on race and tour entries I was not going to be able to join. My symptoms (mostly fatigue, irregular heartbeat, breathing problems) have been on and off since the 10th of June. I would exercise when feeling well, two weeks later I would be so tired even lifting my arms would leave me breathless. I had an appointment with a Sports Physician on the 3rd of September. Physical exams showed I was as healthy as a horse but I felt like crap. My resting HR was normal (48BPM) but would have difficulty breathing as soon as I step on the bike. Had a 2nd appointment with the Sports Physician for comprehensive physical tests including lung function, resting & stress ECG tests and results were normal and showed I have a perfectly functioning set of lungs and heart. Did blood tests which detected Coxsackie B3 & B6 virus. I have been told to rest, and am waiting to repeat the tests in a week or so. I find it hard to deal with this. Not being able to do any physical activity is so upsetting..... getting upset triggers breathing related symptoms and bring about strain on the heart, which is not good! The tricky part is, I need to free my mind from stress in order to aid recovery. How can I not stress when my life, as I know it, has been turned upside down????

Chat to your GP - he will be able to medicate the edge off a bit... quite a lot off actually - or refer you to a psychiatrist who can.

[J Wakefield]

Go see a specialist for the best advice. if you in GP see someone like Dr Van Zuydem, if you in CT see Dr swart or Rotunno.

No one here is a Dr on here to give you qualified info on this. However, just cause you have contracted it, its by no means the end, people make a perfect recovery and resume playing bikes. Its just a process to get there.

Edited September 22, 2019 by J Wakefield

[Shane S]

Started with coxsackie back in 2015 and only after the doctor finally figured it out thinking it was stress and fatigue . Reckon I picked it up in a cadence room but it put me down for 8 months the first time straight no riding and could hardly make a full day at work . Doctors gave me pain killers to hide the flu like feelings and told me to suck it up .

Training anything like I used to and I risk feeling like **** a day or two later so racing a stage race a few days in a row results in being sick for a week or two thereafter .

A new specialist put me on epilepsy tablets which seem to help mostly but it still comes and goes which sucks because i love riding my bikes .

So basically I believe it never really goes away so when I feel good I ride and when I don't I do nothing .

Feel sorry for anyone who has it but ride when you can .

[Tham-Tham]

Thank you ChrisF for the well wishes. I pray and hope my recovery isn’t going to be too long????????. Wishing you many happy miles and years of safe riding!

 

EYEMAN: your experience with the virus is very encouraging. Thanks for sharing your story. I have been resting completely for 3 weeks now and counting!! Wishing you good health and many more podium finishes!

 

V12man: deleting my Strava account and staying off cycling related group chats has helped me deal with the psychological distress. I’m going to focus on getting better and try to stress less.

 

J Wakefield: I’m currently treated by Dr Jarrad Van Zuydam. He made the diagnosis. I will be seeing him again for follow up tests

 

So sorry SHANE SCHREIBER, don’t lose hope!!

[Bateleur1]

Go see a specialist for the best advice. if you in GP see someone like Dr Van Zuydem, if you in CT see Dr swart or Rotunno.

 

No one here is a Dr on here to give you qualified info on this. However, just cause you have contracted it, its by no means the end, people make a perfect recovery and resume playing bikes. Its just a process to get there.

 

V12man actually is qualified

[Bateleur1]

Tham-Tham, the good news is that you have a diagnosis already.  My wife had it when she was younger and it took very long to get to a diagnosis.  The GP she had at that stage just prescribed the on antibiotic after the other.  By the time a dianosis was made (after we went to another doctor) her immune system stuffed but she eventually got back and recovered.

 

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[V12man]

V12man actually is qualified

But John is right - I am not here to give qualified advice - mostly just here to talk **** about bikes

[Owen R O'Neill]

Hi,sorry to hear you have contracted the Coxsackie virus. I got the Virus back in 1988 when i was racing roadbikes. Also got Epstein Barr. 2 of the viruses which cause Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The Epstein Barr however stays with you to the grave as it has its own DNA and will stay dormant until activated via a stressor. One word of advice on the Coxsackie virus is beta cell destruction in the pancreas. It has been known to be a precursor to Diabetes so I would watch my diet in terms of sugary foods. Even have a fasting Insulin test to see how your pancreas is doing. It's a bad virus no matter who says what and has been implicated in Myocarditis. The Coxsackie B virus total 6 so obviously the titre count on the others was within range. Chest pain is a symptom of the Virus. Definitely would not train hard with high titles. In fact your body won't allow you to. Am talking from personal experience. I did recover over time and once had 28 consecutive days of 120km. Am paying the price now though and havnt ridden for close on 3 years

ńhoughn

[Bateleur1]

Hi,sorry to hear you have contracted the Coxsackie virus. I got the Virus back in 1988 when i was racing roadbikes. Also got Epstein Barr. 2 of the viruses which cause Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The Epstein Barr however stays with you to the grave as it has its own DNA and will stay dormant until activated via a stressor. One word of advice on the Coxsackie virus is beta cell destruction in the pancreas. It has been known to be a precursor to Diabetes so I would watch my diet in terms of sugary foods. Even have a fasting Insulin test to see how your pancreas is doing. It's a bad virus no matter who says what and has been implicated in Myocarditis. The Coxsackie B virus total 6 so obviously the titre count on the others was within range. Chest pain is a symptom of the Virus. Definitely would not train hard with high titles. In fact your body won't allow you to. Am talking from personal experience. I did recover over time and once had 28 consecutive days of 120km. Am paying the price now though and havnt ridden for close on 3 years

ńhoughn

 

But you have left quite a few medical related insights in the past .... although with some stuff that folks post on here even a blank statement could be seen as insightful.

[Tothehills]

But John is right - I am not here to give qualified advice - mostly just here to talk **** about bikes

Off the topic a bit.

Who would you recommend in JHB for a cardio related issue that specializes on athletes?

 

Apologies for the hijack

[Shane S]

Also ended up with E.B. on top of it all . Spent plenty money on specialists and even went the natural way . Doctors and homeopaths will take your money and prescribe all sorts and believe me I have tried all sorts and nothing will work .  

 

Rest is the only thing that makes it ease up and even then it flairs up at times anyways .

 

Had ozone treatment 3 times a week and even that is bull .

 

Did have my heart checked out and that is all good so no damage so I ride whenever I feel good and rest when I do not feel great . Still give it stick as hard as possible when feeling good .

 

One thing is for sure you will never be as fast as before or be able to train as hard as you used to but be positive and enjoy your bike when you can . 

Edited September 25, 2019 by SHANE SCHREIBER

[Owen R O'Neill]

Yes, your athletic ability is never going to get back to where you were, especially if you had EB as well. Lots of people will tell you its a mindset. Ignore them. They havnt experienced the viruses. Nutrition is key though. I was dealing with a Homeopath in CT who unfortunately passed away a number if years ago. She was BRILLIANT. Did her thesis on Yuppie flu and was a boffin on nutrition. I was taking Lysine 1000mgs 3x daily. It is anti viral. Avoided wheat, yeast and sugar and was back riding pretty quickly. She did say however that I would never race again at the level I was used to. Didn't matter. I rode my bike to enjoy it. Los had all the lead removed in my fillings. Keep exercising albeit at a lower intensity.

[V12man]

Off the topic a bit.

Who would you recommend in JHB for a cardio related issue that specializes on athletes?

 

Apologies for the hijack

I send everyone in Jhb to Rob Routier at Olivedale - he doesn't specialise in athletes per se, but he is my go to guy.

 

And if you don't follow his program exactly, you are history.... (my kind of approach) He has also saved a couple of friends lives over the years.

[V12man]

Los had all the lead removed in my fillings.

Amalgum fillings do not have lead.....

 

Primarily Mercury, Silver and Copper and are regarded generally as inert physiologically - they are more dangerous to the dentist than the patient (because they mix the liquid mercury in - but dentists do not regard is as a major health hazard to themselves - given normal safe operating procedures)