Excursion to Exhaustion

A funny thing happened on my way to the Fountain of Youth. As I was literally running away from old age, participating in 5K and longer races throughout 2016 (and previous years), bringing home the bling, enjoying Run Class, training on my trails and elsewhere, suddenly in February of 2017 I could not do it anymore. I was unable to run! I could not do my strength training exercises. I could hardly open the heavy doors in my dorm. I called it "Sudden Weakness Syndrome" or "Sudden Fatigue Syndrome." I had some episodes of it in 2016, beginning in September, but persevered as much as possible because good days were interspersed with bad days. Pat and I enjoyed a Michigan trail race in October and a Thanksgiving 5K with Denise in November. But many days I could not work my full 8 hour shift. That last hour was too much for me. I was so fatigued by 2 pm I could hardly take another step. Sometimes I had to hold on to two handrails to get up the stairs. It would come on so suddenly. Total exhaustion. When I got home I was too tired to fix anything to eat and did not have much of an appetite. Bedtime became 4:30 pm.

My doctor ran blood tests. They showed that I was not deficient in vitamins, or anemic. I did not have a thyroid problem. He did not know how to fix my fatigue. From my own research I determined it must be related to my 2013 diagnosis of a potentially serious chronic disease. Up to this point I felt well and did not want to see a Specialist as recommended. The treatment for this condition is a very expensive newly released pharmaceutical that I had been reading horror stories about from patients who had taken it and ended up much worse off. But the number one complaint of most patients with this condition is fatigue, probably from the body trying so hard to fight the disease.

My tiredness was also exasperated by my heavy workload. My job is very physically demanding and keeps me on my feet working and walking all day. My fitness watch was logging 8-10 miles a day! I considered my job my "fitness regimen," but maybe at 68 years of age it is too much for me. I love my job and do not want to retire or switch buildings with someone who has an easier workload. I like to stay busy. I just want the strength to do what I do. I tried to get my hours reduced to a 35 hour work week thinking that might help, but my supervisor would not approve it. I finally discovered on my own that I qualified for reduced hours under FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) and pursued that option. I was just approved for a 7 hr day/35 hr week for six months.

February 4, 2017 was my last trail race (Crazy Legs Trail Run at Creek Ridge County Park, Michigan City). I didn't know it at the time, but, looking back, it made for a nice "grande finale" when the "elite runner group" escorted me to the finish line, encouraging me all the way. My time was a little slower than usual, but I won a prize anyway. It was shortly after that when I came down with a virus, stayed home from work a couple of days, and then "sudden exhaustion syndrome" struck with a vengeance.

Diet doesn't seem to make a difference. People told me to eat more, and I tried going back to eating meat once in a while (mostly organic chicken and beef), but the condition persisted. I got sick of taking supplements and was having trouble swallowing pills so I quit them altogether. I continued with fruit smoothies and eating healthy, mostly organic meals and snacks. I struggle to keep my weight above 110. I just heard of a powdered supplement called D-Ribose that I could add to my smoothies that I am hoping will help if "mitochondrial dysfunction" is my problem.

My neighbor, Jill, died June 29 after battling cancer for five years. She was 63. Chemo could not save her. The medical route seems fraught with medical mistakes and failures, all at the cost of hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. I do not wish to go that route. I am grateful for the good years God has given me and I'm old enough to die. Why fight the inevitable? I will do my best to live a healthy lifestyle without pharmaceuticals.

I have another medical issue that worsened last week. I could not go to work Friday because of it. This is something a good doctor could maybe fix, so I did some research and found a specialist in South Bend with many glowing reviews. I guess I feel good about making an appointment, and it seems the LORD is leading this way. Pat has been very supportive.

I don't like having these problems with the associated fatigue and weakness, but this is my reality these days. Hopefully there are brighter days ahead. Job had some difficult times, but it all turned out good in the end. Maybe I need to be tested. I am not sure what to make of any of this but I am seeking the LORD about it. I miss running, paddle boarding, riding, biking, swimming, hiking, and all the fun things I have done in the past few years. I am very grateful I did them when I could. Maybe, LORD willing, I will do them again. I am encouraged by this verse in Isaiah:

...They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint. -- Isaiah 40:31