Just when I was enjoying regular 5k Parkruns and feeling reasonably fit and at my comfortable weight, despite Xmas, I was diagnosed with Shingles. I was looking forward to a winter break in Lanzarote, and planned to go out for a daily 5k run along the miles of promenade in the early morning sunshine. I was still able to go on holiday but my chest was too painful to even walk for the first week, and I didn't want to pass the virus on via the resort pools by swimming whilst I still had spots. The only good thing was that it made me have a good rest!
Anxious not to get out of the habit, I managed a 10 minute run during the first walk I attempted on Day 11 (from appearance of first 'spot'), then ran out of breath to such an extent that my fingers and feet got tingly with pins and needles.
Now it is 3 weeks since I got Shingles and I still feel so tired after any exertion and my chest feels so tight , it has forced me to take it seriously and rest. I am planning to do three UK long-distance footpaths this year, so I am impatient to get back to feeling well again. It is unlike me to feel so discouraged, but I seem to have sunk into uncomfortable unaccustomed lethargy. I am so disappointed to have lost all the fitness. Any advice on how and when I am ever going to get back to running?
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mountainqueen
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Sorry to hear you have shingles , never had it but it sounds bad . I'm in the same boat as you , I've been out of action a month (ankle) but it's ok now . Can't run till I get all clear from physio 6/2/13 . Like you I feel lethargic & to be honest it's been a horrible month . We will get there , we will have to build up to it & not rush . Wishing you a speedy recovery .
Shingles I'm told is both painful and debilitating so you need to be kind to yourself and take things easy. Its taken me nearly 3 months t get back to exercise after a serious chest infection in October which was no fun at all.
It will take time to recover but for now just relax and hopefully you will feel well enough to start with gentle walks and progress from there. Wishing you all the best for a speedy recovery. (the pavements will still be there when you are well again)
Shingles is really nasty and I really feel for you...why don't you start back at the beginning...you will surprise yourself at how well you will do, and then you can progress fairly quickly.. however listen to your body, its been through quite a lot so be kind!!! Allow yourself time to recover and see that as training in itself....
I think in this modern age we just expect to bounce back quickly from major infections. I had Glandular Fever a long time ago and it took years to get my energy back, so a few weeks to me is very little time (and I don't mean that unsympathetically, it's still frustrating and worrying, like it will never end): your body needs time to recover properly: if your chest is still getting tight you have to go easy on yourself. Better prolonged rest now will pay off in the future.
There will come a day when you will just 'know' that the lethargy is now challengeable with very gentle exercise, and you can build up from there. I really hope it is soon for you. I bet you haven't lost all your fitness - it will come back quicker this time round.
Take it easy. Be patient with yourself. When your body is ready you will know and can start easing yourself back to exercise. Push yourself too early and you won't recover properly: in the long run, it will take longer
Thank you all for your sympathy and encouragement, it's done me good to know that you are all out there supporting each other. Patience has never been my strong suit! I'll try and stop beating myself up about lack of exercise, but I'm not good at being gentle with myself. I'm usually full of energy so I don't like feeling like this. Talking of which, I must get to bed early as I keep being reminded how important sleep is. I will post again when I am back on the road; I'll try starting from week 1 as suggested. I sailed through the weeks first time round so that gives me hope that I can get back up to 5k again once I recover my energy.
i feel for you, so sorry you have been unwell. I am stressing cos it it is raining at the moment and i am scared to run in the rain in case i slip, so i can understand how you must be feeling!!!! I am putting on a DVD and gonna do 2miles of power walking and exercises until i can get out again, should have been starting week 5 this evening so very disappointed. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
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I've done it!!! I've done it!!! I've done it!!!
Shingles 
W1R3 - Disaster!!
Week 5 disaster
Week 1 done (in 4 days)
