Tridudes Triathlon Blog

When I started getting a couple of colds in early 1999 I didn't think much bad of it. It was the year before the final exams, I enjoyed having a good party and a bunch of drinks so I wasn't really surprised.

After I realized though that I didn't really recover from my colds anymore and instead they got worse every time I started taking blood tests and of course, as it is none of the doctors figured out what the problem is until in October 1999 a friend of the family suggested to take a Epstein Barr Virus specific blood test - surprise ,we figured out the reason.

It didn't take another 4 weeks before I got totally knocked out. 3 months in bed, fever, lots of sweating, brutal headaches and not being allowed to have visitors over, as my immune system was absolutely down, were topped off by a 3 day allergy with itching skin. It's not a great feeling not being able to sleep for 3 days because your body is itching like crazy.

Ever since I am not the same anymore - 2000 I had the pleasure of 8 colds bad enough to be fed 8 different antibiotics and I had developed several allergies. Dust, Flowers, etc.

Ignoring the fact that I wasn't able to run more than 15 minutes at a time in 2001 without getting a strong headache lasting the entire day - I became one of the best Aspirin clients in the world. By the end of 2001 I ran my first marathon in Berlin (3:28) and whilst we were supposed to celebrate afterward with the family, I much more felt like dying because of my headache.

I think it took me until 2004 that I could run without having the brutal headaches anymore. Well, at least not as easy. Besides the summer months when my allergies killed me.

Ever since I am getting a little better every year. The allergy symptoms are getting less, the colds are getting less as well but I am still getting one about 4 times a year. In addition to that there are those 3 weeks lasting phases in which I can not motivate myself to anything. I kind of ignored it and accepted the fact that my body is screwed up. Every time I miss out on sleep or train a little harder my body feels totally burned out right away and it takes weeks to recover from it.

UNTIL NOW!!

I have just passed another phase like described above and it is enough. After researching a lot in the internet I have come to the conclusion that there are people out there who have suffered from the same symptoms after Epstein Barr Virus for more than 20 years. I am not going to. 8 years is plenty for me.

I have not found a single report about a person who found help in western medicine but there are a few who found great alternative medicine and have great success with it.

I am sure it will take more time and a strong focus on getting enough sleep, enough food,etc. I will have to stay away from sugars even more than I have before and I will be having cupping sessions,etc. but I can promise you one thing for sure. I will be there - KONA 2010.

Rock n' Roll everybody and never give in!

Till