Sick

[Lynnrea]

:help:

I've had low-grade viral pneumonia for about a month. I'm getting better, but my energy level is really low and all I want to do is sleep and eat--mainly fat and carbs. Ordinarily I bicycle to work (11 miles round trip each day) but now the mere thought of walking the dogs around the block is exhausting. I've gained about 10 pounds since the sniffles first hit.

My intestines are really, really edgy, which is not a problem I normally have. I tried switching to an m/e program, just on the theory that protein might help. I also tried upping my consumption of green leafy veggies. In both cases, my guts went into a panic. I'm supplementing with vitamin C, extra D3, and a good multivitamin. Still dragging.

Has anyone ever had this happen with a virus? Did you do anything to get out of it, or just let nature take its course? My doc says I'll be fine, but meanwhile ... any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

[pennink]

you have to give yourself time.

I used to get pneumonia every year This is the first year it passed me by.

it knocks you out for a long, long time. I found chicken soup... homemade always helped.
seriously.
I was also on a steroid inhaler that totally helped me.

If your doctor thinks it's all normal, it most likely is. But please don't push yourself.

[jkmfrog]

yeah. I got hit with that thing last year. Honestly, it was the first time since getting bcak on plan that I deliberately went off low carb for more than a meal. Decided that anything that stayed put was best. Chicken soup (both with noodles and not), tomato soup, crackers, one day about a week into my recovery I had a grilled cheese sandwich with the soup...eggs were ok once I could stand the smell. I went back to low carb around day 8 or 9.

Normally with a cold sort of virus I would just say go ahead and stick with low carb, lots of soups/broths, protein, veggies...but with stuff that affects your stomach and digestion. Go with what feels right.

My opologies to any purists out there, but I do believe that the body knows what it needs. I ahd no problem gettign back to low carb, in fact I welcomed it becasue I knew my body was craving protein at that point.

[Lynnrea]

Thanks for the responses.

I too believe that the body tells you what it needs--but why an extra 10 or 12 pounds??? Just in case, I guess. (That estimate is based on how my clothes fit. I haven't ventured near a scale!) I'm better now, still have a bad cough and an occasional mild headache but clearly am on the mend. I'm on day 1 of a few days of M&E; will see how it goes. Feeling sick, exhausted and chubby has been the pits, so I'm off to cheer myself up by reading some low carb success stories.