When you are recovering from illness is it best to rest or push yourself?

[Keepitonthelow]

I have been unwell for several weeks and just finished three lots of antibiotics. I am still tired and not back to normal yet.

Should I go with how I’m feeling which is just wanting to stay home not doing a lot or is it better to push myself and go for a walk or go to the shops or do the hoovering?!

I’m thinking it isn’t good for my mood to not be doing anything. On the other hand I feel really rubbish if if I do too much. What do you think is best?

Rest

Rest but build up in stages. Don’t try to do too much.

Do what you can pushing yourself too far is a terrible idea. So go for a stroll see how you feel .

Find small things to do if you feel it is bad for your mental health, but generally a slow build up back to normal, taking lots of time to rest, is really important for a good recovery. Don’t push it!

As someone with ME, l say listen to your body. Don't push. Rest. I think there comes a point where you have to try and do stuff and see where you're at, but if it wipes you out, then it's too much.

The way I have to do this is padding. Rest before the activity and rest after the activity and actually during!

Going for a little walk is always a mood booster and fresh air and sunlight are so good for you. But a few days in the house won't hurt either!

I was in April in ITU with sepsis not intubated thankfully. I'm very fit but my MH not coping with "resting". I would do things in stages for the first week at home and by second week built up to school run and gentle walks.

I would start very small.

I think it’s good to push yourself - but only a little and very much listening to your body as well.

Listen to your body. Don’t try to do too much too soon.

Rest - particularly if there is any suspicion that it was covid. You really can't pish through post-covid fatigue aches/pains, and can make things worse if you try

Rest. Do stuff when you can, and don't let people assume that just because you've e.g. walked to the local shop one day that that means you're fully recovered. If you need a day in bed following something like that then do it. Don't guilt yourself.

Pushing yourself will actually lead you to have a longer recovery time until you're fully back to normal (speaking from experience!).

Neither - pace yourself. Do a bit and rest when you need too.

Take it easy. Maybe have a bit of a potter around the shops or a garden or a pleasant walk, with a nice tea shop stop, that sort of thing.

Rest and pace yourself. Running before you can walk, will set your recovery back.

Bit of both - pushing yourself too hard is going to be counterproductive. However resting completely tends to feeling low and getting deconditioned.

Rest and maybe a turn around the garden.... gradually build it up. Maybe do one thing each morning and gradually increase.

Its a bit of both. Short walks. Pottering, resting. Getting tired is ok them resting until you are back to baseline is ok, getting cummatively more exhausted is not.

Don't push yourself, but maybe take a gentle walk, or a bus ride, to a park or a cafe and sit with a cup of tea and a book for a bit, just for a change of scene.

Sod the hoovering, though.

Thanks some good advice here.

Rest. Make sure you are hydrated, eat healthily and get a good nights sleep. If during the day you come over overwhelmingly tired, try and take a nap.

A tonic can also be beneficial -

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I'm having the same dilemma. I had a ruptured appendix six weeks ago - prior to that I was running for an hour every morning and lifting weights and doing Pilates in the evening. I hate being unfit but can't risk jeopardising my health in case I end up with a hernia. I've lost weight but hate the way I look now 😞 All I can manage is gentle walks and swimming which is bloody useless 😡 I'm very frustrated!

I've also got surgery ahead of me for breast cancer so doubt I'll be back in the gym any time soon, I just have to ride it out!

Rest. This is a concept I have recently come around to after years of trying to bounce back and then making myself ill for longer! Rest really works.

I’m 20 months since my cancer diagnosis.

Get up, get clean (yourself that is, forget hoovering) and get air. How you get air is up to you - walk if you can but sitting outside with a cup of tea is good too.
Then if you feel fatigued get back to bed.

And drink water.

Sod the hoovering, though

Thanks some good advice here

One of the best juxtapositions I've seen in a while!!!!!!