So last weekend I was feeling pretty crappy with some flu like symptoms so used my last Covid tester in the box and to my surprise, it came out positive. 

I have no idea where I was exposed as I rarely go out and no one I know or have seen recently has had it. 

I guess it just must have been my turn and I still think I have done really well to avoid it for all of this time. 

I took the week off work and rescheduled all of my appointments because my most annoying and painful symptom apart from the fever, body aches and streaming or completely blocked nose was a very sore, dry and irritated throat and any amount of talking sent me into long and painful coughing fits. 

There is always so much uncertainty getting a "regular" type illness on top of chronic illness, isn't there Friend?

Especially when you are considered to be in the higher risk category of getting the worst case outcome of Covid. 

Plus, everyone told me that the first experience is generally the worst so I had no ideas what to expect, hunkered down with my over the counter pain relief, lots of tissues and constant big mugs of tea and glasses of water to see how it all unfolded for me. 

I'm now into my second week and it feels like the tide is turning, my symptoms are reducing and I have been able to ease gently back into work as of yesterday.

I am keeping everything crossed that by next week, I will be symptom free as I have found it to be a real challenge to emotionally manage being so sick on top of my regular chronic illness routine. 

Especially not allowing myself to get frustrated and angry with the constant nose blowing, coughing and the two types of rashes I ended up with (luckily neither of these was itchy or lasted long).

I just wanted it be over and I had no idea (and still don't) how long it is going to take for my immune system to finally take it out. 

Given my immune system is so hyper active, I will be really annoyed if it can't take on it's actual job, rather than the random attacks it likes to keep making on us and our organs!

Anyway, Im practicing staying in the moment, enjoying being able to breathe through my nose again and feeling somewhat more human. 

In the meantime, Iv'e just publishes Episode 2 in Season 4 of my Emotional Autoimmunity podcast and if you struggle with feeling guilty about needing to rest, then this one is made for you. 

When you become chronically ill, one of the biggest challenges you will face because of how the disease so often limits your energy and ability, is an increased need for rest.

In fact, rest is an essential component of responsible chronic illness management.

Yet so many of us struggle with embracing rest because of ongoing issues of feeling guilty about the amount of rest we need, anxiety about everything that is being left undone and fear of being judged as lazy or selfish.

And if you are resting while still feeling guilty, ashamed or anxious, then you can't get any benefit from rest at all.

In this episode I walk you through the issues with guilt about rest, why it happens and give strategies on how you can start changing your relationship with rest so you can start making the most of it.

wam wishes