Heh.

Okay, okay, I knew that was unclear when I typed it! Since August! But today marks the tenth! It's actually .2 above my goal, but I'm also a week ahead of my goal date, so I think I'll make it.

Hi everyone! I’m popping in almost at the last minute to delurk. I didn’t end up doing an update last year, so I’ll do a two-year catch up.

My health is still not great – today is my three-year anniversary of getting H1N1 influenza, which left me with a fatigue disorder. I’m close to half-way better now, but it still limits my life a lot. It’s a good thing that I love sleeping, because I spend way too much time on it.

I've been studying voice fairly seriously and it brings me a lot of pleasure. I'm not so good at finding performing opportunities, but I'm working on it. It does seem a waste to develop a bunch of repertoire and never sing it anywhere.

My other news is all about my relatives.

My nephew Simon will turn three in December and is gorgeous and hilarious and a load of fun. He is also getting a baby brother around the end of January! We're all very excited. My sister Nora (who posted here as RahRah) is having a bit more trouble with this pregnancy than with Simon, but is healthy and doing well.

My sister-in-law wasn't able to find a job when her contract ended in September, so she, my sister and Simon moved in with my mother. That's working really well and makes visits very efficient.

My other sister, who posted here as Helena Handbasket, got married at the end of September. Nora and I were bridesmaids and it all went really well, although Helen had to work way too hard to make it all happen.

She is a working nurse now and she and her new husband (who is a really great guy) just bought a house. Isn't there some sort of law against baby sisters growing up?

When I posted on delurk two years ago, I wrote about issues with my brother's daughter. The good news is that he has been visiting her around three times a year (he lives in a different province) starting when she was six months. When I wrote two years ago, I thought he wasn't going to have anything to do with her other than paying support, so that is a huge improvement. The bad news is that she turned two in September and the legal stuff is not worked out yet.

I've met her once, when she was nine months old. My mother got to see her more often, but it has been nearly a year since she last saw her. This all seems ridiculous (and sad) to me, but I don't get to be in charge.

Ouise, that's great about your vocals!

What is the fatigue disorder? I think I had H1N1 about the same time, although I never got it formally diagnosed, and have definitely had fatigue issues since then, although for me they're pretty mild.

What is the fatigue disorder? I think I had H1N1 about the same time, although I never got it formally diagnosed, and have definitely had fatigue issues since then, although for me they're pretty mild.

Hmm. Yes. This, and I never even thought to connect it to the ebil flu.

Ouise! Hey stranger. I guess we'll see each other soon?

Was Helena married in the North St. Church? You all look so lovely.

What is the fatigue disorder? I think I had H1N1 about the same time, although I never got it formally diagnosed, and have definitely had fatigue issues since then, although for me they're pretty mild.

I didn't get a formal diagnosis either, but H1N1 was the strain of flu around that early in the season. Basically that drained, fatigued feeling just kept going after I had the flu. It was compounded by getting two more respiratory infections and a serious gum infection in the next month or so. I didn't realize anything weird was going on until I went back to work after Christmas vacation and crashed two days in.

There isn't anything that shows up in tests (apart from ruling out anything else causing it) and my doctor summarized it as "basically, any virus can present like mono." This is just something that happens in a small percentage of cases from any virus.

On the other hand, I have heard some anectodal evidence from my doctor that H1N1 seems to be more likely to leave people with long-lasting fatigue.

Unfortunately, the "treatment" is to exercise, eat healthily, get plenty of sleep but not to lie around when you are awake. I compromise by walking to and from work (20 minute walk), working out a couple times a week, and then lying on my couch for the couple of hours between when I get home from work and when I go to bed.

Ouise! Hey stranger. I guess we'll see each other soon?

Yes! I'm looking forward to it!

Was Helena married in the North St. Church? You all look so lovely.

Yes - good eye! Thanks for the compliment. I think Helena looked lovely. I don't think you can see it in the picture, but the men were wearing ties with her husband's family tartan and she made herself a sash from it. We bridesmaids were wearing colours from the tartan.

Actually, that treatment makes sense. And it's been better since I started working out and changed my nutrition. I don't do the "don't lie around" bit, though, I should probably do that.

I don't do the "don't lie around" bit, though, I should probably do that.

Yeah, that's what I find the hardest. I do find though, that if I'm really tired, I can have a short nap and feel well enough to do things, or I can lie on the couch for the rest of the day and just stay at the same level of tiredness. Sometimes knowing that is still not enough to get me off the couch. Sigh.

This is really revelatory to me, Ouise. I'm glad you spoke up. I'm kinda wondering now how much of the past two years' worth of depression was actually just fatigue. I know there was lots of other stuff going on with me, external and otherwise, but honestly the primary "symptom" of the mild persistent depression I had was not wanting to get out of bed, and being tired when I did. Maybe I'm past it now. Or maybe now that I know it I can be more proactive about it. I need to improve my sleep hygiene anyway.