I just reviewed one of my matches from Tromsø PSA closed sattelite a few months back. I showed up still being sick as a social trip and a nice break. I was on court for all my matches to hit some balls, which is nice, but I cant strain my body. Listening to the live commentary, I realized that maybe people don't fully understand what I am going through. I especially worry about the Norwegian Squash Federation who have supported me fully as I was an active professional, but lately have stepped back.
It is called Mononuchleosis, "Mono" for short. Popularly known as kissing disease. It affects the Liver, Spleen, Immune system, and can produce severe nausea, tiredness in a periode between 2 weeks to 12 months. The older you are when you get it, the worse it is. Most people get it when they are young. You normally experience the first period as a bad flu for a week or two along with an enlarged spleen, and after that the immune system needs a complete turnover, and you need complete rest to recover.
After a tough end 2013/start 2014, I took 2 months complete break from squash after returning from my Australian tour. I struggled with motivation during the Australian tour, but still pushed the 3d seed to 5 games, lost to WR49 in another tournament, and won the graded tournament in the last tournament, beating world junior ranked 9 in the world in the quarters, national team Australian junior in semis and a Canadian in the final.
To motivate myself and have something to train towards I signed up for the PSA closed sattelites in Norway in Moss, Stavanger, Kristiansand and Tromsø. 2 months of matchplay prepared me to win both, and I enjoyed playing. A lot of work in Amsterdam prevented me from training as much as I wanted, but I joined the national team training in November. I have not been pushed that hard for a long time, and I clearly had to work harder than the rest of the players. I did not think I could do it, but I made it through the weekend.
Upon my return I felt a bit reduced, but thats normal after a hard weekend. In that week I felt like a small flu coming, but it didnt really hit me. I had to play the third PSA in Kristiansand soonly after the national squad. My first 2 matches went fine although I did not feel great. In the semi finals I had to push, and I made it barely through. when warming up for the final, I felt it. Hot flushes and a flu like feeling. I tried pushing through it in the final but the body didnt respond.
Over the christmas period I tried taking breaks and start training slowly, but every time I felt ill, had to rest 1 week, then try again. It continued like this until February. Then I had a hard session with 2 PSA players Tuesday morning. Tuesday evening I was yellow in my face (liver) and got knocked out with the flu. 1 week out. Stupid me started training again. Same Tuesday session with the boys. Same result. 1 week flu. My girlfriend had struggled with illness and tiredness since before christmas as well, and went to the doctor several times. Mono was already suspected. Her tests came back inconclusive.
When I could not recover, I went to the doctor to get it diagnosed, and it was pretty clear. My spleen was in a very bad state. For months I got sick only walking the stairs (no joke) and any rising of the pulse got me straight away. This took months before I felt slightly better. months doing absolutely nothing. only sleep 12 hours a day and work. sometimes sleeping inbetween patient visits. Its the worst thing if I have to cancel my patient appointments.
I already booked the Tromsø trip a long time back, before I knew I had Mono. I assumed I would recover and be ready in time, to at least participate. I had to cancel the European Chammpionships, and assumed I would not go to Tromsø. But I talked to the tournament organizors, and they still wanted me to come up. I agreed to come and join the draw, but made it clear I could not move. Maybe they thought I was exaggarating. in this period I started feeling a it better, so I wanted to see if I could start training again slowly. My body was aching to hit some balls again.
Because of the liver working overtime during mono, you should not drink alcohol at all. Im a clever and stubborn man who ignored this for that weekend, and enjoyed myself until early morning. The paradox is that I felt great the next day and the coming week. I hoped I was rid of it now, so I started training again, 50% offcourse, but still every 2 days for about 1 hour. The following 2 weekends there was some pretty heavy partying as well. In the end...it was too much. My body shut down again and for 2 weeks I was in bed. The spleen swelled up again and back to 12 hrs sleep and no energy. So I am now back to doing NOTHING. 1 month has passed, and I am now feeling somewhat normal again, but will not start moving the corpse until September, earliest. They say you will be rid it for sure after 1 year, so November 2015, I will hopefully be able to move on a squashcourt again.
As a squashplayer, I believe I have fully found myself. After years of experience, trying and failing and funneling down mental, physical and tactical strategies, I have now found the player I am. The best possible player I can be. All I need is the fitness and match training. I have a good physical foundation, so hopefully it wont take me too long to return. Already I have lost 5 kgs muscle and gained 2% bodyfat. I am foamrolling and stretching like crazy to make sure the muscles dont seize up and I will return just to injur again straight away. The national championships in January will be a longshot, but hopefully I will be ready for the European championships next year.
It is called Mononuchleosis, "Mono" for short. Popularly known as kissing disease. It affects the Liver, Spleen, Immune system, and can produce severe nausea, tiredness in a periode between 2 weeks to 12 months. The older you are when you get it, the worse it is. Most people get it when they are young. You normally experience the first period as a bad flu for a week or two along with an enlarged spleen, and after that the immune system needs a complete turnover, and you need complete rest to recover.
After a tough end 2013/start 2014, I took 2 months complete break from squash after returning from my Australian tour. I struggled with motivation during the Australian tour, but still pushed the 3d seed to 5 games, lost to WR49 in another tournament, and won the graded tournament in the last tournament, beating world junior ranked 9 in the world in the quarters, national team Australian junior in semis and a Canadian in the final.
To motivate myself and have something to train towards I signed up for the PSA closed sattelites in Norway in Moss, Stavanger, Kristiansand and Tromsø. 2 months of matchplay prepared me to win both, and I enjoyed playing. A lot of work in Amsterdam prevented me from training as much as I wanted, but I joined the national team training in November. I have not been pushed that hard for a long time, and I clearly had to work harder than the rest of the players. I did not think I could do it, but I made it through the weekend.
Upon my return I felt a bit reduced, but thats normal after a hard weekend. In that week I felt like a small flu coming, but it didnt really hit me. I had to play the third PSA in Kristiansand soonly after the national squad. My first 2 matches went fine although I did not feel great. In the semi finals I had to push, and I made it barely through. when warming up for the final, I felt it. Hot flushes and a flu like feeling. I tried pushing through it in the final but the body didnt respond.Over the christmas period I tried taking breaks and start training slowly, but every time I felt ill, had to rest 1 week, then try again. It continued like this until February. Then I had a hard session with 2 PSA players Tuesday morning. Tuesday evening I was yellow in my face (liver) and got knocked out with the flu. 1 week out. Stupid me started training again. Same Tuesday session with the boys. Same result. 1 week flu. My girlfriend had struggled with illness and tiredness since before christmas as well, and went to the doctor several times. Mono was already suspected. Her tests came back inconclusive.
When I could not recover, I went to the doctor to get it diagnosed, and it was pretty clear. My spleen was in a very bad state. For months I got sick only walking the stairs (no joke) and any rising of the pulse got me straight away. This took months before I felt slightly better. months doing absolutely nothing. only sleep 12 hours a day and work. sometimes sleeping inbetween patient visits. Its the worst thing if I have to cancel my patient appointments.
I already booked the Tromsø trip a long time back, before I knew I had Mono. I assumed I would recover and be ready in time, to at least participate. I had to cancel the European Chammpionships, and assumed I would not go to Tromsø. But I talked to the tournament organizors, and they still wanted me to come up. I agreed to come and join the draw, but made it clear I could not move. Maybe they thought I was exaggarating. in this period I started feeling a it better, so I wanted to see if I could start training again slowly. My body was aching to hit some balls again.
Because of the liver working overtime during mono, you should not drink alcohol at all. Im a clever and stubborn man who ignored this for that weekend, and enjoyed myself until early morning. The paradox is that I felt great the next day and the coming week. I hoped I was rid of it now, so I started training again, 50% offcourse, but still every 2 days for about 1 hour. The following 2 weekends there was some pretty heavy partying as well. In the end...it was too much. My body shut down again and for 2 weeks I was in bed. The spleen swelled up again and back to 12 hrs sleep and no energy. So I am now back to doing NOTHING. 1 month has passed, and I am now feeling somewhat normal again, but will not start moving the corpse until September, earliest. They say you will be rid it for sure after 1 year, so November 2015, I will hopefully be able to move on a squashcourt again.
As a squashplayer, I believe I have fully found myself. After years of experience, trying and failing and funneling down mental, physical and tactical strategies, I have now found the player I am. The best possible player I can be. All I need is the fitness and match training. I have a good physical foundation, so hopefully it wont take me too long to return. Already I have lost 5 kgs muscle and gained 2% bodyfat. I am foamrolling and stretching like crazy to make sure the muscles dont seize up and I will return just to injur again straight away. The national championships in January will be a longshot, but hopefully I will be ready for the European championships next year.
