Columns Fall Down, Get Up Again- a Column by John Connor Down for the Weekend: World Cup Fatigue Down for the Weekend: World Cup Fatigue by John Connor | July 6, 2018 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link Hi, everyone. I’m absolutely exhausted. And it’s all the fault of the World Cup. Not from any sort of secondary exercise while watching games, but because it’s given me the week off work. England lost their last group match to Belgium on June 29. Their last 16 game ā against Colombia ā was set to be played on Tuesday, after I wrote this column. Thatās a show night for me. Itās when I usually have to make my way from the depths of South London to the very aorta of my capital: the West End. Think Times Square with only a small bank of light-emitting adverts, but oodles of theaters. We had no choice but to cancel. Pubs were the only venues to do a roaring trade on this big match night. I’ve been running my show for 28 years ā the last 10 with MS. In the past few months, I’ve been doing the entire thing from my wheelchair. The venue has kindly adapted to my immobility and found a way to get me smoothly into the lighting box. (It takes three people: one to push, one to put the ramps down, and one to stop punters falling over the ramps when they exit the adjacent lavatory.) So, if I had the week off, why am I so tired? Well, to conserve energy, I’ve taken to working at my laptop in my bedroom over each weekend, preparing myself for my weekly outing. Like some kind of a boxer, I now lead a truly monastic weekend life. By stealth, it’s become a ritual. We’re in a heat wave that hasn’t been seen in the U.K. since 1976. I ventured downstairs and spent what seemed like a holiday with my lovely family. As we all know, extremes of heat severely interfere with the majority of us with MS. Luckily, we have a pool in our back garden. It was put in by the previous owners, and we’ve maintained it for the last 22 years. I don’t recommend it ā pools are deceptively expensive and time-consuming. You’d think it would be a boon for an MS sufferer to cool off in, which is a yes and a no. Last summer, I managed to get in once. The summer before, I nearly drowned. Who needs a wheelchair? (Photo by Jane Davies) However, this week, the intense heat won out, and I’ve been in twice in two days. I may no longer be able to swim, but I can now have a walk while clinging to the sides. Being upright is, according to the therapists at my recent exercise class, incredibly good for you. Muscles long dormant have been used. So, yes, I’m tired, though at the time of writing, on Tuesday, I’m now finding that even a few days out of my comfort zone have physically strengthened me. It seems there’s a work-life balance even for those of us who lost their balance years ago. *** Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis. Print This Page About the Author John Connor In the ā80s, John Connor created the first regular column about the burgeoning London stand-up scene. In 1990 he wrote a book about its effect on the Edinburgh Festival: āComics: A Decade of Comedy at the Assembly Rooms.ā That year he also devised and ran a live topical stand-up team show at The London Comedy Store, The Edge (It was destroyed in 2020!). In 2009 John was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, which cut short his main job as a TV casting director for āBlack Books,ā āMy Family,ā et al. Now, John writes āFall Down Get Up Again,ā an irreverent journey with MS. Tags fatigue Comments Cyndi Just watched England cap Sweden - great game - no doubt you're flying high...regardless of the sky high temps. Ditto on the benefits of "swimming" or, as I call it, water walking. Endurance and range of motion I can't otherwise achieve on land. Gravity be damned. Reply Leave a comment Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published. Your Name Your Email Your Comment Post Comment
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